Instead of a mock draft or just picking 1 guy, here's my VERY EARLY list of players that I think out of these, will end up on the Giants in round 1. Based on mix of value and need.
David Njoku - TE - Miami
Ryan Ramcyzk - OL - Wisconsin
Forrest Lamp - OL - Western Kentucky
Derek Barnett - DE - Tennessee
OJ Howard - TE - Alabama
Takkarist McKinley - DE/OLB - UCLA
Taco Charlton - DE - Michigan
Christian McCaffrey - RB - Stanford
Cooper Kupp - WR - Eastern Washington
I'm not including Corey Davis as I think he'll be gone. Howard is definitely a stretch, but who knows, he may fall to us. Don't have CB listed because I really don't think we can justify CB in round 1 with Apple and Jenkins and the overall state of our defense, coupled with the struggles on offense with Eli's short window. Feel free to add players to the crop and discuss.
Njoku my biggest concern is can he be the sort of blocker we need to help our running game. Atlanta does not get much from their TE's but look how good they did. Green Bay, despite having Cook, he was invisible/hurt a lot of the season. Unless you are getting the next Rob Gronkowski, the TE needs to be at least capable enough as a run blocker that defenses cannot scheme to take him away as a threat in the passing game because they know he won't be making a difference blocking anybody.
Feeney is a good call, him and Pocic will definitely be looked at I think. If one of them falls to us in round 2 it'd be a no brainer. However, at 23, not sure these guys would be in the mix.
The Miami TE is the guy I'm rooting for. Based on everything I've seen thus far, his ceiling is through the roof.
Nice way to start the discussion, Ryan!
I had been down on Robinson, worried the Giants would have the same problems with him that they've had with Flowers, but the more I read, the less concerned I am about his downside. Not that he doesn't have a downside, but it's not as bad as what we're witnessing from Flowers.
Boylhart had this to say about him...
I know, Ryan, but I'd say that Reese can sometimes get desperate when faced with a major need. Look no further than Flowers at 9. I too see Bolles as a poor pick at 23.
Tony Pauline was on with John Shmeilk (sp) and Dottino on Friday and says in no way, shape, or form is Kupp a 1st rounder.
at a weak Draft and a low position .
Take a Friggen Playmaker TE WR RB .
Christian McCaffrey I am not a big fan rather get a guy like
D'Onte Foreman . Love to get OJ Howard who I think would
pay huge dividends and help open up this pathetic offense
we ran this past season
Njoku could, but I'm not convinced about him yet. Isn't he just a sophomore? And he's only 240? And we're not sure of his blocking? Between those, I doubt he's ready to contribute in 2017. And McCaffrey I'm just leery of.
Lamp apparently has disappointed at the Senior Bowl (or Shrine Bowl, whatever it is that just happened). And he's a G -- he should never have been considered in first round to begin with. Same w/ Feeney, IMO.
How about Haasan Reddick (OLB / Edge Rusher)? Double-down on D? He might be a slight reach but apparently he electrified everyone at Senior/Shrine.
I wouldn't be surprised if J. Peppers is this year's model: he's sort of a SS/OLB tweener, and some teams don't like to bet on those in the first round.
at a weak Draft and a low position .
Take a Friggen Playmaker TE WR RB .
Christian McCaffrey I am not a big fan rather get a guy like
D'Onte Foreman .
McCaffrey is 10 times the playmaker that Foreman is.
Id be shocked if he gets past Philly let alone slips to us at 23
That's a good call. JJSS has seemed to have gotten lost in the early draft process, and could rise towards the top again once the combine hits and we get closer.
rmk, Peppers seems to be a dynamite college player, but where does he play in the NFL? Giants already have Collins at SS. Can he play FS? Is he a possible WR - big enough with enough speed to play opposite OBJ?
To small for WLB. Think he'd be wasted at RB.
I just cannot envision his best position.
C'mon, Fournette is not an option at 23. Let's try and stick to realistic outcomes here...
I love McKinley as well. Mayock loves him too...he may go before us to a 3-4 needy team.
Quote:
No defensive player helped themselves more at the Senior Bowl and I think he's going to blow up the combine. He can play any LB position, has the ability to drop in coverage and his numbers speak for themselves as a pass rusher.
Mixed feelings about Reddick, but I could see him pushing his way into the first round, just not quite as high as #23. We're talking about a guy out of Temple who is going to be making a very significant position switch (this isn't like going from CB to FS or OT to OG). I would certainly include him in the mix with the Giants 2nd round pick (55th overall), but even then you're talking about using that pick on a guy who isn't likely to be anything more than a specialty player as a rookie.
I respectively disagree. Muhammad Wilkerson was a Temple player who had to adjust to a new scheme when he wind up going 13th overall several years ago. He wasn't projected that high this early in the process. You can't pick a player by school, you gotta pick them by talent. This isn't a significant switch for Reddick either. He was a walk on defensive back that initially played linebacker. He didn't become the full time starter at DE until his junior season but he still would drop into coverage when needed. That level of athleticism and versatility is exactly why I think he could be in play come draft night.
It's possible and exciting/dangerous? to draft a 1st rounder as the BPA without having a clear position in mind. It makes the coaches try to play the guy in a role where he can do his best. If the Giants have him as the BPA come pick time, I would not mind.
JohnB: Kupp had a grandfather, Jake, who played for the Saints. Is this who you mean? Why the hate?
Craig
It's the rest of the draft that concerns me. The Giants need to get significant contributions from their mid-to-late-round picks, which is something they weren't able to get for several years. That seems to have changed with the most recent drafts, and it needs to continue if they're to be considered serious contenders.