The cost to the Giants of winning six times as an underdog last season might have been a lockdown cornerback or a blazing fast receiver.
Then there is the additional tax assessed for an upset playoff victory, amounting to sacrificing a premium ballhawk or red-zone target.
After five straight years of sorting through the blue-chip prospects near the top of each draft class, the Giants face the uncertainty attached to their lowest first pick in the draft (No. 25 overall) since 2012.
File “winning too often” to select in the top 10 of the draft under “good problems to have,” but it opens the door to a worst-case scenario like the very real possibility that the Giants either can’t immediately address needs at cornerback or receiver or have to reach to do so.
If the unknown Giants’ draft board matches the growing scouting consensus, then the top four cornerbacks (in some order) are Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon, Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez, Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. and Maryland’s Deonte Banks, and the top four receivers (in some order) are Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, USC’s Jordan Addison, TCU’s Quentin Johnston and Boston College’s Zay Flowers.
But what if none of those eight playmakers are available at No. 25? Flowers was the only one available (and taken by the Giants) in ESPN analyst Jordan Reid’s latest mock draft.
“They could wait until the second round or even later, especially with it being a deep receiver and cornerback class,” Reid said when posed that question by The Post. “If that’s worst-case scenario for them, I could see a center — but maybe not so at No. 25.”
The No. 25 pick has changed hands in each of the last six drafts.
If general manager Joe Schoen doesn’t move up, he could move back with an eye on filling the offensive line hole created by the free-agent losses of Jon Feliciano (49ers) and Nick Gates (Commanders).
Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz or Wisconsin’s Joe Tippmann “could be two answers they look for at center” later in the first round, according to Reid.
Fellow ESPN analyst Matt Miller, who also founded thedraftscout.com, recently mocked Schmitz to the Giants.
“I like both those centers a lot,” said Miller, who compared Schmitz to Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, an All-Pro in his second season after mistakenly slipping into the second round in 2021.
“We saw Schmitz have a great Senior Bowl process, meaning he showed all the traits to be a late first-rounder. My comp … gives you a little bit of a mental picture of the type of athlete you are getting at center — somebody who is great at getting out in space, violent at the second level.”
But it might not be as big of a reach as thought to dip deeper into the draft board for a potential starter opposite cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, who is in the final year of his contract.
Amani Oruwariye is the only veteran cornerback signed in free agency, compared to the Giants’ two re-signings and three additions at receiver.
The Giants’ interest in Cam Smith includes hosting him on a facility visit after dining with him before South Carolina’s Pro Day, The Post confirmed.
Miller suggested Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes, who he ranked higher than Banks for ESPN.
“There is a lot of conversation about Forbes’ weight — he was 166 pounds at the combine and 170 at his Pro Day — but if you want a ballhawk in this class, it’s him,” Miller said of the FBS career record-holder with six of his 14 career interceptions returned for touchdowns.
“He’s been battle-tested playing in the SEC, and he has elite corner speed. He’s 6-foot-1, so yes, he’s kind of a string bean, but he is such a fantastic player when the ball is in the air.”
So, maybe the worst-case scenario isn’t so bad after all.
“We know receiver and corner are probably their biggest needs right now,” Reid said, “but the great thing for the Giants is they are not stuck in a position where they need to take one of those positions at No. 25.”