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ESPN NFL Draft gurus Mel Kiper and Todd McShay are out with version 2.0 of their 2014 NFL mock drafts. Kiper has the New York Giants selecting Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley with the 12th overall pick. McShay has given the Giants offensive tackle Taylor Lewan of Michigan.
Kiper writes:
I await the inevitable critique that the Giants never take linebackers in the first round, but I'll stick with this pick. (I know the people who authored that philosophy, so consider me unafraid to be wrong here.) I just think Mosley is as close to a plug-and-perform linebacker as you can have in this draft because of his range and special ability to cover. The guy would really help against the offenses the G-Men see in the NFC East. The Giants were helped by the presence of Jon Beason last season, but this unit is a major question mark going forward, and they could use an impact talent, not just a Band-Aid.
Valentine's View: Kiper is right that the Giants "could use an impact talent, not just a Band-Aid" at linebacker. Until it happens, however, I won't believe the Giants will use their first pick on a linebacker -- something they have not done since Carl Banks in 1984 -- this time around. Too much of the focus of their offseason has been on fixing their offense. I find McShay's scenario, the Giants selection Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, more likely.
Your thoughts, Giants' fans?
