It is finally my turn in the SBN Mock Draft. So, to complete the first round I have selected ... Dan Connor, linebacker, Penn State with the 31st overall selection.
You guys know I wasn't 100% sure which way to go after the Chargers' guest-blogger took Miami safety Kenny Phillips, whom I wanted badly, with the 27th pick.
But, Connor is a good choice here and he is the guy most of you seemed to want with this pick. So, that's how it went down.
Here is what I said about the Connor selection over at Mocking the Draft. By the way, SBN draft guru Matt Miller loves this selection.
Connor, though, is one helluva consolation prize. The focus of this draft for the defending Super Bowl champions has to be defense, where they can use help at linebacker, cornerback, safety and maybe even defensive tackle. Considering the available players, I would have been happy to select either Connor or Tennessee linebacker Jarod Mayo, but the consensus choice in the Big Blue View Nation War Room was Connor.
Connor grades out pretty much equal to his ex-teammate at Penn State, Paul Posluszny, who went 34th to Buffalo last season and was impressive before suffering a season-ending injury. He is a bruising tackler who can make plays sideline-to-sideline.
The Giants lost two linebackers to free agency (Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor) and signed only one (Danny Clark). They may have to move Mathias Kiwanuka back to defensive end if Michael Strahan retires, so Connor could contribute right away. Also, since he can play inside or outside, he provides insurance for middle linebacker Antonio Pierce.
Here are some video highlights of Connor in action.
So, what do you guys think? Good move or bad?
[NOTE: With this selection done, I am heading off to Myrtle Beach for a week of R&R. I'll check in and may post a little, but not every day. If you see news, have thoughts, or whatever, post a diary and keep the action going here at Big Blue View.]