2013 NFL Mock Draft: For Giants, a flier on Marcus Lattimore?

The newest 2013 NFL Mock Draft from Draft Tek, a seven-round effort, turns out to be very interesting from the perspective of the New York Giants. And the reason has nothing to do with Draft Tek's choice of Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson at No. 19 in the first round, a choice that makes sense and would make many amateur GMs ecstatic.

Rather, it has everything to do with Draft Tek selecting South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore for the Giants in the fourth round, 113th overall.

Lattimore is the talented running back who suffered a gruesome knee injury last fall. Lattimore dislocated his right knee and tore several ligaments. in 2011 Lattimore tore the ACL in his left knee.

He declared his intention to enter the 2013 NFL Draft in December.

SB Nation spoke with Lattimore at the Senior Bowl, where he met with NFL teams although physically unable to practice or work out. Here are a couple of the best quotes from the interview:

"There are some dark days, but I just think about how many people would want to be in my shoes, and how many people are in a hospital bed right now and how many people are starving right now, and that's really why I don't complain about anything that happens to me." ...

"Whatever comes my way in life and in football, in anything, I will never break, nothing will break my happiness that I have in waking up every day and being able to train for the sport I love. I will be back on the field again, and I will be 100 percent."

The thought of the Giants taking a mid- to late-round flier on Lattimore, a 6-foot, 218-pound back considered one of the best in the country before his devastating injuries, is intriguing.

The Giants, of course, just released oft-injured Ahmad Bradshaw. They have David Wilson and Andre Brown, along with unproven Da'Rel Scott and veteran holdovers Ryan Torain and Kregg Lumpkin. The selection of a running back at some point in the draft to add depth and competition at running back would not be a stunner.

After jettisoning the seemingly always-injured Bradshaw, would the Giants take the risk with a player like Lattimore? He obviously has the heart and character the Giants like. But, most importantly, will he have healthy enough knees?

Draft Tek's Choices For The Giants

Round 1 (19th) -- Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Round 2 (49th) -- Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State
Round 3 (81st) -- Cornelius Carradine, DE, Florida State
Round 4 (113th) -- Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
Round 5 (145th) -- Kyle Long, OT, Oregon
Round 6 (177th) -- Chris Gragg, TE, Arkansas
Round 7 (209th) -- Ray Polk, FS, Colorado

Lattimore Career Stats