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What would you think of this haul for the New York Giants in the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft -- Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans in the first round and Notre Dame tight end Troy Niklas in the second round? Those are the selections for the Giants by Matthew Fairburn in the latest mock draft at SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.
As things stand right now, an Evans-Niklas combo in the first two rounds seems like a realistic possibility for the receiver-needy Giants. Let's look at each pick.
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Round 1 (12th overall), Evans
Fairburn writes: "The Giants need a big body on the outside after losing Hakeem Nicks in free agency. Mike Evans fits the bill. He had an outstanding showing at the combine and would likely be an upgrade over Nicks before long."
Big Blue View's Jesse Bartolis profiled Evans on Monday. He called Evans "one of the top three options for the Giants in the first round" and added that if the Giants selected him it "would be easy to understand."
Evans is currently ranked No. 9 on the Big Blue View Big Board. He is Mocking The Draft's second-ranked wide receiver.
In its scouting report on Evans, Mocking The Draft says:
Evans grades out as one of the ten best players in the draft on our latest big board. He's the type of receiver who instantly makes his quarterback better. The skills he used to make plays in college all translate to the NFL.
Round 2 (43rd overall), Niklas
Eli Manning would be happy with a two-round result of Mike Evans and Troy Niklas. Niklas is still developing as a tight end, but he would be an instant threat in the red zone as a rookie.
Fairburn writes: "Eli Manning would be happy with a two-round result of Mike Evans and Troy Niklas. Niklas is still developing as a tight end, but he would be an instant threat in the red zone as a rookie."
Yes, you have to believe Manning would like this result.
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Niklis No. 47 on the BBV Big Board. In his prospect profile of NIklas, 'Invictus' said "nobody would bat an eye" if the Giants used the 43rd overall pick on the 6-foot-6, 270 pound tight end. He also wrote:
He would've likely been the best type of tight end if Mike Pope were still around. Probably the most polished of all the tight ends in the draft, as he's a better blocker than Ebron and especially Amaro, and more consistent in his level of play than Sefarian-Jenkins. However, his level of upside compared to those three is probably less so. Would likely be Coughlin's choice.
Niklas is ranked No. 4 among tight ends by Mocking The Draft, and adds "His size and body control are impressive down the field. The top four tight ends all have the potential to be impact players."