10 for 23: Which NFL Draft prospects could be on Giants’ radar in Round 1?

The Internet is keeping us all well-stocked with mock drafts to tide us over between now and April 27th.

So, instead of grinding out yet another new mock every week for you, Ed and I decided that it would be more beneficial to take a look at the prospects who might be available and on the New York Giants’ radar when they pick at 23rd overall.

This list will likely change each week as we get more information regarding prospects, Pro Days, news and rumors about players and teams, and any additions via free agency.

Without further ado, here are 10 prospects for the 23rd overall pick.

1 - Ryan Ramczyk (OT, Wisconsin)

While the Giants retained John Jerry and replaced Marshall Newhouse with D.J. Fluker, it’s tough to call the offensive line “Finished.” All of the top three offensive tackles come with warts, but with his combination of inexperience and injury (though he both played through it, and it seems there was less damage than initially believed), could make Ramczyk the most likely to fall to 23rd overall.

The Giants do have a private meeting scheduled with Utah’s Garett Bolles, so he might be their preference. However, I think even despite his age he stands a good chance of being the first offensive tackle selected and off the board before the Giants pick. To quote the philosopher Jagger “You can’t always get what you want. But if you try, sometimes you get what you need.”

2 - Forrest Lamp (OL, Western Kentucky)

For similar reasons as Ramczyk, Lamp has to be in consideration. He might be the best all-around lineman in the draft, and he is likely to be at least competent at all five positions. That alone should get the Giants’ attention, and that versatility would likely let him slot in wherever Fluker doesn’t play.

3 - David Njoku (TE, Miami)

At this point it seems likely that O.J. Howard has a better chance of being selected in the top half of the first round than falling anywhere near the Giants at 23rd overall. Njoku, on the other hand, might slip a bit after a slightly disappointing combine performance. He still confirmed himself to be an exceptional athlete, but he was also shown up by other tight ends. That being said, he is a massive upgrade over what the Giants currently have as a receiving tight end, and there were rumors that they were interested in him earlier in the off-season.

4 - Christian McCaffrey (RB, Stanford)

McCaffrey might get drafted as a running back, but his game is so much more than that. He is patient yet explosive with the ball in his hands, showing off quickness that surpasses even that of Odell Beckham Jr. He showed off an almost serpentine fluidity of movement at the combine and was probably the most natural catcher of the ball in Indy. Add to that dangerous return skills, and he is a triple threat.

5 - Haason Reddick (LB, Temple)

At this point it would almost be a coup for Reddick to still be available when the Giants pick. But if he is, he needs to be in the conversation — if not dominating it. The linebackers were much improved in 2016, but they were still the weakest part of the Giants’ formidable defense. Reddick’s abilities as an edge rusher would provide yet another weapon for Steve Spagnuolo to throw at offenses while his background as a defensive back would help solidify the Giants’ coverage over the middle.

6 - Zach Cunningham (LB, Vanderbilt)

Similarly to Reddick, Cunningham could help take the Giants’ defense to the next level. He doesn’t have the versatility or pass rushing upside that Reddick possesses, but he has the size the Giants love in their defenders. Cunningham is fluid in space and always willing to come down-hill in run defense. He played like the best player on his defense and almost single-handedly carried his team to an upset victory over Georgia.

7 - Caleb Brantley (DT, Florida)

The Giants don’t just have the potential departure of Johnathan Hankins to worry about on the inside of their defense. They also have Jay Bromley entering free agency after the 2017 season. It’s likely that the Giants will try to add a defensive tackle at some point in the draft. At his best, Brantley is a 3-down DT who can stand up in the run game and can use his athleticism to attack gaps and terrorize offensive backfields.

8 - Derek Barnett (DE, Tennessee)

While he might be the third-best defensive end in the draft, Barnett is no slouch. I fully endorsed Mel Kiper Jr. mocking him to the Giants in his latest mock draft, so I have to put him on this list. The only question is if he even falls this far. With the glut of talent on the edge and in the secondary, its possible.

9 - Jordan Willis (DE, Kansas State)

On tape Willis looked like a solid Day 2 pick, with a high floor and a first step that suggest some upside. At the Combine, he forced everyone watching to go sprinting back to his tape. He didn’t just show up at the combine, he out-tested 2014 first overall selection and bona fide freak Jadeveon Clowney, and rivaled Myles Garrett in every event. Without Owamagbe Odighizuwa taking the next step in his development, the Giants don’t have that kind of SPARQ monster in their defensive front. The 21-year- old Willis should be a name to keep in mind as the draft approaches.

10 - Taco Charlton (DE, Michigan)

The Giants have a very clear preference for what they want their defensive players to look like: big, long, and still athletic. Michigan’s Charlton fits that bill well. After being miscast in Michigan’s previous 3-4 defense, he had a strong year as a 4-3 defensive end. His play was inconsistent, but as it was his first year at the position, he was still finding his way. Whatever team drafts him will be doing so on the assumption that his best football is still ahead of him, but that has never been an issue for the Giants in the first round.