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The Pro Day portion of the 2014 NFL Draft evaluation process begins Monday. There are four Pro Days on the docket -- Concordia (Minn.), Minnesota, Mississippi and Pittsburgh. Players in the spotlight will be defensive tackles Aaron Donald (Pitt) and Ra'Shede Hageman (Minnesota) and wide receiver Donte Moncrief of Ole Miss. We will look at these, of course, with a slant toward players of interest to your New York Giants.
Players To Watch
Pitt
Donald has been one of the stars of the draft evaluation process, starring in both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. Our own 'Invictus' made the 6-foot-1, 285-pound Donald his selection for the Giants at No. 12 in our recent mock draft. Donald is No. 16 on the Big Blue View Big Board. In his prospect profile of Donald, 'Invictus' wrote that Donald "slots in perfectly next to a prototype 1 technique like Johnathan Hankins."
Other Pitt prospects scouts will be paying attention to include wide receiver Devin Street, a mid- to late-round draft possibility, and quarterback Tom Savage, a Rutgers transfer who could be a late-round choice.
Minnesota
Hageman is 6-6, 310 pounds and considered more of a late-first round possibility. Hageman, No. 20 on our Big Board, likely would not be in play for the Giants unless he was still on the board for them in the second round.
Minnesota safety Brock Vereen is a potential late-round choice.
Ole Miss
Moncrief is an intriguing mid-round wide receiver possibility 'Raptor' just profiled for us on Sunday. Here is part of what 'Raptor' wrote about Moncrief:
Moncrief has a very JR-like blend of height, weight, and speed, measuring 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, and running a 4.40 40-yard dash. He also led all wide receivers in the broad jump and tied for third in the vertical and 40.
On the field, Moncrief shows a combination of deep speed and start/stop ability that is rare in receivers his size. Add that to generally reliable hands and an ability to adjust to the ball, and he can be a dangerous mismatch on the outside.
He still has developing to do, needing to sharpen his route running, further improve his concentration, and get generally get better at using his physical gifts.
Moncrief is No. 54 on the Big Blue View Big Board. CBS Sports says the only real question about Moncrief was straight-line speed, something a 4.40 40 seems to answer.