Giants Mock Draft 1.0

The New York Football Giants currently have 6 picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, including 4 selections in the first 69 picks. Being so close to the draft, we are officially in “lying season”, which results in a ton of rumors flying around about team’s interests and direction they will go with their draft selections. Teams put out loads of false info to cloud other team’s perspectives on who they’re targeting, so take every rumor you see and hear with a grain of salt. Here I will try and cypher all the information and give you a full 6 pick Giants mock.

This is my first Giants mock released this year. I plan to make my final one next week, draft week. There are a few positions in particular that I feel the Giants need to fill in this draft including OL, RB, CB. Take a look below on how I filled these positions as well as a few others.

Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Round 1 (2): Josh Rosen QB, UCLA

I’m not buying all the Saquon Barkley hype coming out of the Giants. Not that I don’t think the Giants believe he is a fantastic prospect, because he is. He’s the #1 player on almost everyone’s boards. I just believe the Giants don’t see the positional value in drafting a RB this high in the draft. If the Giants take Barkley at #2, he’d already be the 5th highest paid RB in the NFL – without ever playing a down. With such a deep RB class and with the ability to grab playmakers at RB in the mid rounds (Rookie of the Year Alvin Kamara and the NFL’s leading rusher Kareem Hunt were both drafted in round 3 last year) the value just isn’t there to use your highest draft pick since 1981 on a RB.

I see the Giants rolling the dice on a quarterback who has the best mechanics coming out of the draft. He’s a pocket QB who is very intelligent and can quickly diagnose what is happening on the field. He has a strong arm and great accuracy leading wide receivers in stride. Rosen currently is the most NFL ready and has the highest floor of all the QBs coming out. A year or two behind Eli Manning, and learning from Pat Shurmur and Mike Shula could see Rosen fulfill his sky-high potential.

There are “knocks” on Rosen for being “too smart.” I’m honestly not sure how that could be a knock, but that’s one. The only concern I really have for Rosen is his injury history. I’m not even so much worried about the shoulder injury, as that was a minor surgery he fully overcame. Rosen did have 2 concussions this past year, which is concerning, as the more you get, the more common they become. But if you’re looking for a QB with an absolutely clean injury history, only Darnold is left standing from the big 4 QBs in this draft. Rosen dealt with a bad OL at UCLA and no help whatsoever around him. With better protection, I believe Rosen could absolutely stand the test of time and play 10-15 years in the NFL.

Round 2 (34): Nathan Shepherd DT, Fort Hayes

Shepherd is a bit of an unknown coming out a small time Fort Hayes St. He made a name for himself being a Cliff Harris Award Finalist, given to the best defensive player from a small school. At the Senior Bowl, Shepherd showed that he could handle the step up in competition. Dave Gettleman loves going DL early and often, picking four defensive linemen in the first two rounds of his five drafts as GM of the Carolina Panthers. Pairing a player like Shepherd with Damon “Snacks” Harrison and Dalvin Tomlinson could help round out the defensive front for the Giants in their new 3-4 defense.

Round 3 (66): Nick Chubb RB, Georgia

Giants have used more of their pre draft resources on RB than any other position coming out this draft. Chubb is an experienced back who is coming off a 1345

yard 15 td season at Georgia. Chubb had a gruesome knee injury in 2015, but bounced back with 224 carries and 223 carries in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Chubb split time with Sony Michel the last few years, which is fine as he wouldn’t be expected to carry the load for the Giants as a workhorse back with Jonathan Stewart and Wayne Gallman already on the roster. Chubb would be adding a strong between the tackles runner to the RBs room and will only improve the Giants production from the position.

Round 3 (69): Frank Ragnow C/OG, Arkansas

A top prospect who had his season cut short after a high ankle injury forced Ragnow to have season ending surgery. Ragnow was projected to be a fringe 1st round pick after his dominant 2016 Junior season. He came back to Arkansas as a Senior to refine his game, and in the few games he did play in 2017, you can see he improved upon his 2016 season. He does play with his pad level a little high, but he is very intelligent and can make all the calls on the line. He could come in and compete at center or guard right away on the Giants line.

Round 4 (108): Duke Dawson CB, Florida

On the smaller side at 5’10, 208 lbs, but plays bigger than his body frame. He’s compact and strong and is solid in the slot. He can bully finesse receivers at the line. Dawson was first team All-SEC with his team high 4 INT’s last year. Giants need CB depth on their team. They cut Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Eli Apple is coming off a super shaky season in which he was called a “cancer,” and Janoris “Jackrabbit” Jenkins could be a cap casualty after this year if the Giants want to save $8m+ next season. Dawson could come in and compete for the starting Nickel corner split time with William Gay in the slot.

Round 5 (139): Joe Noteboom OT, TCU

Giants began the process of rebuilding their offensive line during Free Agency with the signings of Nate Solder and Patrick Omameh, and they continue it here in the draft with their 2nd offensive lineman pick. Noteboom has good footwork out of his stance and mirrors well. Giants need all the bodies they can get to create competition on a work in progress offensive line. Noteboom needs to build up his strength to handle power rushers, but he is a good day 3 pick who could compete for a starting spot down the line after a few improvements to his game.