New York Giants seven-round mock draft: OT Garett Bolles is first pick

Let’s get your week started by turning away from NFL free agency for a bit and discussing a seven-round New York Giants mock draft. Let’s see how you think I did.

I used a different simulator for the non-Giants picks in this mock. This simulator, from Walk The Mock, uses its own player rankings, and in some cases those rankings appear to be a little off the norm. Anyway, let’s see how it turned out.

Round 1 (23) — Garett Bolles, OT, Utah

This was hard. Really hard. Ultimately, I thought about two things — the Giants still need offensive tackle help and they have been adding tough players. Bolles is an athletic player who could eventually take over at left tackle. He’s also a guy who plays with an edge on the field.

Passed on: RB, Dalvin Cook, RB Christian McCaffrey, S Jabrill Peppers, TE O.J. Howard, DT Caleb Brantley

It was not easy to pass on Howard. Same with Cook. And I can hear some of you screaming about that already.

The hardest pass for me here, though, is McCaffrey. The Big Blue View Rules for Draft Success I often refer to, because they are my rules, say don’t take a running back in the first round. McCaffrey is listed as a running back, but I don’t really look at him that way. I look at him as a “weapon,” and there isn’t another one like him in this draft class. He can run the ball effectively, catch as a wide receiver or out of the backfield, and return kickoffs and punts. Whoever gets him is going to love all the options he presents.

Round 2 (55) — Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas

I really didn’t have anyone on the board I was in love with at this spot. Chris has been high on Willis, calling him “a solid fit” for the Giants at defensive end. The Giants could use depth at that spot, so I’ll go with that.

Round 3 (87) — Bucky Hodges, TE, Virginia Tech

The idea that Hodges or another of the pass-catching tight ends would be available somewhere in the middle of the draft, is one of the reasons I was comfortable passing on Howard back in Round 1.

I really like the skill set of the 6-foot-6, 257-pound Howard. He can be a matchup nightmare for defenses, has the potential to become an adequate blocker, and I’ve been told for months that he is a player who could be on the Giants’ radar.

I could not pass him up here.

Round 4 (140) — James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh

The Giants have been adding toughness and run-blocking ability in free agency. Now, what they need is a power runner to complement Paul Perkins and take advantage of the pieces they have been adding. The choice here was between Conner and Corey Clement of Wisconsin, and I chose the 6-1, 233-pound Conner.

The backstory, Conner survived Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is inspiring. The fact that he has the between-the-tackles running ability the Giants need is more important when it comes to explaining the pick. NFL.com calls him a “physical, battering-ram style runner who makes the hitting a two-way affair.”

Round 5 (167) — Jalen Myrick, CB, Minnesota

With the number of four- and five-wide receiver sets NFL teams use now stocking up on quality cover corners is never a bad idea. Myrick, 5-10, 200 pounds, isn’t the physical type of corner Steve Spagnuolo really seems to like, but he can play in the slot and grooming a young player who might eventually be able to take over that role from Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie can’t be a bad idea.

Round 6 (207) — Josh Dobbs, QB, Tennessee

We know that there is a possibility the Giants will take a developmental quarterback in the real draft. Dobbs is a guy with deent size and decent skill set who might be worth a flier here.

Round 7 (241) — Zane Gonzalez, PK, Arizona St.

Why not? Gonzalez is considerd to be the best placekicker in the draft, and the Giants need one with only Aldrick Rosas currently on the roster.