Mock Draft tracker: Offensive tackle overwhelming Round 1 choice

As the NFL Draft approaches each year we try to track mock drafts, looking for trends from some of the better draft analysts in the country. It’s time to begin doing that once again as we look forward to what the New York Giants might do this April.

I always like to look at the multi-round mock drafts. We spend so much time obsessing over the first-round pick, No. 4 overall for the Giants this time, that it’s easy to lose sight of the reality that the success or failure of a draft can be about far more than the first pick. These multi-round drafts also help us paint scenarios regarding ways the draft could unfold, and learn more about prospects heading deeper into the draft.

Here is how the percentages broke down in the 24 mock drafts we currently have listed.

Here are three multi-round draft scenarios to consider. Our complete tracker is at the bottom.

NFL.com (Chad Reuter — 3 rounds)

Choices for the Giants:
Round 1 (No. 4) — CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

Reuter says: “GM Dave Gettleman could go with an offensive tackle here, but Lamb may be too valuable a weapon to pass on with last year’s sixth overall pick, quarterback Daniel Jones, entering Year 2.

Round 2 (No. 36) — Austin Jackson, OT, USC
Round 3 (No. 101, projected compensatory pick) — Matt Hennessy, C, Temple

Many Giants fans don’t want to hear it, but I do believe wide receiver is a possibility for the Giants with their first pick. Especially if they move down a couple of spots. This wouldn’t be my favored approach — I would rather go offensive tackle or best defensive player available — but I quite frankly don’t think it’s out of the question. Especially if, as Reuter does here, the Giants address offensive line on Day 2.

If the Giants are able to upgrade right tackle in free agency, Jackson is a nice Day 2 option as a developmental left tackle. Hennessy is The Draft Network’s fourth-ranked center prospect and a player Scott Wright of Draft Countdown told me on the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast that he is high on.

My main issue with this group of selections is the lack of at least one selection on defense.

Bleacher Report (Matt Miller — 7 rounds)

Round 1 (No. 4) — Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

Miller says: “First-time head coach Joe Judge and veteran general manager Dave Gettleman will conduct their first draft together and must look at the sad state of the offensive line and decide to make a major upgrade.

“For the Giants to get the most out of Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones, they must be able to have effective blocking up front. That’s where Judge can reach back to his Alabama coaching roots and get the lowdown on the best offensive tackle in this draft—Jedrick Wills Jr.

“Wills, who played right tackle while protecting Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside, has the tools to be a very good NFL left tackle. He’s quick, smart, strong and flexible. Watching Wills’ tape and now his pre-combine workouts, you see his ability to recover and protect the outside edge against power or speed rushers.

“Rarely do offensive tackles come into the NFL so game-ready, but Wills has plug-and-play traits and an ability to play any offensive line spot at a high level.”

Round 2 (No. 36) — Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin
Round 3 (No. 98, projected compensatory pick) — Collin Johnson, WR, Texas
Round 4 (No. 107) — Jabari Zuniga, EDGE, Florida
Round 5 (No. 150) — Dane Jackson, CB, Pittsburgh
Round 6 (No. 184) — Davon Hamilton, DL, Ohio State
Round 7 (No. 219) — Shane Lemieux, IOL, Oregon
Round 7 (No. 239) — Salvon Ahmed, RB, Washington

After the selection of Wills, Miller takes an almost paint by numbers approach to hitting many of the areas of need. By the way, if you’re bummed about missing out on Isaiah Simmons in Round 1, the selection of Baun might might you feel better.

From a scouting report by The Draft Network:

Take every stereotype you know about a Wisconsin rush linebacker and Baun fits the mold. He’s quick, he’s agile, he loves stunts and working back inside oversetting tackles. He plays his butt off — every single snap. Technically refined with his punch, he offers good pop and will effectively offset a tackle’s pads when he’s looking to stack up the line of scrimmage. Baun finds success in numerous phases of defense — I’ve seen him corner from a 2 pt. release off the edge, watched him crash off the backside of outside run concepts, seen him slant into interior gaps on crashing DL flow and even take some reps flexed into the slot on the condensed side of the field.

Baun can do a lot of things to an adequate to plus level — and he’s put over the top courtesy of motor and football intelligence.

SB Nation (Dan Kadar — 2 rounds)

NFL mock draft 2020: Welcome to the offseason with 2 rounds of picks - SBNation.com
Goodbye, Super Bowl. Hello, draft season.

Round 1 (No. 4) — Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

Kadar says: “Wills is a pro-ready run blocker, which is a good thing for a franchise that took a running back with the second overall pick in the draft two years ago. And while he’s not quite as accomplished as a pass blocker, Wills’ athleticism leads you to believe he should develop just fine in that area.”

Round 2 (No. 36) — Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin

Wills and Baun. Again. I suspect we’ll see that combo frequently in mock drafts.