2013 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper -- Arthur Brown a second-round value

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper was not asked a single direct question about the New York Giants during an hour-long conference call with media members on Wednesday. Kiper did, however, discuss a few players who are of interest to Giants' fans as the 2013 NFL Draft approaches.

SB Nation draft analyst Dan Kadar has been trumpeting Arthur Brown of Kansas State [BBV Prospect Profile] as the best middle linebacker prospect in the draft. Kiper disagrees, saying that although he like "everything about the kid" Brown is only a "solid second-round pick."

Valentine's View: As we noted earlier in our breakdown of the Giants' middle linebacker depth chart, the way analysts differ on the top-tier middle linebacker prospects (Brown, Manti Te'o, Alec Ogletree, Kevin Minter) is fascinating. You wonder if the Giants might wait the draft out a little, see if any of these four fall to No. 49 in the second round, and grab the guy who is left. Any of those four would be great value at that point.

More Notes From Kiper

- Kiper loves the potential of SMU defensive end Margus Hunt, who he projects as a late-first or early-second round pick. "He's got tremendous physicality and potential. He's raw. You think about where Margus Hunt could be in two or three years with pro coaching. That's what you're drafting him on, where he can be two or three years from now," Kiper said.

- Kiper believes Oregon offensive lineman Kyle Long [BBV Prospect Profile] will come off the board in the second round.

- Free safety D.J. Swearinger of South Carolina, another player we profiled as a possible Giants' selection, is a "solid second-rounder," according to Kiper.