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The more time goes on, the closer we get to the 2016 NFL Draft, the more options we seem to be getting for the New York Giants at 10th overall.
Earlier this week, Mocking The Draft upset the apple cart by moving TCU receiver Josh Doctson ahead of Laquon Treadwell and mocking him to the Giants at 10th overall.
ESPN's Mel Kiper is doubling down and selecting a lineman that -- up until recently -- has gone in the lower parts of the first round.
10. New York Giants - Jack Conklin (OT, Michigan State)
The Giants could go a few different directions here, as their spending spree in free agency, particularly on defense, doesn't mean that adding a pass-rusher or cornerback is out of the question here. But Conklin can be plugged in immediately at right tackle, and could even battle for the starting job on the left side.
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Raptor's Take: I could see this. Conklin has steadily risen up draft boards after showing better athleticism than many thought he was capable of at the Scouting Combine. Add that to a dominant performance against the likes of DeForest Buckner (which is handy, considering Kiper mocks him to the Philadelphia Eagles at 8th overall), and Conklin starts to look more realistic. Personally, I think Ronnie Stanley -- who went to the Ravens at sixth overall -- is a better prospect, but I could see McAdoo falling in love with Conklin's mean, nasty, toughness. And like Ronnie Stanley, Conklin comes out of a Pro Style offense, is used to playing out of a three-point stance, and shouldn't have a problem adjusting to the Giants' protection schemes.
And in that regard he fits right in with the culture being established on that offensive line. Now, while Conklin could step in and be a Day 1 starter, and he is a mauler through and through, make no mistake that he does have developing to do. Like Ereck Flowers, Conklin can dominate against power rushers, but he struggles against speed off the edge. And like Flowers, he has difficulty getting into his pass sets when he has to react quickly. But while Flowers' feet were uncoordinated, which lead to inconsistent hand usage (and too much lunging), Conklin has a nasty habit of letting his base narrow and being unable to re-anchor if a defender can translate speed to power.
That's not to say that he is a bad prospect or a bad player. Not by any means. Conklin's feet, like Flowers' are coachable and with hard work he should be able to over-come it.
At the very least I'm sure the running backs would appreciate a right side of Bobby Hart and Jack Conklin much more than John Jerry and Marshall Newhouse.