Mock the 2012 NFL Mock Drafts: New York Giants Selections
Wednesdays and Thursdays I’m going to focus on the draft and how it relates to the New York Giants. I thought for a weekly feature I could check out what other websites are doing for the New York Giants (in terms of mock drafts) and give my insight or input into those predictions.
Clemson DT, Brandon Thompson (16th overall)
Thompson is a player I thought could interest the New York Giants, but I was thinking right now more of a second round pick. Thompson has been compared to Corey Liuget in one place I was reading yesterday (can’t remember for sure where), so it’s possible he eventually ends up being a mid first round pick.
I don’t love the pick.
Especially considering that Jared Crick, Alfonzo Dennard Jerel Worthy (not a huge fan of him right now either. He has to play much better this year to earn the first round), and Donte Paige Moss are the next few picks made after the Giants choose Thompson.
I would prefer Dennard. I still think cornerback is a need for the Giants as of now for the 2012 N.F.L. draft. TT is a free agent (and will be coming back from a second A.C.L. season ending injury). And Aaron Ross is also slated to be a free agent. Dennard is the best pick, to me. Also, one of my draft crushes is DE/OLB Brandon Jenkins out of Florida State University is also available. Lastly the very talented, but perhaps troubled, Michael Floyd is still available.
Thompson wouldn’t be a great pick to me, but its one I understand.
Walterfootball’s explanation for the pick:
Defensive tackle is definitely not one of the Giants’ greatest needs, but that doesn’t matter to Jerry Reese, who prefers taking the best player available. That would be the rising Brandon Thompson, or perhaps Jerel Worthy. Either way, I’m projecting a defensive tackle to the Giants for now.
The key word here is rising. I think both Worthy and Thompson have a chance of really ascending draft boards this season, but to me, neither is there yet.
In the second round walterfootball has the Giants selecting another Clemson Tigers player: TE Dwayne Allen.
Draftek.com (18th overall)
Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State
Burfict has a temper, but is one of the best middle linebacker prospects in awhile. While this pick makes perfect sense and few would disagree with this selection before the 2011 NFL draft . I don’t think this is a LIKELY pick for the New York Giants. Does it make sense? Sure. The Giants have a lot of talented young linebackers…but all of those players are late round picks (Jacquian Williams and Greg Jones in the 6th round),or undrafted free agents (Spencer Paysinger and Mark Hezlich). Late round picks and undrafted free agents can often play in the N.F.L, but usually those players don’t pan out. Also, Jon Goff is set to be a free agent after this season AND is going to miss the entire season because of an A.C.L. injury, which is not a great thing either.
Still, the pick is unlikely because the Giants will give Greg Jones and the other young players a chance to develop into something special, and the Giants don’t like to use first round picks on a linebacker. Name the last linebacker the Giants took in the first round. Now, name one they took in the first round when they were playing the 43 defense. The linbacker position is devalued in the 43 and I don’t think the Giants consider a linebacker in the first round.
Players available after the Giants pick that could be interesting:
WR Ryan Broles, OL Andrew Datko and Riley Reiff, RB Kniles Davis
New York Giants Vontaze Burifict (18th overall)
See ABOVE
Players available after the 18th pick
Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A and M, Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebaska
I already discussed Alfronzo Dennard a player I think the Giants should scout well this year and really consider as I believe cornerback to be the biggest defensive need heading into next year’s draft.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Giants have two very good WR options in Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham and then question marks. They also have question marks at tight end.
Fuller is a huge WR, 6’4 220 pounds who averaged 14.8 yards per reception last year (over 70 receptions and a 1,000 yards with 12 touchdowns) and a legetimate first round pick. At that point in the draft he’s one of the best players available (I also like Dennard, something that is becoming quite apparent even to the least observant reader). Fuller would give the Giants another red-zone option to replace Kevin Boss. Travis Beckum has to show that he can be that player as does Victor Cruz. Right now, based on the preseason (which means nothing really) the Giants have a ways to go in that area.
Video of Burfict
Could he be the kind of player who changes the Giants mind about drafting linebackers in the first round? He’s clearly a beast.
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