Big Blue View Mock Draft: Giants draft DE Tanoh Kpassagnon in the third round

We’ve reached the third and final day of the Big Blue View pre-Combine mock draft. On the first day of the draft the New York Giants added an offensive playmaker who can help in the second level blocking in Miami Hurricanes tight end David Njoku. They addressed their offensive line in the second round with Antonio Garcia, the athletic left tackle from Troy.

Who will the Giants select in the third round of our mock draft? We’ll just have to see how the board shakes out.

65 - Cleveland Browns

Jordan Leggett (TE, Clemson) - So far the the Browns have upgraded their defense and offensive line, and added a young quarterback. Now they add a talented tight end who is familiar with Watson to help his comfort level and shorten his learning curve.

1st round pick(s): Myles Garrett (DE, TAMU), DeShaun Watson (QB, Clemson)

2nd round pick(s): Forrest Lamp (G/C, Western Kentucky), Fabian Moreau (CB, UCLA)

66 - San Francisco 49ers

Isaiah Ford (WR, Virginia Tech) - San Francisco has a serious need at wide receiver. Ford has good length and enough speed to threaten defenses deep. He also has reliable hands and impressive body control to haul in circus catches.

1st round pick: Mitch Trubisky (QB, UNC)

2nd round pick: Takkarist McKinley (EDGE, UCLA)

67 - Chicago Bears

Ethan Pocic (OL, LSU) - Pocic might not be able to stick at center at the next level, but he has the physical ability to potentially play multiple spots along the offensive line. At worst he can be a “super sub” for a year or two until a spot opens up at left guard or right tackle.

1st round pick: Marshon Lattimore (CB, OSU)

2nd round pick: Patrick Mahommes II (QB, Texas Tech)

68 - Jacksonville Jaguars

Davis Webb (QB, Cal) - The Jags need to realize that Blake Bortles isn’t their guy going forward. He has arm talent, but too strong of a propensity to give the ball away, and was the choice of a previous regime. Webb has plenty of talent (though it needs developing) and Tom Coughlin will fall in love with his intangibles.

1st round pick: Jon Allen (DL, Alabama)

2nd round pick: Jabrill Peppers (S/OLB, Michigan)

69 - Tennessee Titans

JuJu Smith-Shuster (WR, USC) - The Titans want a big, physical offense that can pound defenses in the running game and present big targets for Marcus Mariota and Smith-Shuster does both of those. He is a big-bodied, physical wide receiver in the mold of Anquan Boldin who was handicapped by poor quarterback play most of 2016, but he is talented.

1st round pick(s): Marlon Humphrey (CB, Alabama), O.J. Howard (TE, Alabama)

70 - New York Jets

Chibode Azuwie (CB, Colorado) - The Jets find themselves in a conundrum in their secondary. Darrelle Revis is getting old fast, and his off-field status is in the air. Whatever happens, the Jets need to keep rebuilding that secondary for Todd Bowles defense to function correctly. Azuwie is a fluid and experienced four year starter. He isn’t Revis in his prime (but besides Deion Sanders, who is?), but he is a solid cover corner.

1st round pick: Malik Hooker (S, OSU)

2nd round pick: T.J. Watt (EDGE, Wisconsin)

71 - Los Angeles Chargers

Marcus Williams (S, Utah) - This time the Chargers get a Williams for the defensive side of the ball. Marcus is a smooth and instinctive cover safety with a playmakers’ mentality. He is a bit undersized, but he averages six turnovers a season.

1st round pick: Mike Williams (WR, Clemson)

2nd round pick: Taylor Moton (OT/G, Western Michigan)

72 - Carolina Panthers

DeMarcus Walker (DE, FSU) - The Panthers have had habit of drafting physical outliers at defensive end. And while Walker’s numbers show that he certainly has a knack for getting to the quarterback and disrupting in the backfield, he doesn’t have the prototypical build and athleticism that NFL teams usually covet.

1st round pick: Leonard Fournette (RB, LSU)

2nd round pick: Dion Dawkins (OT/G, Temple)

73 - Cincinnati Bengals

Pat Elflein (C/G, Ohio State) - The Bengals need help on the interior of their offensive line, and might need even more after free agency. Elflein is a tad undersized, but he is smart, athletic, and a solid run and pass blocker.

1st round pick: Tim Williams (EDGE, Alabama)

2nd round pick: Cooper Kupp (WR, Eastern Washington)

74 - Philadelphia Eagles

Quincy Wilson (CB, Florida) - Wilson doesn’t have the easy athleticism or coverage acumen of Teez Tabor, but he has the size NFL teams want and is a fearless run defender. At the very least he adds depth and could upgrade one of their corner positions.

1st round pick: Corey Davis (WR, Western Michigan)

2nd round pick: Alvin Kamara (RB, Tennessee)

75 - Buffalo Bills

Marcus Maye (S, Florida) - Maye has been forgotten about after a broken arm ended his season early, but he is a talented safety. The Bills might find themselves in need of one after Aaron Williams suffered a neck injury that might end his career.

1st round pick: Teez Tabor (CB, Florida)

2nd round pick: Zay Jones (WR, ECU)

76 - New Orleans Saints

Nico Siragusa (OG, San Diego State) - The Saints have always liked big guards to set the pocket for Drew Brees. Siragusa is a powerful player with surprisingly good feet for a 320-pound guard.

1st round pick: Solomon Thomas (DE, Stanford)

2nd round pick: Desmond King (DB, Iowa)

77 - Arizona Cardinals

Brad Kaaya (QB, Miami) - This is a fall for Kaaya, who was once considered one of the top QBs in the draft. He is undoubtedly talented, but a drop-off in his surrounding cast and his own inconsistencies have dropped his stock. If this is Carson Palmer’s last year, Kaaya can understudy his rookie year, then take over in 2018.

1st round pick: Reuben Foster (LB, Alabama)

2nd round pick: Obi Malifonwu (S, UConn)

78 - Baltimore Ravens

Gerald Everett (WR/TE, Southern Alabama) - Is Everett a wide receiver or a tight end? That question could cause him to drop in the draft, but whatever he is, his athleticism and receiving ability could help a Ravens’ offense in need of both.

1st round pick: Jamal Adams (S, LSU)

2nd round pick: Carl Lawson (EDGE, Auburn)

79 - Indianapolis Colts

Tyus Bowser (EDGE, Houston) - No, not King Koopa from the Mario games, Bowser is a twitchy edge rusher who made waves at the Senior Bowl. He is still learning how to use all of his tools, but he can give the Colts the speed off the edge that they currently lack

1st round pick: Dalvin Cook (RB, FSU)

2nd round pick: Dan Feeney (OG, Indiana)

80 - Minnesota Vikings

Larry Ogunjobi (DT, Charlotte) - If the Vikings need insurance for Shariff Floyd, Ogunjobi could be it. He is an athletic and explosive penetrating 3-techinque who could be great paired with Linval Joseph.

1st round pick: none

2nd round pick: D’Onta Foreman

81 - Washington Redskins

Nathan Peterman (QB, Pittsburgh) - Kirk Cousins might be on his way out in DC, and if so, they will need to find a successor. This is probably early for Peterman, but he might have earned attention at the Senior Bowl. He doesn’t have great arm strength, but he flashs the ability to make precision throws and puts his receivers in position to get yards after the catch.

1st round pick: John Ross (WR, Washington)

2nd round pick: Caleb Brantley (DT, Florida)

82 - Denver Broncos

Adam Shaheen (TE, Ashland) - Shaheen’s stock is up in the air at the moment. On tape he is dripping with upside and is expected to make waves at the combine. However, he is incredibly raw as an NFL prospect. All that being said, the Broncos really need a tight end, so they go gamble on Shaheen’s upside.

1st round pick: Garett Bolles (OT, Utah)

2nd round pick: Dorian Johnson (OG, Pittsburgh)

83 - Tennessee Titans

Anthony Walker Jr. (ILB, Northwestern) - Walker is a productive leader for the Wildcats. He might have played a bit too heavy in 2016, but slimmed down he has enough athleticism and plenty of instincts

1st round pick: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

No second-round pick

84 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Eddie Jackson (DB, Alabama) - Jackson missed the end of 2016 with an injury, but he should be fine going forward. He isn’t the most physical safety, but he is rangy, instinctive, and has the ability to come down and play the slot.

1st round pick: Derek Barnett (DE, Tennessee)

2nd round pick: Evan Engram (TE, Ole Miss)

85 - Detroit Lions

Kevin King (DB, Washington) - Even without looking at his tape, NFL teams are going to be attracted to 6-foot-3, 200-pound defensive backs. That King is a versatile one who has played, and played well, at both corner and safety makes him sure to attract attention.

1st round pick: Haason Reddick (LB/EDGE, Temple)

2nd round pick: Montravius Adams (DT, Auburn)

86 - Minnesota Vikings

Adam Bisnowaty (OT, Pittsburgh) - The Vikings’ offensive line needs an upgrade, plain and simple. Bisnowaty doesn’t have elite measureables, but he is a good mover and plays with a nasty streak.

87 - New York Giants

Tanoh Kpassagnon (DE, Villanova) - Kpassagnon, quite simply, LOOKS like a New York Giant. He has a massive 6-7, 280-pound frame featuring long 35-inch arms and 10 7/8-inch hands. On top of that, he has a track star’s burst off the line of scrimmage and power when he makes contact with blockers. Kpassagnon is far from a perfect prospect, and while he looks similar to Jason Pierre-Paul, he doesn’t have the natural feel for the game that JPP had, even as a rookie. Likewise, he doesn’t have the same fluid bend that JPP or Ziggy Ansah showed to take full advantage of their size and burst off the line.

If he can work on developing his football IQ and awareness, as well as his functional flexibility, his upside is sky-high. If he doesn’t, he could follow a similar career trajectory as Margus Hunt.

In the third round, that’s a risk I’m willing to take.

At this point the Giants could also take a defensive tackle like Dalvin Tomlinson (Alabama) or Eddie Vanderdoes (UCLA) to offset the potential loss of Johnathan Hankins or (potentially, and) Jay Bromley. I could have also looked at a running back like Corey Clement, Jamaal Williams, or Kareem Hunt. But with them, and about a half-dozen more, still on the board, I am comfortable waiting until the fourth round.

1st round pick: David Njoku (TE, Miami)

2nd round pick: Antonio Garcia (OT, Troy)

88 - Oakland Raiders

Chad Hansen (WR, Cal) - Adding a receiver is a bit of overkill for the Raiders, but Hansen has good size, savvy route running, and plus body control. He could develop into a solid number 2 across from Amari Cooper by the time Michael Crabtree’s time in Oakland is up.

1st round pick: Sidney Jones (CB, Washington)

2nd round pick: Carlos Watkins (DT, Clemson)

89 - Houston Texans

Avery Genessey (OT, TAMU) - The Texans have been besieged by injuries up front, and at worst they need depth. Texas A&M has developed a reputation for churning out talented offensive linemen, and Genessey could be the next in that line. He has good feet to live on the edge and plays well on the move or in space.

1st round pick: Raekwon McMillan (LB, OSU)

2nd round pick: DeShone Kizer (QB, Notre Dame)

90 - Seattle Seahawks

Isaac Asiata (OG, Utah) - The Seahawks’ defense crumbled in part due to the absence of Earl Thomas, but they also lost part of their identity when their offensive line could no longer consistently run block effectively. Robinson will help, as will the big, powerful, and aggressive guard from Utah. Asiata is more athletic than you would think by looking at him, and has the feet to pass protect, but he excels at opening holes for running backs.

1st round pick: Cam Robinson (OT, Alabama)

2nd round pick: Chris Wormley (DT, Michigan)

91 - Kansas City Chiefs

Dalvin Tomlinson (DT, Alabama) - KC could be one of the big losers of free agency of Dontari Poe leaves. But even still, they could use a big, stout lineman up front. Tomlinson is that, playing with great technique and leverage in the middle of Alabama’s terrific defense. He is also a very bright, driven, and high-character young man who can help balance out the risks Andy Reid has taken of late.

1st round pick: Malik McDowell (DL, Michigan State)

2nd round pick: Joe Mixon (RB, Oklahoma)

92 - Dallas Cowboys

Eddie Vanderdoes (DT, UCLA) - If he hadn’t been injured in 2015, Vanderdoes would likely go much, much higher than this. He is a big, explosive defensive tackle with quick feet and surprising athleticism. However, a torn ACL and weight problems add considerable risk. The Cowboys have a recent history of gambling on character and injury red flags, and this could be another high-risk high-reward gamble.

1st round pick: Charles Harris (DE, Missouri)

2nd round pick: Gareon Conley (CB, OSU)

93 - Green Bay Packers

Adoree Jackson (DB, USC) - Jackson is listed as a defensive back, but his best description is “Athlete”. He has upside as a defensive back, and could be dangerous in the “Tyrann Mathieu” mold. However, he is simply deadly with the ball in his hands, and he might even be best used on the offensive side of the ball.

1st round pick: TreDavius White (CB, LSU)

2nd round pick: Derek Rivers (EDGE, Youngstown State)

94 - Pittsburgh Steelers

Ryan Anderson (EDGE, Alabama) - The Steelers need to continue to rebuild their depleted defense. James Harrison just CAN’T play forever? Right? ... RIGHT? Well, even if he does, Bud Dupree has yet to live up to his athletic ability and draft spot. Anderson isn’t the kind of athlete that Tim Williams or Dupree are, but that hasn’t stopped him from rivaling Williams in terms of production.

1st round pick: Zach Cunningham (OLB, Vanderbilt)

95 - Atlanta Falcons

Rasul Douglas (CB, West Virginia) - WVU isn’t known for its defense, but Douglas’s 6-2 200-pound frame and eight-interception 2016 season is going to attract the attention of the NFL. With a good combine he could wind up going much earlier than this.

1st round pick: Jaleel Johnson (DT, Iowa)

2nd round pick: Taco Charlton (DE, Michigan)

96 - New England Patriots

Will Holden (OT, Vanderbilt) - One of the amazing things about the Patriots’ run to the championship was how they managed to overcome uncertainty on the offensive line. Holden has experience playing both tackle spots and could help solidify Brady’s protection up front. He also has some power as a run blocker, and could help open holes for the running game.

1st round pick: Christian McCaffrey (RB, Stanford)

2nd round pick: Bucky Hodges (TE, Virginia Tech)