NY Giants Mock Draft (4/11/10)
Written by Jett Wells, Sunday April 11 2010
The NFL Draft is a beautiful day for all football fans, because it means hope for the future, and up until NFL Commisioner Roger Goodell steps up to the still podium to announce the fist pick, every NFL fan thinks that just maybe this year could mean greatness. For the NY Giants, they're reeling from what was once another potential run at Super Bowl title, but instead watched the season collapse after mass injuries, bad coaching and even worse effort from the players. Today, this team is still just as talented and still has a big window to make a run into the playoffs, and NY Giants GM Jerry Reese aided to the cause after getting some safety help from Antel Rolle and Deon Grant. These moves along with he signing of former Bills Interim Head Coach, Perry Fewell, sets the stage for the most important offseason moves of the Giants' offseason--the draft.
I've been studying the best college prospects and what the experts say who we need and don't need, and the consensus is this: we need defensive help and a few adjustments with the running game. Can the draft solve all these problems? No, but it can seal a few in the first three rounds. Here's how I see the NY Giants' draft going down.
Round 1, pick #10 (traded for NY Giants third round pick and first round pick with Jacksonville Jaguars) --ILB, Rolando McClain, Alabama.
The Giants have clearly targeted their two top choices: Rolando McClain and Clemson's RB CJ Spiller, but there's no way we're getting either of these guys without trading up to at least the number 10 spot with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Trading our third round pick is worth it if it allows our team to make a huge bounce back this season.
Either of these guys would be sensational picks and would immediately impact the team. That said, if I had to pick one, I'd go with McClain because not only is he the consensus top linebacker, and we have a gaping hole at middle linebacker with the loss of Antonio Pierce, but because he's considered the smartest defensive player on the board. If we want an immediate starter at middle linebacker, it's got to be a veteran or a smart kid like McClain. If you listen to his fellow teammates at Alabama, they all say the same thing: he's a leader and he reads defenses like a scholar. He ran the top college defense last year and was a huge reason why Alabama won the national title. Spiller would immediately revitalize our running game and help us with our return game as well, but it's our defense essentially that fell apart so the defense gets addressed first.
Round 3, pick traded to Jacksonville for #10 overall.
Round 2, DT/DE Tyson Alualu, California
At 6'3'' and just shy of 300 lbs, Alualu is a tweener like NY Giants DE Justin Tuck. He's got enough bullk to play defensive tackle in a 4-3, like the Giants, but he's got the speed and power to push the pocket and make tackles in the backfield. Alualu and Texas DT Lamarr Houston are both popular picks for the Giants to select in round 2, because DT is a need position after so many teams gashed the Giants in the running game. Yes, we still have Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard and Jay Alford rehabbing from injuries, but since we dropped Fred Robbins, we need some youth insurance to stack this line and bring it back to prominence as one of the best in the league.
Round 4, RB Joe McKnight, USC
This is only assuming Ole Miss RB/WR Dexter McCluster is gone at this point, because as of now, he's no longer a secret and I can see him sneaking into the third round. McKnight is a decent competitor to McCluster. He's what you call a "space guy," meaning he'll make plays in space. He's like a Reggie Bush-lite, and would be a sweet third down, scat back to relieve Ahmad Bradshaw. He's more quick than fast, but with enough room, he's a slippery playmaker. We need some life in the running game after last year. He could even provide support in the return game which was also putrid last year.
Round 5, OG Jon Asamoah, Illinois
Asamoah is rising up draft boards recently, and is one of those middle-round gems who can provide quality depth on the interior offensive line. Last year's running game was a product of injuries and poor blocking from the line, and this group is getting long in the tooth. In comes Asamoah to push Seubert for the starting job at the end of the season, so the running backs can get some some more room to run. The offensive line always needs some youth every year because it's so vital to the team overall.
Round 6, S Darrell Stuckey, Kansas
No one knows what Kenny Phillips is going to be like this season after rehabbing from major knee surgery, which is why the Giants front office snagged Pro Bowler Rolle and durable veteran Grant to provide insurance. That said, I still think the Giants will snag another young safety in the later rounds. Stuckey has the skills to be a late round gem as he's called an instinctive playmaker, although lacking in deep speed and size. He's what I would call a fiesty , overachiever that would provide solid depth to what should a strength of the team after it being the achilles heel last season.
Round 7, LB Lee Campbell, Virgina Tech
Campbell would provide more linebacker depth, which still remains a big question mark. This season is going to be a constantly rotating linebacker core with different players because there are no sure-starters on the weakside or strongside, yet. McClain's leadership should shore up some of these issues and Campell would provide an instinctive hard-working talent, much like Chase Blackburn.
--Jett Wells
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I like it but I don't think McKnight will be there in the 4th round.