Mel Kiper mock draft: DE Noah Spence is selection for New York Giants

Wednesday Daniel Jeremiah picked Noah Spence in his second mock draft to upgrade the New York Giants' pass rush. Thursday, Mel Kiper, ESPN's draft guru, released his Mock Draft 2.0 and made the same selection.

10. New York Giants

*Noah Spence, DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky
The departure of Jason Pierre-Paul is a likelihood, and that leaves the Giants extremely vulnerable to opposing passers if they don't find help in the pass rush. Spence comes with off-field concerns, but also the upside to be a major force as an edge-rusher. It'll be hard to pass on him at this point.

Raptor's Thoughts: Just like with Jeremiah's selection of Spence for the Giants, I love this (assuming he's clean). I'm not sure that the departure of JPP is a likelihood -- even with one hand he is still one of the top defensive ends on the market, and the Giants should recognize that he was cheered when he returned to the locker room in November -- but regardless, the Giants need somebody who knows that it's okay for a defensive player to hit the quarterback, and Spence very well could be the best in the draft at that. If the Giants can get a "Khalil Mack" type player at 10th overall, that's a move they almost have to make.

Spence was already off the board in our mock draft, but we took a similar risk in drafting Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith.

Already off the board:

DeForest Buckner (third overall, San Diego Chargers)

Jalen Ramsey (fifth, Jacksonville Jaguars)

Joey Bosa (sixth, Baltimore Ravens)

Myles Jack (seventh, San Francisco 49ers)

Vernon Hargreaves (ninth, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Other NFC East Picks

4. Dallas Cowboys - Jared Goff (QB, California)

13. Philadelphia Eagles - Jack Conklin (OT, Michigan State)

21. Washington Redskins - A'Shawn Robinson (DT, Alabama)

This is, of course, long before free agency shakes up our perceptions of the various teams' needs, but how do you feel about this pick for the Giants?