Yes it is indeed time to present some Team Mocks in which I attempt to align needy NFL teams with some useful help for now and for the future. So, remember my rules here;
- No trades of Picks by teams, on my part.
- Players will be taken based on my player rankings.
- I cannot make Picks of players that are ranked higher than the Drafting team itself. So if you are the Giants with early Picks in Round 1, and I have KAYVON THIBODEAUX ranked 3rd, I cannot Mock him to the Giants.
- I will adjust my Picks and rankings during the next 3 weeks, as needed, so there may be some chaos between team Pick positions and player ranks from today with those made early the actual week of the Draft.
So let us get started, and let’s get going by drafting for our EDITOR’S favorite team:
New York GIANTS The GIANTS should send a “thank you” note to former GM DAVID GETTLEMAN for leaving them with such a bountiful Draft Pick basket to work with. They have 9 Picks overall, but most importantly is the fact that right now 5 of those Picks sit within the Top 81 Picks of the entire Draft. Stars and starters come in the early Picks. So now maximizing the value of those high picks is on new GM Joe SCHOEN and the team’s Personnel Dept. By the way, people dotting the upper echelon of the team hierarchy named MARA or TISCH need to stay out of the Draft room and let the real “football people” do the picking.
Pick 5 IKEM EKWONU OT/G N.C. State 6’4/310 His frame fits best at OG, but that’s OK with me because I see the team currently adding 30-year old bodies on to band-aid the IOL. His arm length says he could handle that OT spot. He can win a starting job either inside or out. He has a Will Hernandez attitude, but is much more physically gifted.
Pick 7 KYLE HAMILTON S Notre Dame 6’4/220 He has slipped a bit in the past month because his testing venues indicate he is not as fast as we thought. His 4.59/40 at the Combine disappointed, but he clearly uses instincts and field vision to gain a step on receivers. The GIANTS S depth chart is scary thin, and perhaps mediocre. He will be a good, if not great NFL starter. Might also fit as a hybrid SS/LB mix ala the departed PEPPERS.
Pick 36 ARNOLD EBIKETIE EDGE Penn State 6’2/250 Arguably the best Edge player outside of those top 5 at the start of the Draft. He can line up with a hand down, or up in a 2-point stance. Move him around a bit and watch the Sacks start to add up. Penn State guys have done well for the G-Men over the years, when healthy.
Pick 67 CHARLIE KOLAR TE Iowa State 6’6/256 A versatile player with good athleticism. He’s a big target, who can block, with large soft hands. The team cleaned out their TE room pretty much this off-season. I don’t see a legit starter on their roster right now with TE beside their name.
Pick 81 ALEC PIERCE WR Cincinnati 6’3/208 An athletic receiver, who is still developing and getting better each year as a Bearcat. I do not see a topped wideout on their current roster. Pierce comes in better than at least half the guys currently in the WR room, with room to improve his game.
Pick 112 LUKE GOEDEKE OG/T Central Michigan 6’4/318
Pick 147 ABRAM SMITH RB Baylor 5’11/211
Pick 173 MARTIN EMERSON CB Mississippi St 6’2/201
Pick 182 KYRON JOHNSON LB/EDGE Kansas 6’0/230
By being done early in Round 6, it will give the GIANTS a few extra hours to organize their hunt for Undrafted Rookies. They normally target ten or so to plus-up their roster with younger, inexpensive Rookies, hoping that about half of them hit the roster and/or Practice Squad.
Cheers
Pigskin
