FanPost

Fantasy Mock Draft 1.0....

I've read the same draft boards as most.

From which I've come up with my fantasy (but plausible) mock draft.

Pick # 5

Evan Neal, OT, Alabama (6-7, 350 pounds) or Ikem Ekwonu, G, NC State (6-4, 320 pounds)

Mel Kiper says that his league sources are split on who is the better prospect. I find that hard to believe. In a league of genetic lottery winners Neal is a power ball winner. Ekwonu is close, and if the Giants land a tackle in the 2nd round, can slide inside.

Either way, the Giants need offensive line help. No funny business or dickering around take who ever is left on the board.

Walter Football

Ekwonu (6-4, 320) is putting together an impressive 2021 season that is earning him high grades from NFL teams. One director of player personnel said their team had Ekwonu as a mid- to late first-round pick for the 2022 NFL Draft. Ekonwu has experience at both guard and tackle with the Wolfpack, but he projects as being able to play left tackle in the NFL. Ekwonu is a fierce and physical run blocker. While he has some things to work on as a pass blocker, the potential is there for him to stay on the edge at the next level.


PFF

Ekwonu is the biggest bully as a run-blocker in the draft class. He leads all college linemen in big-time blocks since the start of 2020.

Sporting News

Ekwonu has shot up boards showing his strong and powerful run blocking with the required nasty streak to push around and strike fear into his defensive line assignments.

Pick #7 (Trade down)

I have a player targeted here-- Tyler Linderbaum. Some mocks have him in the top 10, others in the early 20's. With Denver, Washington, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and New Orleans all needing quarterback there should be ample opportunity to move down.

Trade 1: pick #7 for #9 and #40

Trade 2: pick #9 for #12 and #46

Pick #12

Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa (6-3, 290 pounds)

The most lauded Center to com out since Dave Rimington. As far as I can tell his floor is Mark Stepnoski and his ceiling is Dermontti Dawson. There is a chance he doesn't make it to 12, but that is why this is a fantasy draft.

Walter Football

Linderbaum is a very polished and well-rounded player. The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder plays with good leverage and demonstrates advanced hand placement. He is able to sink his hips to anchor against bull rushes while showing quickness and agility to adjust to speed. Linderbaum looks like a safe pick to become a quality starter in the NFL, and he could be selected in the back half of the first round if he enters the 2022 NFL Draft.


PFF

Linderbaum was the highest-graded center in the country in both 2020 and 2021. His 95.4 overall grade this past year was the highest we’ve ever given to a Power Five center.

Sporting News

Linderbaum is a strong, athletic and relentless interior blocker. He has the intelligence and natural run blocking skills to be a decade-long fixture in the NFL.

Pick #36

Travon Walker, DT/DE, Georgia (6-5, 275 pounds)

The Giants get their edge rusher. This is a slight drop, but not inconceivable. The Giants last three pro bowl Defensive ends: Michael Strahan. Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck were all 2nd day picks.

Walter Football

Scouts were buzzing about Walker in the early going of the 2021 season, and he really helped move himself up boards for the 2022 NFL Draft. The junior put together an impressive 2021, including a big performance against Clemson in the season opener. On the year, he had 34 tackles and five sacks. Team sources say Walker is big, athletic and speed. They feel is a well-rounded defender with a lot of upside. The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder has the size to set the edge and is quick off the ball. Don't be surprised if Walker is a riser throughout the 2022 NFL Draft process.

Sporting News

Walker is an explosive, versatile playmaker who can line up at multiple spots up front and can with with both athleticism and power.


Pick #40

Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota (6-9, 380 pounds)

Is a third lineman in the top 4 picks too much? The Giants 2nd best current lineman is Nick Gates and he has a career threatening injury.

Walter Football

Faalele had a solid season, including Week 1 against Ohio State. He will have to play right tackle or guard at the next level because his feet are too slow for left tackle. In pass protection, sometimes Faalele's feet seem to get stuck in the ground. He has excellent size and length that make him tough to run around, but he also as some limitations in speed, athleticism and movement.

PFF

The 6-foot-9, 380-pounder is a truly rare human being. He came over from Australia to play football in 2016 and has improved mightily since. His 82.3 overall grade in 2021 was a massive leap from the 72.3 he earned when we saw him last in 2019.


Sporting News

Faaelele has been an Australian sensation with his incredible size and rapid development in the athletic part of his game.

Pick #46

Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina (6-4, 265 pounds)

One of the deepest defensive end classes in recent memory-- the Giants reset their defensive line rotation.

In 2021, Engabare had 44 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two passes batted. He played well for the Gamecocks.

PFF

Enagbare has been one of the highest-graded pass-rushers in the country over the past two seasons, having put up an 89.2 pass-rushing grade in 2020 and a 92.5 in 2021. While he’s not the kind of athlete who hears his name called early, Enagbare has the violent hands to be productive.

Sporting News

Enagbare is an intimidating force with great explosiveness and the versatility to get to the quarterback in many ways.


Pick #67

Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming (6-3, 242 pounds)

Walter Football

Muma played well for Wyoming in 2021, recording 103 tackles, one sack, three interceptions and one pass defended. He has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

Sporting News

Muma can do pretty much everything asked from the position with rare coverage and pass-rush skills.


Pick #81

Daxton Hill, S, Michigan (6-0, 192 pounds)


Walter Football

Hill has flashed some nice ability over the past two seasons for the Wolverines. In 2019, he had 36 tackles, an interception and three passes defended. Hill was even better in the shortened 2020 season, recording 45 tackles, an interception and four passes broken up. He has 65 tackles, two interceptions and seven passes broken up so far in 2021. Hill is a solid tackler who showed solid instincts and improved coverage skills as a junior. He could stand to gain some weight to tackle and avoid injury in the NFL.


PFF

Hill showed off his versatility by playing mainly slot for the Wolverines defense. Still, he’ll be a deep safety in the NFL, and he possesses some of the class' best speed for that position.

Sporting News


Hill offers an interesting mix of speed, quickness, smarts and instincts to give him sleeper starting potential in the NFL.
Pick #108

JoJo Domann, LB, Nebraska (6-1, 230 pounds)

Coverage specialist,


Walter Football
Domann was a solid linebacker for Nebraska and showed some improvement as a senior. He recorded 58 tackles in the shortened 2020 season after making 52 stops in 2019. In 2021, Domann totaled 71 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and three passes batted. He could be a backup and special teams contributor in the NFL and may possess the potential to grow into more. Domann has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

Sporting News

Domann is a very versatile player with coverage skills to handle backs and tight ends well.

Pick #145

Tariq Castro-Fields, CB, Penn State, (6-0, 191 pounds)

Walter Football

Castro-Fields had a lot of buzz with evaluators entering the season, but his play dropped off and he had a rough year. Specifically, Castro-Fields needs to improve at not biting on double moves and improve his eye discipline. He has a good skill set, so he could help himself in pre-draft workouts.

Pick #170


Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA, (6-4, 205)

Pick #181

Walter Football

Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy loves to tweet, and he posted recently that Woolen could be a second- or third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. After reaching out to some area scouts who cover Texas, two of them said they had him on Day 3 and one said they had him on Day 2.

"[Woolen] is a fourth- or fifth-rounder to me," said one area scout. "He's 6-foot-3, but real raw. He'd have to have a good week at Senior Bowl to go on Day 2 in my opinion."

Woolen is a freak athlete with size and speed, but he has some background and medical concerns that need to be addressed to help him go on Day 2. Still, he is a rising prospect who looks bound for the Senior Bowl in January.

Zach Tom, OT/C, Wake Forest (6-5, 295)

Drafted because he has played both tackle and center. Hope he develops into a quality stop gap player.

Walter Football

Tom has played tackle and center for Wake Forest over the past three seasons and gradually has evolved into a tough blocker at the point of attack. The 6-foot-5, 295-pounder has quality height, but at his weight moving, inside to center could be his best fit for the NFL. Team sources say they've been impressed by Tom this year, and they believe he should man the middle of the line as a pro. They feel Tom could end up being a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.


Pros...

1. Offensive Line is addressed.


4 Starters, B. Price, W. Hernandez, Matt Skura and Nate Solder are Free Agents. Andrew Thomas and Ben Bredeson who was traded for mid season, is under contract. Wes Martin, who played over 50% of snaps is also signed for next year. Matt Peart tore his ACT in December. Nick Gates fractured his leg and has already had several surgeries. Rich Seubert suffered a similar injury in 2003, he wss out till 2005 and didn't get his starting job back till 2007. 2020 draft pick Shane Lemieux suffered a torn patella tendon in September. Again, there is a precedent. In 2014 Victor Cruz tore his patella tendon. He didn't return till 2016-- the only year he played.


Even drafting 4 offensive linemen, the Giants will likely have to strike out in free agency and undrafted players to fill out the roster.

Free agent options include;

  • Brandon Scherff, G, The Football Team: The highest ranked free agent on the market. The Giants would have to make some cuts to fit him in.
  • Duane Brown, T, Seahawks: A14 year veteran, you know pretty much what you get. He could give the Giants 3 years of stability till the young players mature.
  • Conner Williams, G Cowboys: Has been good but not exceptional. Still young enough to get better. The main function the Giants need is a stallworth veteran, keeping the line some what cohesive-- not sure Williams is that guy.
  • James Daniels, G, Bears: Like Williams, young and can get better.
  • Andrew Norwell, G, Jaguars: Imperfect player, but could solidify the line.
  • Moses Morgan, T, Jets: Kind of has a Kareem McKenzie vibe. Can come in for three years, give some stability at right tackle.
  • Austin Corbett, G, Rams: Could be a bargain pick up. A serviceable to solid starter.
  • Alex Cappa, G, Buccaneers: An improving player, doesn't seem ready to be the steadying force the Giants need.
  • Rielly Reiff, T, Bengals; Could be a good signing if cheap enough to be the Giants's 3rd Tackle.
  • Germain Ifedi, G/T Bears; Not solid enough to be a great starter, too good to sign as a back up-- he maybe of interest if the market drys up.
Unless the Giants are very lucky, there will be growing pains with a minimum of three rookies starting on the offensive line. I don't think anyone is expecting the Giants to be contenders next year, however.


Leverages Edge Rushers.

Two of the Giants's more criticized picks in the 2000's were Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka both of whom were considered redundant to players already on the roster. The depth of this edge class is extreme. If the Giants come away with 2 edges in the first 2 days, will be happy.

3. Eschewing DE in the first round.

Nothing against George Karlaftis, I'm sure he is a great player. But he is the best of the 2nd tier of edge defenders. Even if the Giants don't trade back to get additional picks, there will be an edge defender 90% of Karlaftis available.

4. Not drafting a Quarterback.

One of the late great John Madden favorite sayings was If you have 2 starting quarterbacks, you have none.

I doubt Daniel Jones is the answer. But he should be an exceptional cautionary tale. Don't over reach in the first round for quarterbacks.

5. Adding coverage skill to linebackers.

Both Domann and Muma are good coverage players.



CON

1. Lack of great players.

Other than Linderbaum, not sure there is a guy you can project to all-pro in this class. There is a strong argument to just keep 7 and draft Derek Stingley Jr. CB, LSU orKyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame-- both of whom project to be dominant players. Maybe taking Hamilton over Ekwonu makes some sense.

2. Ignoring offensive skill positions.

3. Not drafting a defensive tackle. Basically, most teams need to draft / sign a defensive tackle every two years just to tread water. There were a few giant human beings that were passed over.


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