American Football

New York Giants NFL Draft 2024 results: Giants select Darius Muasau, LB, UCLA, in Round 6

April 28, 2024

UCLA v USC — Darius Muasau | Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

Giants add linebacker depth with final selection

With the 183rd overall pick in Round 6 of the 2024 NFL Draft the New York Giants selected Darius Muasau, LB, UCLA. He is a 6-foot, 225-pound player who has been a MIKE linebacker.

All of the Giants’ selections are below.

Scouting reports

Dane Brugler (The Athletic):

After three productive seasons at Hawaii, he led the Bruins in tackles in both of his seasons in Westwood and has an impressive collegiate resume — he played in every game the last five years and compiled 440 tackles and 40.0 tackles for loss. A quick-reacting defender, Muasau has the vision that gives him a head start on the play, which expands his lateral range and helps him make stops near the line of scrimmage. He is aware in short-zone coverage, although he lacks the movement skills to stay connected to backs or tight ends in man coverage. Overall, Muasau might not be elite in any one area, but he is a well-rounded linebacker with the play recognition and tackling skills that will translate to any level. Similar in ways to Sione Takitaki, he projects as an NFL backup who can hold his own when he sees the field.

33rd Team:

Darius Muasau projects as a backup Mike linebacker who has some scheme versatility but fits best in a 4-3 scheme. He is undersized but has a well-built frame with muscle throughout. His instincts and play recognition are inconsistent as he tends to react quickly, sometimes blowing up plays at the LOS, but other times misreading the play and getting taken out of position. He attacks the line with vigor and pursues the ball all over the field. Muasau struggles consistently wrapping up and has sticky hips that hinder his COD against quicker players. He lacks the traits to be reliable in man coverage, and his zone coverage ability in a short area is sound, but he struggles in a bigger area. On 3rd downs, he may be a blitzer as he has shown an ability to get to the QB, and he should be a contributing special teams player.

Giants round-by-round draft selections

Round 1 (No. 6) — Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Round 2 (No. 47) — Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Round 3 (No. 70) — Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
Round 4 (No. 107) — Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
Round 5 (No. 166) — Tyrone Tracy, RB, Purdue
Round 6 (No. 183) — Darius Muasau, LB, UCLA