2016 NFL Draft: Stanley, Conklin remain popular mock draft choices for the Giants

There are just ten days to go until the 2016 NFL Draft. And in response mock drafters are working furiously to update their mock drafts. So today we'll skimp on the preamble and get right to the mock drafts.

We've got a lot to cover.

Mocking The Draft

10. New York Giants - Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

This may seem a little early for Conklin, but offensive tackles come at a premium in the NFL Draft. The Giants seem to be on a never ending quest to finish their offensive line. Even after taking Ereck Flowers and Weston Richburg early in the last two drafts, the Giants still have a need at right tackle. Conklin is a power blocker suited for the right side, and could finally be the last piece the Giants need.

Other options - Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida; Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson

NFL.com

Daniel Jeremiah - Jack Conklin (OT, Michigan State)

The Giants love to go big in the first round, and Conklin provides a very physical element to the run game.

Bucky Brooks - Kevin Dodd (DE, Clemson)

Dodd can play in a rotation with Jason Pierre-Paul, and perhaps Dodd will be his replacement down the line.

Charles Davis - Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame)

I keep hearing that some teams like Stanley better as a prospect than Laremy Tunsil, and Stanley has more experience than Tunsil as a drive blocker in the run game. All in all, the Giants would be excited to add him to their OL to keep QB Eli Manning upright.

Lance Zierlein - Leonard Floyd (OLB, Georgia)

The Giants love pass rushers. They always have and probably always will. I'm fine with that. Floyd would allow the Giants a chance to draft a linebacker with tremendous athleticism and range who can also come off the edge on passing downs. This is a win/win for the Giants' defense.

Chad Reuter - Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame)

Ereck Flowers should be on the right side of the line, and Stanley's value here as a potential top-notch blind-side protector is excellent.

Charlie Casserly - DeForest Buckner (DT, Oregon)

Best player on the board. Where will they play him? He helps them more at DE. Best position is DT.

CBS Sports

Rob Rang - Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame)

After investing heavily in free agent defensive linemen Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon, the Giants may look to the other side of the line in the first round of the draft. Last year's top pick Ereck Flowers struggled at left tackle a year ago and his brawling style of play may fit better as a run blocking specialist on the right side. Stanley, on the other hand, is very light on his feet, making him an ideal blind-side protector for the relatively immobile Eli Manning.

Dane Brugler - Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame)

With Will Beatty no longer on the roster and last year's first-round pick Ereck Flowers struggling on the left side, Stanley would make sense as a plug-and-play left tackle from Day One.

Walter Football

Walter Cherepinsky

10. Vernon Hargreaves III (CB, Florida)

I've had Ronnie Stanley mocked here the past couple of updates, but Jordan Raanan of NJ.com wrote a great article about the team's financial implications concerning the offensive line, citing that Stanley (or Jack Conklin) couldn't be the pick at No. 10. Also, there are concerns about Stanley that I'll get to in a bit. With that in mind, Vernon Hargreaves might make more sense. He doesn't fill a pressing need, but the team has no depth at cornerback. That's a problem, since it's a must to have three viable corners in this day and age. Hargreaves could eventually step in as a starter once Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie moves on.

40. Tyler Boyd (WR, Pittsburgh)

The Giants are searching for any sort of impactful wideout, as they need a No. 2 receiver to start across from Odell Beckham Jr.

71. Christian Westerman (G, Arizona State)

Here's some much-needed help on the offensive line. John Jerry is a major liability and needs to be replaced.

109. Charles Tapper (DE, Oklahoma)

The Giants added Olivier Vernon and retained Jason Pierre-Paul, but a defensive end remains a possibility in the early or middle portions of the 2016 NFL Draft.

149. DeAndre Houston-Carson (S, William & Mary)

The Giants' pass defense has been atrocious this season. Their safety play has been horrific. This position could be addressed even earlier.

Charlie Campbell

10. Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame)

The Giants have spent big money on defensive free agents this year, but have a big hole at tackle. New York has taken an offensive player in the first round for the last four years with a preference toward the line. With Will Beatty having been cut, Stanley could form an excellent tackle tandem with Ereck Flowers. That would finish off the organization's offensive line.

Stanley has the potential to be a franchise left tackle. He is very athletic and quick for his size. He possesses good length to him and sustains his blocks pretty well. Stanley also has the speed and agility to mirror speed rushers, and therefore is a skilled blind-side protector. His significant athleticism allows him to hit blocks downfield as well.

However, Stanley needs to add more power and play with more of a mean streak, and he has to improve his ability to avoid mental mistakes with penalties. Stanley can struggle with physical defensive linemen (see Clemson and Shaq Lawson).

Stanley (6-5, 312) generated a ton of late-season buzz in 2014, and he put an exclamation point on it by getting the better of the top 2015 NFL Draft-eligible defensive lineman in USC's Leonard Williams in limited plays against each other. In 2013, Stanley started at right tackle and was part of a line that allowed only eight sacks on the season.

40. Karl Joseph (S, West Virginia)

The Giants need a complement for Landon Collins and have shown interest in Joseph.

Joseph was excellent in his abbreviated 2015, leading the nation with five interceptions before sustaining a season-ending knee injury. The 4-year starter also had 20 tackles and was well-balanced in coverage along with good run defense. In 2014, Joseph totaled 92 tackles, three passes broken up, one interception and two forced fumbles. The 5-foot-9, 205-pounder is a gritty, physical defender who is a good tackler and hard hitter. Joseph has tremendous instincts and quick feet.

71. Kyler Fackrell (OLB, Utah State)

The Giants have needed better linebacker play for years, and Fackrell would add some versatility to their defense.

In 2015, Fackrell had 82 tackles with 15 for a loss and four sacks. At the beginning of the 2014 season, he went out with a torn ACL. Fackrell had a quality sophomore season - in 2013 - with 13 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, five sacks, 82 tackles, one interception and a pass broken up. Perhaps his best year may have come as a freshman when he totaled 87 tackles with eight tackles for a loss, three sacks, three interceptions, three passes broken up and two forced fumbles. Fackrell (6-4, 244) has a versatile skill set.

109. Kentrell Brothers (ILB, Missiouri)

The Giants need to upgrade their linebackers.

Brothers made a huge impact in 2015, recording 152 tackles, 12 for a loss, two interceptions, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, three passes batted and a blocked punt. The 6-foot-1, 235-pounder was one of the top tacklers in the SEC in 2014, recording 122 tackles alongside one sack and four passes broken up. He had a decent Senior Bowl week.

149. Keith Marshall (RB, Georgia)

The Giants could use more play-making competition at running back, plus Marshall has talent. He illustrated that at the combine, and he could be a third-day steal if he can stay healthy.

Raptor's Take

Rather than offer a separate take for each mock -- because this might as well be a long-form essay in that case -- I'm going to offer some general parting thoughts.

Seven of 11 first-round picks have the Giants taking either Ronnie Stanley or Jack Conklin and either makes sense for the Giants. The offensive line isn't finished yet, even if Bobby Hart is able to succeed as the right guard. They need a right tackle, and there is a major drop-off from the top tier of tackles (Tunsil, Stanley, Conklin, Spriggs, and Decker) to the second tier. The Giants might not be able to afford to wait.

But stepping back, it wouldn't surprise me to see an offensive tackle be drafted at 10th overall even if the Giants pick somebody else. The Tennessee Titans have five picks on the second day of the draft, and have said that they aren't done maneuvering yet. Their prime goal is to protect Marcus Mariota, and they (reportedly) regard both Ronnie Stanley and Jack Conklin highly. Assuming either Stanley or Conklin fall to 10th overall, the Giants are in a good position to move back, get (at least) one more pick on Day 2, and still potentially pick a player they are targeting. That could be Taylor Decker or Jason Spriggs to finish off the offensive line, it could be Leonard Floyd to add a versatile weapon to the front seven of the defense, it could be William Jackson III to help fill out the secondary, or it could be Laquon Treadwell or Josh Doctson to add even more firepower to one of the league's best offenses.

So while the majority of mock drafters might be wrong on the Giants' pick, if the draft falls correctly, they could still be right about the 10th overall pick.

Of course, how the draft falls is still up in the air. The Cleveland Browns are (reportedly) open for business regarding the second overall selection. If another team jumps up to draft a quarterback, then the 2016 draft could go down in the books as a wild one, and nobody knows how the top-10 may play out.

Finally, remember to check out our Mock Draft Database.