In his newest 2013 NFL Mock Draft, released Monday morning, SB Nation draft expert Dan Kadar has selected Brigham Young University defensive end Ezekial Ansah for the New York Giants with the 19th overall selection of the first round in the April 2013 NFL Draft.
Kadar writes:
Ansah didn't have the stellar week of practices at the Senior Bowl some were anticipating, but he did well on game day with 3.5 tackles for loss. Ansah's potential is as high as any player in the draft this year and going to a team like New York would allow him to ease into the NFL.
[Big Blue View Draft Hub Page | Prospect Profile StoryStream]
Kadar's selection of Ansah really isn't a surprise. There is a groundswell of opinion from draft analysts around the Inter-Google that the Giants will be sorely tempted by Ansah, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound athletic freak most often compared to Jason Pierre-Paul because of his athleticism, upside and limited football experience.
The surprise, for me, is that following much post-Senior Bowl speculation that Ansah may have played his way out of the Giants' reach in the draft that Kadar's mock had him available with the 19th pick.
Among players who have been connected to the Giants Kadar passed on were Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert (20th, Chicago Bears), Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o (28th, Denver Broncos), LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery (29th, Atlanta Falcons) and LSU linebacker Kevin Minter (31st, Baltimore Ravens).
[E-mail Ed at bigblueview@gmail.com | Follow Big Blue View on Twitter | 'Like' Big Blue View on Facebook.]