I will be brutally honest as I start this post. I generally hate single-team seven-round mock drafts. I usually find them to be totally unrealistic "wish lists" that really don't take into account that there are 31 other teams also drafting players. You can't just say I want Player A in Round 1, Player B in Round 2, etc.
That said, I know the draftniks among you love your mock drafts. I also know that some of you want to see what my own "draft board" looks like. Honestly, I don't have one. At least not formally.
Anyway, I am going to break down and give you a seven-round New York Giants' mock draft, using what I hope will be an interesting method. What I am going to do is piggyback off the computerized seven-round mock draft posted by the folks at DraftTek.
I will pick each round based on the players available in the DraftTek simulation. I will also give the player chosen by the DraftTek simulation, players off the board I might have considered, and players I considered but bypased. So, in a way, you will be seeing what will pass for my draft board. If this works out well I might even do it again next week right before the draft, a version 2.0 if you will.
This is something I have never attempted before, so let's just see how it works out.
Round 1 (19th overall) -- Mike Pouncey, OG/C, Florida
Draft Tek's Choice: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
Off the board already: Tyron Smith (USC OT, No. 9 - Dallas), Anthony Castonzo (OT, Boston College, No. 17 -- New England).
For me, this pick was obvious. Pouncey [full profile] is the best offensive lineman on the board at a position where the Giants have an obvious need. With age and injuries leaving Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert as question marks, and the Giants not having obvious long-term replacements for either, Pouncey is the perfect pick here. Somehow, DraftTek's simulation doesn't have him being taken until 47th (by St. Louis), but that is way under-valuing Pouncey. Walter Football put together a consensus big board, averaging seven of the most highly-respected boards, and Pouncey ended up No. 24.
I would bring in Pouncey and let him start at guard or center for the next decade. Hard to argue with that.
Other players considered: Liuget, Gabe Carimi (OT, Wisconsin), Akeem Ayers (LB, UCLA), Jimmy Smith (CB, Colorado), Muhammad Wilkerson (DT, Temple), Mark Ingram (RB, Alabama).
Round 2 (52nd Overall) -- Mikel LeShoure, RB, Illinois
Draft Tek's Choice: Brandon Fusco, C, Slippery Rock
Off the board already: Stefen Wisniewski (Penn State C, No. 29 - Chicago), Ingram (33, New England), Martez Wilson (Illinois LB, 34 - Buffalo), Stephen Paea (Oregon State DT, 36 - Denver), Aaron Williams (Texas CB, No. 38 - Arizona), Mason Foster (Washington LB, No. 39 - Tennessee), Marcus Cannon (TCU OL, No. 41 - Washington), Kyle Rudolph (Notre Dame TE, No. 46 - Denver), Ayers (No. 51, Tampa Bay).
I have to be honest. This is not the pick I really hoped to make here. Ayers somehow fell all the way to Tampa Bay at 51, and I would have snagged him without hesitation if he had been at No. 52. Rudolph, the Notre Dame tight end, would also have been difficult to pass up.
LeShoure, though, is a tough runner and an every-down type back. We know the deal with Ahmad Bradshaw (free agency, fumbles) and Brandon Jacobs (unhappy, maybe wearing out his welcome). For me, LeShoure is the best player on the board for the Giants.
Other players considered: Marvin Austin (DT, North Carolina), Ben Ijalana (OT, Villanova), Bruce Carter (LB, North Carolina), Danny Watkins (G, Baylor), Ras-I-Dowling (CB, Virginia).
Draft Preview: Mikel LeShoure (via foxsports)
Round 3 (84th overall) -- Luke Stocker
Draft Tek's Choice: Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
No need for Williams, since I grabbed LeShoure in the second round. You will notice, of course, that we have hit Round 3 and I still have not taken a linebacker. I would have grabbed Foster or Ayers in Round 2 if one had been there, and in all honesty would have taken a flier on North Carolina's Bruce Carter even though you probably have to wait a year for him, except in this draft simulation DraftTek has given Carter to the Denver Broncos at No. 67.
So, the choice is Stocker. With Kevin Boss being a free agent, Travis Beckum not looking like an in-line tight end and Bear Pascoe apparently staying at fullback Stocker looks like one of the few remaining all-around tight ends in this draft. He is good value at this spot, and could fill Boss's spot eventually.
Other players considered: Orlando Franklin (OT, Miami), James Carpenter (OT, Alabama), Deunta Williams (S, North Carolina), Quan Sturdivant (LB, North Carolina).
Round 4 (118th overall) -- Randoll Cobb, WR, Kentucky
DraftTeks's Choice: Greg Little, WR, North Carolina
I surprised even myself here. This is a pure 'value' pick. Cobb is ranked No. 57 on the Draft Countdown board. He is No. 51 on the National Football Post board. He is a second-round pick in most multi-round mock drafts. To find him sitting here in the fourth round is a value I can't pass up. He's a potential slot receiver who provides insurance for Steve Smith, and could have added value returning kicks.
Other players considered: Doug Hogue (OLB, Syracuse), Chimdi Chekwa (CB, Ohio State), Greg Jones (LB, Michigan State).
Round 6 (185th overall) --Terrell McClain, DT, South Florida
DraftTek's Choice: Buster Skrine, CB, Tennessee-Chattanooga
This is another case of being astounded to find this type of value here in the sixth round. McClain is a second- to fourth-round value on most boards and in most mock drafts I have studied, and to find him here is amazing. He is a 6-foot-2, 303-pounder who could join the Giants defensive line rotation if Barry Cofield leaves via free agency.
Round 6 (198th overall, compensatory pick) -- Jaiquawn Jarrett, S, Temple
DraftTeks's Choice: Adrian Moten, OLB, Maryland
This is a player we have spent a good deal of time talking about here at Big Blue View. He has the skill set and the attitude to play the "box" safety role. My question is whether or not he has the size, at just 6-foot, 198 pounds. Still, at this point in the draft a good value for the Giants at a position where they could use the help.
Round 6 (202nd overall, compensatory pick) -- Kendrick Burney, CB, North Carolina
DraftTek's Choice: Bruce Miller, OLB, Central Florida
Burney is a smallish corner at 5-foot-9, 186 pounds but is a guy who profiles as a possible slot corner who can help in nickel and dime packages. At this point in the draft he isn't a bad option. I always believe in adding coverage guys, and Burney has a reputation as a zone coverage specialist -- which should suit Perry Fewell.
Other players considered: Lee Smith (TE, Marshall) Brian Rolle (OLB, Ohio State)
Round 7 (221st overall) -- Brian Rolle (OLB, Ohio State)
DraftTek's Choice: Jarriel King, OT, South Carolina
There, I took a linebacker. Actually, I kind of like Rolle for that Deon Grant role. He is small at 218 pounds, but has good speed and coverage skills and could fit that coverage type role on the outside in Fewell's Cover 2 reliant scheme. Plus, he has a reputation as a quality special teams guy, and that is important this late in the draft.
Other players considered: Da'Rel Scott (RB, Maryland), Cecil Shorts (WR, Mount Union), Alex Henery (PK, Nebraska).
Go ahead, gang. Start tearing it apart. I know you will. One thing I learned while going through this is that a draft is most likely not going to turn out anything like you think it might when you start it. I am happy with it, but for me this one certainly did not go the way I figured it would.