Todd McShay mock draft 2016: A defensive end for the New York Giants, of course

Todd McShay has released his first 2016 NFL mock draft, and his selection for the New York Giants with the 17th overall selection was a predictable one. McShay chose Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson for the pass-rush needy Giants.

The first-round defensive end to the Giants bandwagon has quickly emerged as we have begun to dip our toes into the mock draft waters. Pro Football Focus also gave the Giants Lawson in its initial mock draft. Last week, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report selected Emmanuel Ogbah, a defensive end from Oklahoma State, for the Giants in his initial three-round mock.

Here is what McShay wrote in explaining the selection:

Lawson made quite the leap in his junior season, as he led the country with 22.5 tackles for loss. That's more than he compiled in his first two seasons at Clemson combined (21.5). While he's not a speed rusher off the edge, Lawson displays a good combination of quickness and power. Regardless of whether Jason Pierre-Paul returns in 2016, the Giants will need to sign/draft another pass-rusher.

The Giants have only 16 sacks on the season, 31st in the league. The Giants' Adjusted Sack Rate of 3.4 percent (a Football Outsiders stat) is also 31st. The only defensive ends currently under contract for next season or Owamagbe Odighizuwa and Kerry Wynn.

It is obvious that the Giants have to address the defensive end spot in free agency, the draft or both. I suspect we will be talking about Lawson, Ogbah and many other defensive ends for a good portion of the next four-and-one-half months.