There is a long tome to go until the 2016 NFL Draft. We still have All-Star games, the NFL Scouting Combine, and pro days for scouts and GMs to gather data on players.
But despite the lengthy process still in front of us, big boards are already starting to take shape.
On Friday morning, SB Nation's own Mocking The Draft released its own preliminary Top 100 Big Board. It just so happens that the New York Giants will (as it stands now) have three selections in the top 100. So let's take a look at some options for the Giants in the first two days of the draft.
For this, I am going to keep the selection within three of the Giants' draft slot in the first round and five in the second and third rounds. Any more than that above or below I will treat as too unlikely to fall, or too unlikely to reach.
Round 1: 10th overall
Available players:
7. DeForest Buckner (DL) | 6-7 | 300 pounds | Oregon |
8. Reggie Ragland (ILB) | 6-2 | 252 pounds | Alabama |
9. Jaylon Smith (ILB) | 6-3 | 240 pounds | Notre Dame |
10. Mackensie Alexander (CB) | 5-11 | 195 pounds | Clemson |
11. Ronnie Stanley (OT) | 6-5.5 | 315 pounds | Notre Dame |
12. Ezekiel Elliott (RB) | 6-0 | 225 pounds | Ohio State |
13. Robert Nkemdiche | 6-4 | 296 pounds | Ole Miss |
A) Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame) -- This isn't an ideal pick but adding another blue-chip offensive lineman to what could be one of the youngest and most talented groups in the NFL is hardly a bad idea. If the Giants can't find a player that fits to improve their defense, dominating the line of scrimmage on the offensive side of the ball isn't a bad consolation prize.
B) Mackensie Alexander (CB, Clemson) -- This is in case Prince Amukamara leaves via free agency. Alexander has the attitude and athleticism to be a shut-down corner, but his size -- particularly his height -- is an issue. He is a tenacious defender, however.
C) Robert Nkemdiche (DT, Ole miss) - When it comes to pure athletic ability, Nkemdiche is a rare breed. But an off-season incident involving synthetic marijuana and a 15-foot fall off a balcony have only intensified questions regarding his character and lack of production on the field. My official stance is that if the Giants are comfortable enough with the young man to make him the 10th pick in the draft, this could be an excellent value. If they pass, I won't damn them for it.
Notes: You'll notice that I avoided Jaylon Smith, DeForest Buckner, and Reggie Ragland. Smith was my favorite prospect in the entire draft before his injury, but even if he makes a full recovery, I'm just not comfortable with a significant injury that has a not-insignificant chance of recurring. At this point I'm not sold on Buckner's fit with the Giants. He's athletic and better than Arik Armstead, but his build seems to point to a 3-4 front. As for Ragland, I'm not sure he is a better prospect than C.J. Mosley, and in a stacked draft I can't feel good about taking him in the top 10.
Round 2: 40th Overall
Available players:
35. Hunter Henry (TE) | 6-5 | 253 pounds | Arkansas |
36. Austin Johnson (DT) | 6-4 | 315 pounds | Penn State |
37. Shilique Calhoun (EDGE) | 6-5 | 250 pounds | Michigan State |
38. Emmanuel Ogbah (DE) | 6-4 | 275 pounds | Oklahoma State |
39. Will Fuller (WR) | 6-0 | 185 pounds | Notre Dame |
40. Su'a Cravens (OLB) | 6-1 | 225 pounds | USC |
41. Kevin Dodd (DE) | 6-5 | 275 pounds | Clemson |
42. Adolphus Washington (DT) | 6-4 | 290 pounds | Ohio State |
43. Connor Cook (QB) | 6-4 | 220 pounds | Michigan State |
44. Jason Spriggs (OT) | 6-7 | 305 pounds | Indiana |
45. Maliek Collins (DT) | 6-2 | 300 pounds | Nebraska |
A) Su'a Cravens (LB, USC) -- Cravens doesn't have the downhill stack and shed ability the Giants have historically coveted in their linebackers. In fact, in a lot of ways, he's pretty similar to Landon Collins. But regardless of what other moves get made, the Giants' defense won't improve until they can cover the middle of the field. Cravens has the fluidity and range to be a menace over the middle, and the mentality to be effective downhill. He is a playmaker.
B) Kevin Dodd (DE, Clemson) -- The Giants only have two defensive ends under contract for 2016. One is the athletically gifted but unpolished Owamagbe Odighizuwa, the other is the high-effort but athletically limited Kerry Wynn. Dodd fits the Giants' mold for defensive ends, with a great blend of size, length, and athleticism, as well as strong production in 2015. He could rise above Shaq Lawson in rankings before all is said and done.
C) Austin Johnson (DT, Penn State) -- The second or third round of the draft is a common time for the Giants to select a defensive tackle. Jay Alford, Linval Joseph, Marvin Austin, Johnathan Hankins, and Jay Bromley were all drafted in the second or third rounds. They may feel they are set with a rotation of Hankins, Bromley, Montori Hughes, and Louis Nix, but there is no better way to disrupt an opposing offense than to get pressure up the middle. Johnson has the size and power to play the 1-technique, but he also has the length and athleticism to rush the passer as a the 3-technique. He finished the 2015 season with 15 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks.
Round 3 - 74th Overall
Available Players
69. Carl Nassib (DE) | 6-7 | 272 pounds | Penn State |
70. Germain Ifedi (OL) | 6-6 | 335 pounds | Texas A&M |
71. Rashard Higgans (WR) | 6-2 | 190 pounds | Colorado State |
72. Ryan Kelly (OC) | 6-5 | 297 pounds | Alabama |
73. Deion Jones (OLB) | 6-1 | 227 pounds | LSU |
74. Will Redmond (CB) | 6-0 | 186 pounds | Ole Miss |
75. Shawn Oakman (DL) | 6-9 | 275 pounds | Baylor |
76. Kyler Fackrell (OLB) | 6-5 | 250 pounds | Utah State |
77. Kamalei Correa (EDGE) | 6-3 | 248 pounds | Boise State |
78. Pharoh Cooper (WR) | 5-11 | 207 pounds | South Carolina |
79. Landon Turner (OG) | 6-4 | 325 pounds | North Carolina |
A) Carl Nassib (DE, Penn State) -- I have said a few times that I believe people at large are sleeping on Nassib, and that when all is said and done, he could be in the conversation for 10th overall. So if MTD has him available in the third round, I can't not take him. Nassib checks off many boxes for the Giants. He has the size and length they insist on, he has a great first step when attacking down hill, was timed with a 4.71 by scouts this year, and his work ethic is beyond repute. He also lead college football with 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss in 13 games.
B) Deion Jones (OLB, LSU) -- The Giants may have addressed linebacker already, but that doesn't mean they can't do so again -- they can use all the help they can get. Jones is another athletic "New Age" linebacker who can run and cover sideline - to - sideline. He plays fast but doesn't always trust what he sees. Despite occasionally finding himself out of position, he has a pretty high floor to go with the high ceiling his athletic tools give him.
C) Pharoh Cooper (WR, South Carolina) -- Right now the Giants have four real receiving threats on their team, Odell Beckham Jr., Dwayne Harris, Shane Vereen, and Will Tye. But of them, only Beckham actually scares defenses. While Cooper likely isn't a true "No. 1" receiver like Beckham, he could be a credible No. 2. His compact build and versatility are reminiscent of Randall Cobb, and Ben McAdoo could freely move him around the offensive formation in the same way.
So what do you think Giants' fans? Would you be upset if the draft worked out like this?