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With the NFL Scouting Combine in the books and Pro Days well under way, this is both one of the more dull times of the NFL calendar, and one of the most fluid.
Team needs are changing by the day as free agents leave one team and signed to another, while prospects are raising (or lowering) their draft stocks at their schools’ pro days.
Lately tight ends have dominated the New York Giants’ selections in mock drafts, but will that hold true as the draft landscape changes? ESPN’s Todd McShay is out with his latest mock draft, and he selected offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk for the New York Giants.
23. New York Giants, 11-5
Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
With Eli Manning turning 36, don't be surprised if the Giants draft a QB at some point in this draft. But that's more likely to come in the middle rounds. Ramczyk is dealing with a hip injury, so the medical recheck in April will factor into where he's selected. But if everything comes up good, Ramczyk has the length and mirroring ability to finally answer the Giants' problems at left tackle.
Raptor’s Take: It wouldn’t be a sexy pick, and probably frustrating for some who hope to get a play-maker at 23rd overall. However, Ramczyk is quietly at the top of my list for the Giants. With O.J. Howard, Forrest Lamp, and Christian McCaffrey all off the board, taking the best available offensive tackle, who could be the best tackle in the draft, makes a lot of sense.
Ramczyk is a bit of a gamble, recovering from hip surgery and with minimal starting experience. However, the injury was one he played through effectively, and in that one year he showed that he is belongs at the next level. Ramczyk is big, athletic, and powerful. He is already a very good run blocker and more than capable in pass protection. He still has room to improve, but solid feet, great core strength, and the nastiness to sustain blocks until teams return to practice the following Tuesday make him a great fit.
He would push Ereck Flowers right from the start, and if the best happens and Flowers finally unlocks his sky-high potential, then the Giants might finally have the franchise bookends they have spent years searching for.