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We are officially just four Mondays out from the 2016 NFL Draft. That means (counting today) only four more mock draft roundups left to do.
And as our Mock Draft Database shows, if anything we are getting less and less sure about where the Giants could go in the first round. Whether or not that's a good thing is up for debate, but at least it gives us things to talk about for the next 25 days.
Big Blue View
Round 1) Leonard Floyd (OLB, Georgia)
Round 2) Robert Nkemdiche (DT, Ole Miss)
Round 3) Jerald Hawkins (OT, LSU)
Mocking The Draft
10. New York Giants -- Josh Doctson (WR, TCU)
Yes, the first receiver off the board isn't Laquon Treadwell, but why that's a surprise and not happening more often is something I'm still trying to figure out. Doctson is faster and more explosive, and with Treadwell's recent disappointing showings at the NFL Combine and his pro day, I wouldn't be surprised if the TCU product is the first receiver off the board. In New York he'd be paired with Odell Beckham Jr., giving the Giants a dangerous one-two punch.
Raptor's Take: I can totally respect this pick. In a lot of ways Doctson reminds of Odell Beckham, in that he wasn't being regarded as a high pick a month out from the draft but his hands, lower body explosiveness, and twitchy short area quickness are on display.
Even Stephen White, former NFL defensive end and current SBN Contributor, loves Doctson. In fact, he goes so far as to put him above Treadwell.
It's almost as if somebody took the ideal NFL receiver, Julio Jones or Dez Bryant, and split him into two players. Treadwell got the size, strength, physicality, and attitude that you want, while Doctson got the explosiveness teams love.
Walter Football - 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.
41. Michael Thomas (WR, Ohio State)
The Giants need a complement for Odell Beckham, Jr., and Thomas would give them some size.
Thomas (6-2, 212) has a good NFL skill set with some size and speed to get vertical. He needs some development as a route-runner, but he could be a nice X receiver to stretch the field along the sideline. Thomas has upside and teams like him. He ran slower than expected at the combine, however, which could push him into the second day of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Despite inconsistent quarterback play in 2015, Thomas totaled 56 receptions for 781 yards and nine touchdowns. He impressed in his battle with Virginia Tech cornerback Kendall Fuller during the 2015 season opener. Thomas was the Buckeyes' possession receiver in 2014 with Devin Smith serving as the deep threat. Thomas caught 54 passes for 799 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. He also dealt with a running quarterback in J.T. Barrett for much of the year.
71. C.J. Prosise (RB, Notre Dame)
Tom Coughlin figured out that going with a rotation of Rashad Jennings and Shane Vereen worked best, but it was already too late. It's hard to count on Jennings for the long term, however, so here's a potential running back of the future.
109. Miles Killebrew (S, Southern Utah)
The Giants' pass defense has been atrocious this season. Their safety play has been horrific. This position could be addressed even earlier.
149. Ronald Blair (DE, Appalachian State)
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.
Raptor's Take: The pick of Stanley makes perfect sense. If the Giants want an instant upgrade to Marshall Newhouse (and it sounds as if McAdoo does), then they'll have to pick either Stanley or Jack Conklin in the first round. Stanley is the superior pass protector -- Conklin has a concerning habit of narrowing his base when faced with speed off the edge. It limits mobility and compromises his ability to anchor against speed to power rushers -- but Conklin's attitude and toughness might appeal to the Giants who have been collecting like minded linemen.
The "second tier" of offensive tackles, La'Raven Clark, Jerald Hawkins, and Kyle Murphy, all have the upside to be starters but they all need work.
I like the pick of Thomas, and his blazingly fast pro day 40 helps to allay concerns about his deep speed. Like most college receivers, his route running could stand some work, and he could use his size more effectively, but he's a solid second round pick and I don't think there's much separation between him, Treadwell, and Doctson.
I am not, however, fond of the picks of Prosise and Killebrew. Not because of the players themselves, but because the Giants already have them on the roster. Prosise is a slot receiver playing running back, which the Giants already have (and are paying good money) in Shane Vereen. Killebrew is a big, physical, down-hill strong safety... Which the Giants just drafted in the second round in Landon Collins. While these guys aren't bad players, they bring nothing new to the team.
I have no particular problems with Ronald Blair, and I wouldn't be too surprised to see him, or a prospect like him, picked there. But let's not think he's anything more than a developmental defensive end, or possibly an undersized 3-technique.