The New York Giants have 12 picks in the upcoming NFL Draft and the way things are going, it’s anyone’s guess if they’ll use them all or if they’ll trade a few to obtain a player or a package they feel can help them.
General manager Dave Gettleman began molding this roster to match his mantra and vision the second he walked through the door in December 2017. He loves team-oriented players and he favors size and toughness over speed and finesse.
Using The Draft Network’s Mock Draft machine, I put my Gettleman hat on and went to work, selecting the first six players I believe will help Big Dave reach his vision.
Round 1 (No. 6) – Devin White, LB, LSU
What? Not a hog molly? Believe you me, this kid is the goods. He is a demon going both north and south as well as east and west. White can do it all — tackle, cover you name it — has the instincts and the physical gifts to act on them. He will come right in and start in the middle of the Giants’ defense and control the box the way Landon Collins did, but is bigger and faster than Collins and can cover tight ends and running backs.
White also has the penchant for quickly slipping into the opponents’ backfield on a regular basis. A former running back, White is still developing but is a quick learner. He will flourish under defensive coordinator James Bettcher and give the Giants the combination of speed and power they haven’t had at linebacker in ages.
Round 1 (No. 17) – Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
The offensive line is almost rebuilt. The addition of Williams will be the finishing touch. Williams is the perfect pick here for the Giants and should come right in and play right tackle but the coaching staff have the option of putting him on the left side and sliding veteran Nate Solder over to right tackle.
Williams has been compared to Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl tackle Jake Matthews and is smart, safe pick here for the Giants who will finally have an offensive line worth their salt in front of Eli Manning.
Round 2 (No. 37) – Jaylon Ferguson, EDGE, Louisiana Tech
The Giants’ pass rush has been putrid the past few years and they’ve been in need of a solid presence on the edge that can bot bring pressure and get home for sacks.
Ferguson is perfect fit to put on the other side of B.J. Hill. He is a prototypical defensive end with a long history of production on the collegiate level. 275 of his tackles were for a loss. Ferguson compares to the New Orleans Saints’ Marcus Davenport, a first round pick in last year’s draft.
With Lorenzo Carter set to break out and the addition of Marcus Golden, Ferguson will provide the Giants with much-needed energy on their defensive front.
Round 3 (No. 95) – Jaquan Johnson, S, Miami
Many see Johnson as a smallish safety that is too rough around the edges. They could be right. Others see a similar player to Arizona’s Budda Baker, and that has to excite Bettcher.
Johnson was a team captain at Miami and plays with a fervor the Giants’ defense has been lacking the past few years. He can initially play in a rotation and could eventually take over for veteran Antoine Bethea as Jabrill Peppers’ partner in the middle of the Giants’ secondary.
Round 4 (No. 108) – Emanuel Hall, WR, Missouri
With Giant fans still freaking out over the Odell Beckham Jr. trade, a young wide receiver has to be added to the stable in this draft. They have Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate, Cody Latimer and Corey Coleman to go along with tight end Evan Engram and running back Saquon Barkley, but they need one more solid option here for me to feel satisfied.
Hall is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound target who ran a 4.39 40 at the NFL Combine. Hall may not end up becoming a star, but he can be a legitimate deep threat that takes the top off defenses. That’s a talent no team can resist.
Round 4 (No. 132) – Dennis Daley, OT, South Carolina
Color me crazy, but I just want to drop a cinderblock on the Giants’ offensive line woes. Daley will help do that. At 6-foot-5 and 317 pounds, he has the size and is considered an ascending talent. He held his own against Clemson’s talented front.
Daley has some holes in his game, but will start as the swing tackle and could end up being a starter at some point when Solder is done.
