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Everybody likes mock drafts. This one is especially long, it's about 6 full rounds. I made my decisions on a number of different factors. I first did this mock draft like the real thing. That means:
-- I split up doing this over three days. Round 1 was day 1. Round 2 and 3 was day 2. Round 4, 5, and 6 was day 3.
-- I did not "think ahead" to particular player-team fits. I just went through one by one. That's the best, most realistic, and most fair way about going through this.
-- My picks were made based off things I've heard about players as well as my personal big board.
Why only six rounds? Well, because the Giants only get to pick in the first six rounds, and to be brutally honest, by halfway through Round 6, I started running out of players that I had heard of, let alone physically seen. So with that being said, here's six full rounds. Let me know how well I did (psst, really well, right?).
Round 1
| Tennessee (3-13) | Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss |
| Cleveland (3-13) | Jared Goff, QB, Cal |
| San Diego (4-12) | Jalen Ramsey, FS, FSU |
| Dallas (4-12) | DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon |
| Jacksonville (5-11) | Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA |
| Baltimore (5-11) | Joey Bosa, DE, OSU |
| San Francisco (5-11) | Carson Wentz, QB, NDSU |
| Philadelphia - from Miami (6-10) | Ezekiel Elliot, RB, OSU |
| Tampa Bay (6-10) | Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida |
| New York Giants (6-10) | Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia |
| Chicago (6-10) | Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame |
| New Orleans (7-9) | Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville |
| Miami - from Philadelphia (7-9) | Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson |
| Oakland (7-9) | Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor |
| Los Angeles (7-9) | Laquon Treadwell, WR,Ole Miss |
| Detroit (7-9) | Jack Conklin, OT, MSU |
| Atlanta (8-8) | Kevin Dodd, EDGE, Clemson |
| Indianapolis (8-8) | Shaq Lawson, EDGE, Clemson |
| Buffalo (8-8) | Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss |
| New York Jets (10-6) | Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama |
| Washington* (9-7) | William Jackson III, CB, Houston |
| Houston* (9-7) | Taylor Decker, OT, OSU |
| Minnesota* (11-5) | Darron Lee, OLB, OSU |
| Cincinnati* (12-4) | Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor |
| Pittsburgh* (10-6) | Eli Apple, CB, OSU |
| Seattle* (10-6) | A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama |
| Green Bay* (10-6) | Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama |
| Kansas City* (11-5) | Jason Spriggs, OT/OG, Indiana |
| New England (forfeited) | Forfeited |
| Arizona* (13-3) | Noah Spence, EDGE, EKU |
| Carolina* (15-1) | Emmanuel Ogbah, EDGE, OK St |
| Denver* (12-4) | Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis |
Round 2
| Cleveland (3-13) | Josh Doctson, WR, TCU |
| Tennessee (3-13) | Karl Joseph, S, WVU |
| Dallas (4-12) | Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama |
| San Diego (4-12) | Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas |
| Baltimore (5-11) | Cody Whitehair, OG, KSU |
| San Francisco (5-11) | Vernon Butler, DT, La Tech |
| Jacksonville (5-11) | Artie Burns, CB, Miami |
| Tampa Bay (6-10) | Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA |
| Giants (6-10) | Vonn Bell, FS, OSU |
| Chicago (6-10) | Shilique Calhoun, EDGE, MSU |
| Miami (6-10) | Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame |
| Los Angeles - from Philadelphia (7-9) | Josh Perry, OLB, OSU |
| Oakland (7-9) | Xavien Howard, CB, Baylor |
| Los Angeles (7-9) | Kendall Fuller, CB, Vtech |
| Detroit (7-9) | Michael Thomas, WR, OSU |
| New Orleans (7-9) | Josh Garnett, OG, Stanford |
| Indianapolis (8-8) | Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama |
| Buffalo (8-8) | Deion Jones, LB, LSU |
| Atlanta (8-8) | Su'a Cravens, S/LB, USC |
| New York Jets (10-6) | Vadal Alexander, OG, LSU |
| Houston* (9-7) | Jonathan Bullard, DE, UF |
| Washington* (9-7) | Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame |
| Minnesota* (11-5) | Kamalei Correa, EDGE, BSU |
| Cincinnati* (12-4) | Jalen Mills, FS, LSU |
| Seattle* (10-6) | Sterling Shepard, WR, OK |
| Green Bay* (10-6) | Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn |
| Pittsburgh* (10-6) | Germain Ifedi, OT, TAMU |
| Kansas City* (11-5) | Jordan Jenkins, LB, UGA |
| New England* (12-4) | Tyler Boyd, WR, Pitt |
| New England - from Arizona* (13-3) | Kenneth Dixon, RB, La Tech |
| Carolina* (15-1) | Darian Thompson, S, BSU |
| Denver* (12-4) | Chris Jones, DE/DT, Miss St |
Round 3
| Tennessee (3-13) | Braxton Miller, WR, OSU |
| Cleveland (3-13) | Keanu Neal, S, UF |
| San Diego (4-12) | Le'Raven Clark, OT, Tex Tech |
| Dallas (4-12) | Connor Cook, QB, MSU |
| San Francisco (5-11) | Devontae Booker, RB, Utah |
| Jacksonville (5-11) | Carl Nassib, DE, PSU |
| Baltimore (5-11) | Jerell Adams, TE, SCAR |
| Giants (6-10) | Austin Johnson, DT, PSU |
| Chicago (6-10) | Jeremy Cash, S, Duke |
| Miami (6-10) | Alex Collins, RB, Ark |
| Tampa Bay (6-10) | Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU |
| Oakland (7-9) | Leonte Caroo, WR, Rutgers |
| Los Angeles (7-9) | Christian Hackenberg, QB, PSU |
| Philadelphia - from Detroit (7-9) | Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Texas |
| New Orleans (7-9) | Rashard Higgins, WR, CSU |
| Philadelphia (7-9) | Will Redmond, CB, Miss St |
| Buffalo (8-8) | Christian Westerman, OG, ASU |
| Atlanta (8-8) | Pharoh Cooper, WR, SCAR |
| Indianapolis (8-8) | Rashard Robinson, CB, LSU |
| New York Jets (10-6) | TJ Green, FS, Clemson |
| Washington* (9-7) | Sheldon Day, DT, Notre Dame |
| Houston* (9-7) | Jordan Payton, WR, UCLA |
| Minnesota* (11-5) | Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama |
| Cincinnati* (12-4) | Charles Tapper, DE, OK |
| Green Bay* (10-6) | Dominique Alexander, ILB, OK |
| Pittsburgh* (10-6) | Sean Davis, FS, Maryland |
| Seattle* (10-6) | Spencer Drango, OT, Baylor |
| Kansas City* (11-5) - Forfeited | Forfeited |
| New England* (12-4) | Kentrell Brothers, LB, Mizzou |
| Arizona* (13-3) | Jihad Ward, DE/DT, Illini |
| Carolina* (15-1) | Kenny Lawler, WR, Cal |
| Denver* (12-4) | Justin Simmons, FS, BC |
| Detroit (compensatory) | Roberto Aguayo, K, FSU |
| New England (compensatory) | Sebastian Tretola, OG, Ark |
| Seattle (compensatory) | Maurice Canady, CB, UVA |
| Denver (compensatory) | Nick Vannett, TE, OSU |
Round 4
| Cleveland (3-13) | John Theus, OT, UGA |
| Philadelphia - from Tennessee (3-13) | Vernon Adams, QB, Oregon |
| Dallas (4-12) | Kyler Fackrell, OLB ,Utah St |
| San Diego (4-12) | Javon Hargrave, DT, SC St |
| Jacksonville (5-11) | Jack Allen, C, MSU |
| Baltimore (5-11) | Jaylon Smith, ILB, ND |
| San Francisco (5-11) | Landon Turner, OG, UNC |
| Chicago (6-10) | Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska |
| Miami (6-10) | Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor |
| Tampa Bay (6-10) | Scooby Wright III, OLB, Arizona |
| Giants (6-10) | Charone Peake, WR, Clemson |
| Los Angeles (7-9) | Matt Judon, DE, GV St |
| Detroit (7-9) | DJ White, CB, Gtech |
| New Orleans (7-9) | Joe Schobert, LB, Wisconsin |
| Tennessee - from Philadelphia (7-9) | Kenyan Drake, RB, Alabama |
| Oakland (7-9) | Bronson Kaufusi, DE, BYU |
| Atlanta (8-8) | Eric Striker, OLB, OK |
| Indianapolis (8-8) | Deon Bush, FS, Miami |
| Buffalo (8-8) | Keyarris Garrett, WR, Tulsa |
| New York Jets (10-6) | Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA |
| Houston* (9-7) | Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford |
| Washington* (9-7) | Aaron Burbridge, WR, MSU |
| Minnesota* (11-5) | Bralon Addison, WR, Oregon |
| Cincinnati* (12-4) | Travis Feeney, LB, Washington |
| Pittsburgh* (10-6) | Bryce Williams, TE, ECU |
| Seattle* (10-6) | Ronald Blair, DE, App St |
| Green Bay* (10-6) | James Bradberry, CB, Samford |
| Kansas City* (11-5) | Dak Prescott, QB, Miss St |
| Chicago - from New England* (12-4) | CJ Prosise, RB, ND |
| Arizona* (13-3) | Graham Glasgow, OG, Mich |
| Carolina* (15-1) | Rees Odhiambo, OG, BSU |
| Baltimore - from Denver* (12-4) | Zack Sanchez, CB, OK |
| Green Bay (compensatory) | Dadi Nicolas, OLB, Vtech |
| Baltimore (compensatory) | DJ Reader, DT, Clemson |
| San Francisco (compensatory) | Romeo Okwara, DE, ND |
| Baltimore (compensatory) | Matt Ioannidis, DT/DE, Temple |
| Dallas (compensatory) | Miles Killebrew, SS, So Utah |
| Denver (compensatory) | Antwaun Woods, DT, USC |
| Green Bay (compensatory) | De'Runnya Wilson, WR, Miss St |
| Cleveland (compensatory) | Brandon Shell, OT, SCAR |
| Buffalo (compensatory) | KJ Dillon, CB, WVU |
Round 5
| Tennessee (3-13) | Yannick Ngakoue, EDGE, Maryland |
| Cleveland (3-13) | Matt Ioannidis, DT, Temple |
| San Francisco - from San Diego (4-12) | Blake Martinez, ILB, Stanford |
| Oakland - from Dallas (4-12) | Roger Lewis, WR, Bowling Green |
| Denver - from Baltimore (5-11) | Michael Thomas, WR, So Miss |
| San Francisco (5-11) | Glenn Gronkowski, FB, KSU |
| Jacksonville (5-11) | Tyvis Powell, S, OSU |
| Miami (6-10) | Derek Watt, FB, Wisconsin |
| Tampa Bay (6-10) | Geronimo Allison, WR, Illinois |
| Giants (6-10) | Willie Beavers, OT, West Mich |
| Chicago (6-10) | Keivarae Russell, S, Notre Dame |
| Detroit (7-9) | Cody Kessler, QB, USC |
| New Orleans (7-9) | Aziz Shittu, DE, Stanford |
| Philadelphia (7-9) | Antonio Morrison, ILB, Florida |
| Oakland (7-9) | Tyler Ervin, RB, SJSU |
| Los Angeles (7-9) -- Pick Forfeited for Isaiah Battle | Forfeited |
| Indianapolis (8-8) | Luther Maddy, DT/DE, Vtech |
| Buffalo (8-8) | Jacoby Brissett, QB, NC State |
| Atlanta (8-8) -- Pick Forfeited for Artificial Crowd Noise | Forfeited |
| New York Jets (10-6) | Cardale Jones, QB, OSU |
| Washington* (9-7) | Jake Coker, QB, Alabama |
| Houston* (9-7) | Cheatham Norrils, CB, Toledo |
| Minnesota* (11-5) | Kyle Friend, OG, Temple |
| Cincinnati* (12-4) | Ben Braunecker, TE, Harvard |
| Kansas City - from Seattle* (10-6) | Keith Marshall, RB, UGA |
| Green Bay* (10-6) | Thomas Duarte, WR/TE, UCLA |
| Philadelphia - from Pittsburgh* (10-6) | Trae Elston, SS, Ole Miss |
| Kansas City* (11-5) | Joe Gore, OT, Clemson |
| Houston - from New England* (12-4) | Stephen Weatherly, EDGE, Vandy |
| Arizona* (13-3) | Tyler Johnstone, OT, Oregon |
| Carolina* (15-1) | AJ Stamps, FS, Kentucky |
| Detroit - from Denver* (12-4) | Caanan Severin, WR, UVA |
| Arizona (compensatory) | Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU |
| Seattle (compensatory) | Kris Frost, LB, Auburn |
| Cleveland (compensatory) | Terrance Smith, OLB, FSU |
| Cleveland (compensatory) | LaQuon McGowan, OG, Baylor |
| San Francisco (compensatory) | Moritz Boehringer, WR, Germany |
| San Diego (compensatory | Terron Beckham, RB, N/A |
Round 6
| Cleveland (3-13) | Jatavis Brown, OLB, Akron |
| Tennessee (3-13) | Morgan Burns, CB, KSU |
| San Francisco - from Dallas (4-12) | DeAndre Houston-Carson, FS, W&M |
| San Diego (4-12) | DJ Pettway, DE, Alabama |
| Minnesota - from San Francisco (5-11) | Anthony Zettel, DE, PSU |
| Jacksonville (5-11) | Caleb Benenoch, OT, UCLA |
| Baltimore (5-11) | Mike Matthews, C, TAMU |
| Tampa Bay (6-10) | Cassanova McKinzy, LB, Auburn |
| Giants (6-10) | Ka'imi Fairbairn, K, UCLA |
| New England - from Chicago (6-10) | Jake Rudock, QB, Michigan |
| Miami (6-10) | Beniquez Brown, OLB, Miss St |
| Washington - from New Orleans (7-9) | Duke Williams, WR, Auburn |
| Philadelphia (7-9) | Wayne Lyons, CB, Michigan |
| Dallas - from Oakland (7-9) | Storm Barrs-Woods, RB, OK St |
| Los Angeles (7-9) | Blake Countess, CB, Auburn |
| Detroit (7-9) | Reggie Gilbert, DE, ASU |
| Buffalo (8-8) | Tevin Carter, SS TCU |
| Tennessee - from Atlanta (8-8) | Cody Core, WR, Ole Miss |
| Oakland - from Indianapolis (8-8) | Jeff Driskel, QB, La Tech |
| New York Jets (10-6) | Demarcus Ayers, WR, Houston |
| New England - from Houston* (9-7) | Jake McGee, TE, Florida |
| Tampa Bay - from Washington* (9-7) | Joe Haeg, OT, NDSU |
| San Diego - from Minnesota* (11-5) | Aaron Green, RB, TCU |
| Cincinnati* (12-4) | Quinton Jefferson, DT, Maryland |
| Green Bay* (10-6) | Clayton Fejedelem, SS, Illinois |
| Jacksonville - from Pittsburgh* (10-6) | Jared Norris, ILB, Utah |
| Detroit - from Seattle* (10-6) | Donte Deayon, CB, BSU |
| Kansas City* (11-5) | Jordan Lucas, SS, PSU |
| Chicago - from New England* (12-4) | James Cowser, EDGE, So. Utah |
| Arizona* (13-3) | Ian Seau, LB, Nevada |
| Chicago - from Carolina* (15-1) | Nick Richter, OT, Richmond |
| San Francisco - from Denver* (12-4) | Curt Maggitt, OLB, Tenn |
| New England (compensatory) | Tom Hackett, P, Utah |
| Baltimore (compensatory) | Montese Overton, LB, ECU |
| Detroit (compensatory) | Jaydon Mickens, WR, Washington |
| San Francisco (compensatory) | Willie Henry, DE/DT, Michigan |
| Dallas (compensatory) | Austin Blythe, C, Iowa |
| San Francisco (compensatory) | Darius Jackson, RB, ECU |
| New England (compensatory) | Tyrone Holmes, OLB, Montana |
| Seattle (compensatory) | Josh Dawson, DE, Georgia |
| Dallas (compensatory) | Mike Hilton, CB, Ole Miss |
| Dallas (compensatory) | Josh Forrest, ILB, UK |
| Buffalo (compensatory) | Drew Kaser, P, TAMU |
| Denver (compensatory) | Daryl Worley, CB, WVU |
| Pittsburgh (compensatory) | Tyler Marz, OT, Wisconsin |
| New England (compensatory) | Keith Lumpkin, OT, Rutgers |
Explaining The Giants Choices
1) Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
I think Floyd is a great fit as a prospect. After finding out a month or two ago that the Giants were interested in him, I decided to spend a lot more time looking at him. The more I watch, the more I'm convinced that he is worthy of a top 10 selection. The biggest question for him is his true position. That's easy to figure out. His position is as a three-down linebacker. There are not many of those in this draft. He is tall, extremely explosive (and not just by workout numbers, which are insane, by the way with a 1.59 10-yard split, 4.6 40 yard dash, 39.5-inch vertical and 10-foot, 7-inch broad) on film and can do a number of things very well.
He fits very well in our system. As a two-down linebacker, he can split gaps and avoid blocks. He has shown moderate ability in shedding blocks, but that's not his forte. He can cover tight ends and even slot receivers well. He's routinely in good position in coverage. On third down, he can unleash the beast as a pass rusher. An LB that is not a liability when taking on a TE, can make splash plays against the run, and has true burst/bend ability as a pass rusher? That's no 'Beezer' folks, that's exactly what the Giants need on the second level of their defense. The other player I considered at this juncture was Ronnie Stanley, and admittedly, it was pretty close.
2) Vonn Bell, FS, Ohio State
Why did I pick Bell? Again, like Floyd, it comes down to fit. Bell slots in as a starting free safety and he complements Landon Collins PERFECTLY. He was routinely asked to cover the deep middle in coverage packages for the Buckeyes and was extremely competent in seeing the field unfold in front of him. He's decisive and aggressive in making plays on the ball. He had 23 passes defensed over the last two years.
His weaknesses involve taking on bigger blockers like tight ends and running backs near the LOS. We don't need him to do that. We've got a talented box safety already. Let Bell roam deep and attack the long ball, we've got a monster laying down the law on the shallow end in Landon Collins.
3) Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State
This is simply a value pick. In any other draft, Johnson likely goes at the end of Day 1 to early Day 2, but given just how monstrous this defensive tackle draft goes, he falls to the third round. In a DL that featured Carl Nassib, I believe that Johnson is the better player. He's not an athletic freak, but this is a guy that racked up 78 tackles, 15 TFL, and six sacks as a nose tackle!
He is a mean, nasty son of a you-know-what that fights through and beyond the whistle. When I saw PSU, he consistently flashed at the point of attack. He is a pocket pusher and it's clear that the Giants like those guys more than the pocket penetrators. He can do a bit of both. Got some technique issues, but I didn't ever see him get pushed backwards. He'd wear out the center and guard he was against and dominate towards the end of games. Would make for a ruthless rotation in with Snacks, Big Hank, and Bromley.
4) Charone Peake, WR, Clemson
Not many are talking about Peake, but he's one of the bigger values on Day 3 of the draft at the WR position. My NFL comparison to him is actually the guy he replaced in the Clemson lineup, Martavis Bryant. Peake has an absurd height/weight/speed combo at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds with a 4.37 40-yard dash. He plays up to that speed as well as a great deep threat and flashes WR1 attributes. He's big and he knows how to use his body as well. He's got incredible arm length as well, at 34 inches.
The problems lie in his hands, which are small (9.25 inches) and may contribute to some drops, but if you're talking about a great competitor, great run blocker, with deep speed and power, Peake is as good a choice as any. He'll instantly compete for that number 2 slot on the Giants roster and that isn't too bad as a fourth-round selection.
5) Willie Beavers, OT, Western Michigan
I'm not sure if Beavers lasts this long in the real draft, but if he does, the Giants should pounce. He has all the makings of a possible quality mid-round offensive line gem. He's got length in spades at a great size (6-foot-4, 325 pounds) and has the requisite nastiness and footwork to be a New York Giants prospect.
As a college player, he reminds me a lot of how James Brewer looked as a prospect. Long, rounded frame with a big bottom and effortless movement skills. Before you flame me about picking him, though, let me say a big difference is that Beavers has some nastiness to him unlike Brewer. He's got his technique flaws, like wide punches, inefficient movement, but that's to be expected with all Day 3 prospects. If you want a big, angry, athletic ZBS prospect, can't go wrong with Beavers.
6) Ka'imi Fairbairn, K, UCLA
Obviously if the Giants strike a deal with Josh Brown, this pick is useless but for now, Fairbairn is the consensus No. 2 kicker in the draft behind Roberto Aguayo (who will go day 2). He's a very good player, with almost 75 percent of his kickoffs as touchbacks and striking 20-of-24 FGs, including 2-of-3 from 50 yards.
If the Giants DO strike a deal with Brown, my pick would have been Aaron Green, the shifty RB out of TCU. But for now, Fairbairn is a value pick at a position of dire need for the Giants. Kickers are people too.