I don't think it comes as a news flash that the New York Giants need -- at the very least -- some insurance at the center position. There are questions about the health of Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert, and questions about the health -- and maybe the ability -- of Adam Koets.
We will never know for sure, but you have to wonder if the Giants would have grabbed Mike Pouncey is he had been available in the first round or Stefen Wisniewski if he had not gone to Oakland in the second round. Not having been able to address this position in the draft the Giants will likely scour the free agent market for help. If they want someone who can play right away you would think they would try to bring in a player with NFL experience. Yet, there are still several undrafted free agent centers.
Today's let's look at Jake Kirkpatrick of TCU [full profile]. Kirkpatrick won the Rimington Trophy as the outstanding center in college football in 2010.
Based on that you would think someone would have taken Kirkpatrick late in the 2011 NFL Draft. In a pre-draft assessment of Kirkpatrick, though, Jon Dove of SB Nation's Mocking The Draft did not have much good to say about Kirkpatrick's NFL chances.
Kirkpatrick does not look like a draftable prospect. He is very athletically limited and struggles in both the passing and running games. He doesn't possess a natural bend which impacts his balance, strength, and leverage. In pass protection, he is unable to absorb the initial contact and often gets pushed back into the pocket. He also struggles to reach defenders off his frame and mirror. Kirkpatrick's limited strength makes it tough for him to generate a powerful punch and move defenders off the football. He doesn't possesses the heavy hands need to be a velco player which limits versatility.
Best case scenario, Kirkpatrick gets selected at the back end of the draft with hopes of catching on as a practice squad player. There was nothing I saw that lead me to believe that Kirkpatrick has a future in the NFL.
What do you think? Is Kirkpatrick a guy you would like to see the Giants bring to training camp?