2013 NFL Mock Draft: Ezekiel Ansah to New York Giants -- Draft Countdown

Over the course of the last decade Scott Wright of Draft Countdown has been one of the most accurate NFL Draft analysts. Wright does not release many mock drafts, but he posted an updated 2013 NFL Mock Draft on Thursday. His choice for the Giants? Ezekiel Ansah, the raw but freakishly athletic defensive end from Brigham Young.

That choice is hardly going out on a limb as it's one commonly made on behalf of the Giants. It's almost more intriguing to look at the players Wright left on the board when making the Ansah selection for the Giants. Oklahoma offensive tackle Lane Johnson, Georgia linebacker Alex Ogletree, Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker and Stanford tight end Zach Ertz were still on Wright's board when he chose Ansah. Wright explains:

If there is one distinguishing characteristic of the Giants approach on Draft Day it is an emphasis on the defensive line. Even when it appears as though they have no use for a defensive end or defensive tackle they still just keep on investing in the position. There is no telling how much longer the continually disgruntled and expensive Osi Umenyiora will be around and Justin Tuck is about to turn 30-years-old so it might be time to bring in another pass rusher to groom as a long-term running mate for Jason Pierre-Paul. No prospect has improved their stock more in recent months than B.Y.U. DE Ezekiel Ansah, who has gone from an afterthought to a likely first round pick. A native of Ghana, "Ziggy" was a member of the track team at Brigham Young before taking up football for the first time in 2010. A breakout senior season sent Ansah's stock soaring and scouts are drooling over all the potential in that 6-6 and 270 pound body. Ezekiel Ansah | B.Y.U. Cougars Ansah is far from a finished product but the Giants can afford to be patient, just like they were with Pierre-Paul. I think we saw how well that worked out! New York could also stand to upgrade at middle linebacker (Manti Te'o of Notre Dame), tight end (Zach Ertz of Stanford or Tyler Eifert of Notre Dame), left guard (Jonathan Cooper of North Carolina) or perhaps safety (Kenny Vaccaro of Texas) and it might be time to at least consider adding a top young offensive tackle (Lane Johnson or Oklahoma or D.J. Fluker of Alabama) too.

Other Mock Drafts

Walter Football -- Alex Ogletree, LB, Georgia

Draft Tek -- Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

National Football Post -- Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida

Ourlads -- Ogletree

CBS Sports (Brugler) -- Ansah

CBS Sports (Rang) -- Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford

Draft Notes

Wright not only selected Ansah for the Giants, he has also posted an interview he did with the BYU defensive end. Ansah, predictably, said he thinks he compares to Jason Pierre-Paul. Asked to describe his game he said he's "just the guy who makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. I’m not perfect and I still have a lot to work on. I’ve only been playing football for three years but I just can’t wait to keep learning."

Tony Pauline of Draft Insider did not release a mock, but Pauling has been on the D.J. Fluker to the Giants bandwagon for a while, and continued that this week, saying "Its still early but once again we heard the name of Alabama tackle DJ Fluker matched up with the New York Giants."