2012 NFL Mock Draft: Mock the Mocks, New York Giants
NFL Draft season is in full swing and I’m loving it. I haven’t been as Giants oriented as I like to be lately with all of the scouting reports I’ve been trying to get finished, but I thought I would take some time today to look around the web and see who is being mocked to the New York Giants. Every year people mock linebackers and offensive linemen to the Giants in the first round and every year they go away from those positions, they have to eventuallytake linebacker or offensive linemen in the first round though, right?
We’ll start with the mocks here at NFLmocks.
Sayre’s mock earlier in the week
Giants selection: Donta Hightower, LB, Alabama Crimson Tide
Thoughts:
Hightower is having a really good season, after having a down year last year. He’s shown a lot more explosiveness. He has good size, a nasty demeanor, long arms, but maybe not elite speed. I think theoratically it makes sense. Jon Goff is an ok player, but the Giants don’t have a stud at middle linebacker. Can Herzlich become that player for the Giants? He looked impressive in very limited duty as a really nice potential two down linebacker., but he is currently out injured.
Highest players remaining on our board: WR Alshon Jefferey, LB Luke Kuechly.
Giants pick (16th overall) Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
What Scott Wright says:
In recent years the Giants have really done an outstanding job of managing their roster with one notable exception: Linebacker. It seems as though every offseason there is talk about how the G-Men need to upgrade at outside and / or middle linebacker but despite their best efforts the position continues to be a problem area. Perhaps Luke Kuechly of Boston College will be the long-term solution they’ve been searching for. Kuechly is an extremely productive middle ‘backer in the mold of James Laurinitis with fantastic instincts and an uncanny nose for the ball. Tom Coughlin used to coach at BC back in the day and seems to have an affinity for prospects from that program so it is only natural that he would bring in a guy like Kuechly to serve as the field general of his defense. New York could also be in the market for help on the interior of their offensive line at either guard or center and since this is the Giants that we are talking about it would be a mistake to overlook defensive end as a possibility
My thoughts:
While Kuechly might be a welcome addition to the Giants (and if Coughlin is still coaching there is the Boston College connection), Kuechly doesn’t seem like a player the Giants would draft in the first round. The Giants gravitate towards players who have exceptional physical abilities (Linval Joseph is very strong, JPP is a great athlete, Michael Boley is really fast…etc). There are many other directions I think the Giants should consider based of this mock. I think the Giants would be more enticed by Zach Brown and/or Vontaze Burfict than Kuechly based on what the Giants tend to do in the draft.
Best players available on our big board based on this mock: linebacker Zach Brown, Guard David Decastro, WR Michael Floyd, Cornerback Janoris Jenkins, wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey
Drafttek uses a compuer simulation program to come up with his picks based off team inputs of needs and their big board.
Draftek has the Giants picking 16th.
The Pick: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State University
The explanation:
While Eli is on pace for a career year, the Giants playoff hopes are slim. The defense ranks 29th in yards allowed, and 28th in points allowed. It’s clear that there is a gaping hole at MLB – as Chase Blackburn was signed last week and ended up playing most of the game over Greg Jones. Jerry Reese could hope for Jones, Goff, or Blackburn to turn into a stud, or he can draft one early. Burfict is 6’3″, 252, and incredibly fast for his size. The instincts of this Butkus award semi-finalist are ideal in a middle linebacker. The only problem with this pick is that Burfict comes with major character concerns, which the Giants typically avoid. The cons really outweigh the pros here. He’s been one of the most penalized players in the NCAA and failure to control him is one reason Erickson is out of a job at ASU. In terms of need and talent, great pick, but the Giants will likely look elsewhere. If their stock rises, perhaps Te’o or Kuechly are chosen here. ~ Bill Bliss, Drafttek Giants Analyst
My thoughts:
Manti Te’o is returning for his senior season so I’m not sure how old this mock is, probably at least a week old. There is a lot of things I agree with that is written in the explanation, except for the part about Burfict having “major character concerns”. Burfict is a player who draws a lot of personal fouls and doesn’t always play really smart football, but I don’t think he has been in trouble off the field. He has struggled with academics as well. These aren’t the typical character concerns we have come to think of when we hear that phrase.
On the field, Burfict is the Exact kind of linebacker prospet the Giants will be intrigued by; Burfict has long arms, and is a physical marvel. He has been failry productive at Arizona State. He also plays with a mean-streak on the field. Still the Giants could avoid him. When Burfict it at his best he’s reminiscent of Patrick Willis-he has that kind of pure ability.
Best players left in this mock based on our big board:
Quinton Coples, DL UNC, Michael Floyd, WR, Norte Dame, Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College, Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Hurricanes
What did we learn?
Again this year draftniks are calling for the Giants to select linebackers. This year it could actually make a lot of sense. There are some really quality 43 linebackers in this class like Zach Brown who reminds people of Aaron Curry, Vontaze Burfict who has been compared to Patrick Willis (on the field), and Luke Kuechly (Lauranitis). But if the Giants don’t get a linebacker what other direction could they take?
I think Wide receiver is a plausible, yet under-explored option. Mario Manningham can be a free agent and if he’s not resigned the Giants could lack depth at the wide receiver spot. Also based on a lot of these mock drafts wide receiver would be the position that holds the highest value. Alshon Jefferey and/or Michael Floyd might be available and both wide receivers are really nice prospects, even though Jeffery has had a down year.
OL is a possiblity and the name I’ll throw out there to watch is Ohio State T Mike Adams. Adams was suspended because of the Ohio State scandal, but he is tall, long armed, and fairly athletic. If he tests well, he could be this year’s version of Nate Solder (a player the Giants were rumored to be very interested in). The other names are C Peter Konz from Wisconsin and Guard David DeCastro from Stanford. David Baas has played center and guard and Mitch Petrus is having some strong showings, but I wouldn’t rule interior offensive linemen out. Though I think it’s less of a possibility with the nice play of Petrus in his limited action.
Lastly a position I think doesn’t get enough love from mock drafts is Cornerback.
The Giants could lose both Terrell Thomas and Aaron Ross to free agency. Even if they bring only one of the two back, they will only be three deep at cornerback next year. There is no depth and the Giants can’t afford to go into the season like that. Janoris Jenkins has character issues (which is why he transfered from Florida to Northern Alabama) but he’s very talented. He probably would have been selected higher than Prince Amukamara last year without the off field stuff. Dre Kirkpatrick has high upside, but he’s likely to be gone by the time the Giants pick.
What do you think Giants fans? Who are you hoping end up in Big Blue next year?
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