Todd McShay Mock Draft 1.0: Giants select Chase Young

With just two weeks remaining in the 2019 NFL season, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has released his first mock draft. And with the New York Giants hanging on to the second overall pick, the pick shouldn’t be much of a surprise.

Last week McShay made waves and angered Giants fans by saying that he didn’t believe Daniel Jones has dispelled pre-draft concerns or proven to be an answer going forward. In answering questions about the draft, he said that if he were making the Giants’ pick, he would go for a quarterback.

As it stands now, the Giants have the second overall pick in the first round and should have their pick of every quarterback except for LSU’s Joe Burrow.

But we know from the headline here that he doesn’t pick a quarterback for the Giants and instead follows conventional wisdom and opts for Ohio State’s Chase Young. Let’s see his reasoning.

2. New York Giants

Chase Young, DE, Ohio State*

The Giants need help everywhere, especially on defense. Enter Young and his 16.5 sacks. New York hasn’t had anyone hit double-digit sacks since 2014 (Jason Pierre-Paul, 12.5), and Young is the best edge-rushing prospect I’ve seen since Von Miller entered the draft. The Heisman Trophy finalist would be a fantastic get for this rebuilding club.

Other Notable Picks
3. Washington Redskins - Jerry Jeudy (WR, Alabama)
4. Miami Dolphins - Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama)
18. Philadelphia Eagles - Henry Ruggs III (WR, Alabama)
22. Dallas Cowboys - Xavier McKinney (S, Alabama)

Raptor’s Thoughts: While McShay said that if he were drafting for the Giants and would draft a quarterback if he had the opportunity, he finished by saying that he expects the Giants to focus on the defensive side of the ball.

McShay stays true to that expectation and selects Ohio State EDGE Chase Young for the Giants. And assuming the Giants still have the second overall pick come draft time, there really isn’t anywhere else he should go.

Auburn DT Derrick Brown is a physical specimen and capable of being a disruptive force, but the Giants have spent four top-100 picks on starter-caliber defensive tackles in the last three years. Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons is exactly the kind of rangy, athletic linebacker every defense (and the Giants in particular) needs in the modern era. However, the value and impact of an off-ball linebacker just doesn’t compare to that of an elite EDGE.

This also sets up extremely well for the Giants to be able to address the offensive line at the top of the second round, as OT’s Jedrick Wills and Austin Jackson are both on the board, as is Wisconsin OC Tyler Biadasz.

McShay does mock Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa to the Dolphins at fourth overall, which is interesting considering we don’t know how Tua’s dislocated hip could impact his ability to play quarterback going forward — both his mobility and the ability to transfer his weight and drive the ball with his lower body.

Around the NFC East, it is all Alabama. McShay surprises by mocking receiver Jerry Jeudy to Washington. Getting another weapon for Dwayne Haskins and a partner for Terry McLauren is understandable, but Washington has historically drafted linemen highly and they will need a replacement for All-Pro OT Trent Williams. Georgia’s Andrew Thomas doesn’t come off the board until the New York Jets at 7th overall. The selection of Henry Ruggs for Philly is completely understandable. Their receiving corps is severely depleted and Ruggs has good size and rare speed for the position. Getting a player who can take the top off of defenses will just make Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert more dangerous over the middle.

Finally Dallas selects Alabama safety Xavier McKinney. If they are able to retain CB Byron Jones, this isn’t a bad pick. If Jones leaves, I would have gone with the higher value position and picked LSU CB Kristian Fulton here and looked to address safety on the second day.