Dane Brugler seven-round mock draft would be good for New York Giants

If the New York Giants move on from Jerry Reese as general manager some day, can I nominate CBS Sports draft analyst Dane Brugler as a replacement? I'm kidding, of course, but when I saw Brugler's selections for the New York Giants in his new seven-round mock draft my first reaction was "he should be the GM."

Now, of course, it doesn't hurt that Brugler's first two picks for the Giants -- offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley at No. 10 and safety Karl Joseph at No. 40 -- are the same picks I made for the Giants in the SB Nation bloggers mock draft. There is nothing like a little validation to make you feel better.

Also, of course, Brugler appeared last week on the "Big Blue Chat" podcast with Pat Traina (Bleacher Report/Inside Football) and I. So, maybe you think I just owe him a favor and just want another chance to plug the show. Well, I'm thankful and I will take the chance to plug the show.

Truthfully, though, I just think this mock is exceptionally well constructed for the Giants.

Stanley in Round 1 and Joseph in Round 2 are, obviously, excellent choices for the Giants from my vantage point. I have, however, written a lot about them. in the past. It is the rest of what Brugler did for the Giants that I really like. So, let's look at it.

Round 3 (71st) -- Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech

This might be my favorite pick of the six Brugler made for the Giants. Check that, it is definitely my favorite pick of the six Brugler made for the Giants. My middle round running back man-crush a year ago was on David Johnson of Northern Iowa, who ended up going to the Arizona Cardinals in Round 3, 86th overall. All Johnson did as a rookie was gain 581 yards rushing, average 4.6 yards per carry, catch 36 passes for 457 yards, and return 22 kickoffs for an average of 27.2 yards per returns.

Dixon is my middle round running back man crush this time around. Dixon is ranked No. 60 on our Consensus Big Board. In his prospect profile, Chris calls Dixon "a running back that an NFL coach could easily fall in love with. "

In his draft guide, Brugler has Dixon as the fourth-ranked running back in this draft class. He writes:

"There isn’t much that separates him athletically as a runner with only average size, burst and power, but he understands the subtleties of the position with the vision, decision-making and toughness to get every yard he can – also reliable in pass protection and a very talented pass-catcher. Dixon might never be a bell-cow starter in the NFL, but he will be a quality addition to a running back committee with his well-rounded run style."

Round 4 (109th overall) -- Josh Perry, LB, Ohio State

This a case of "smack yourself in the forehead because you can't believe the guy is available and turn in the card as fast as you can." Brugler has a second-round grade on Perry, and Pro Football Focus a third-round grade. I have heard Perry's name discussed by some as a second-round consideration for the Giants.

Appalachian State defensive end Ronald Blair (110th, Los Angeles Rams), Virginia cornerback Maurice Canady (113th, Rams) and Alabama cornerback Cyrus Jones (116th, Indianapolis Colts) could have been considerations. I would be happy with Perry at this point, though.

Quick note: Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith went 111th to the Detroit Lions in Brugler's mock. I might have rolled the dice there, but I'm fine with getting a good player who could actually get on the field in 2016.

Round 5 (149th overall) -- Charone Peake, WR, Clemson

This is the first of two picks where Brugler does exactly what you are supposed to do in the later rounds of the draft -- find high-upside, developmental players.

Peake is a 6-foot-2, 209-pound player who didn't get a chance to start at Clemson until his senior season. Chris lays out Peake's pros and cons in his prospect profile, saying he "has the physical tools that NFL teams are looking for."

For me, this is a good flier on a player with untapped potential.

Round 6 (184th overall) -- Tyrone Holmes, DE, Montana

Huh? Have to admit I had never heard of the guy until his name popped up in Brugler's mock. In the mock, Brugler notes that "The FCS defender of the year, Holmes provides immediate depth and possible starter in year two."

In his draft guide, Brugler has a fourth- to fifth-round grade on Holmes, a 6-2, 253-pound player who had 18 sacks for Montana last season and 34.5 in his four-year career. Brugler says in his profile of Holmes that he "has NFL starting potential in the right situation."

I honestly don't know if that situation is eventually with the Giants. I do know that pass rushers don't grow on trees, that you need a lot of them in today's NFL, and that if you can find a potentially useful one this late in the draft that taking a shot with him isn't a bad idea.