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Sunday, March 29, 2020

Ed’s 7-round New York Giants mock draft, version 8.0

NCAA Football: Purdue at Penn State Yetur Gross-Matos | John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

This one features a trade down to No. 5

Week after week as I have tried to build a variety of New York Giants mock draft scenarios for you to discuss I have grown frustrated with the ‘Fanspeak’ mock draft simulator. As much as it can be fun to play with, the algorithm used by ‘Fanspeak’ won’t allow anything remotely resembling a realistic trade down by the Giants from No. 4 to Nos. 5, 6, or7 with the Miami Dolphins, LA Chargers or Carolina Panthers.

Well, Pro Football Network this week launched a mock draft simulator that allows trades. I decided to give it a whirl and, lo and behold, the simulator approved a trade down one spot with the Dolphins.

In swapping picks with Miami, I also picked up a second-round pick (56th overall). I tried for Miami’s pick at 39, but got rebuffed. In case you’re interested, by point value the traditional trade chart would call this a win for the Giants. The No. 4 pick is assigned a value of 1,800 points. The fifth and 56th picks total a value of 2,040 points. So, that seems about right.

Here is how it all played out.

Round 1 (No. 5) — Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

I have said a number of times that I think GM Dave Gettleman is going to have a hard time passing on the monstrous Mekhi Becton if he wants an offensive tackle. I still believe that. Wirfs, though, is probably a safer choice.

Passed on:
Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

For those wondering, Isaiah Simmons went No. 3 to the Detroit Lions in this scenario.

PFN says: Wirfs was a consistent force for Iowa the past two seasons and has enough skill to quickly start at right tackle in the NFL, and he could also get looks on the left side. He possesses size and upside and should be a dominant starter at the next level in time.

Round 2 (No. 36) — Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State

As far as I’m concerned, this couldn’t have worked out any better. Perhaps the best “edge” prospect in the draft class after Chase Young and K’Lavon Chaisson, Gross-Matos is off the board late in Round 1 in many mocks. To find the 6-foot-5, 266-pound former Penn State Nittany Lion available at No. 36 and be able to bring him to the team where his collegiate position coach, Sean Spencer, is now employed is — to me — a home run.

Passed on:
Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
Julian Okwara, EDGE, Notre Dame
A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson

PFN says: Gross-Matos is an explosive pass-rushing prospect with a high upside, but he needs to round off the edges of his game. He shows terrific movement skills to make plays in space as well as bend the edge, but he must get stronger and consistently play at a high level. Gross-Matos comes with tremendous upside, though there may be bumps in the road early in his NFL career.

Round 2 (No. 56) — Matt Hennessy, C, Temple

In previous mocks, most often using the big board generated by Bleacher Report draft analyst Matt Miller, this would have been early forHennessy. The way this board fell this ended up being a sweet spot for center. It wasn’t easy to pass on Zack Baun, but I believe Hennessy is a Day 2 name to watch for the Giants. He was available here, the Giants have a need, and using the PFN board the matchup of need/value was too much for me to ignore.

Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin
Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin

PFN says: Hennessy was a terrific center who showed consistent progress the past two seasons and went on to perform incredibly well during the Senior Bowl. He comes with big upside and is a second day prospect who could quickly break into a starting lineup at the next level.

Round 3 (No. 99) — Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue

The Giants are stocking up on tight ends, but guys like Levine Toilolo and Eric Tomlinson aren’t long-term answers. Hopkins could give the Giants an option if Evan Engram can’t stay healthy or the Giants decide to move on after the 2020 season.

PFN says: Hopkins is developing into a solid tight end and comes with huge upside. He needs a lot of work on his overall game, but he’s a second day or mid-round prospect who could eventually develop into a starter at the next level.

Passed on:
Troy Pride, CB, Notre Dame
Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame

Round 4 (No. 110) — Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech

If I was going to add a cornerback in this draft, a guy who is a true slot cornerback is what I was really hoping to find. That describes the 5-foot-9. 172-pound Robertson.

Passed on:
Collin Johnson, WR, Texas
Brandon Jones, S. Texas
Alex Highsmith, EDGE, Charlotte

Draft Network’s Kyle Crabbs says: Amik Robertson projects as a nickel corner who, in a zone heavy defensive system, has the ability to be a high impact ball hunter in the secondary. It is easy to appreciate Robertson’s ball skills and anticipation in the secondary, although his lack of size will limit him from playing consistent press against TEs or WRs on the boundary. Robertson has the foot quickness to transition into pattern match and swoop to attack the football — but his usage on the outside should still be sparing at best.

Round 5 (No. 150) — Antoine Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty

The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Golden has a body type and skillset unlike any other Giants wide receiver.

Draft Network’s Joe Marino says: Liberty wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden has one heck of a highlight reel that showcases some of the most dynamic finishes of any receiver in the class. He has terrific ball skills, hands and a massive catch radius. With that said, his lack of a translatable skill set to separating at the next level is concerning. His heavy feet and tight hips will present challenges as a route runner and he isn’t quite the alpha expected for his body composition. Gandy-Golden will provide catch radius to an NFL receiving corps’ but he isn’t likely to command significant targets. Gandy-Golden projects as a WR4 that needs to increase his value with special teams contributions.

Round 6 (No. 183) — Tanner Muse, S, Clemson

I missed out on Simmons, Kyle Dugger, Jeremy Chinn and maybe a couple of other guys who could play that hybrid safety/linebacker role. I’ll take a chance here on the 6-foot-2, 227-pound Muse.

PFN says: Muse was a terrific defender for Clemson who consistently made plays on the football, then turned in a great Combine workout, running much faster than anyone expected. He’s a versatile defender who can play a hybrid safety/linebacker position and add value on special teams.

Round 7

No. 218Malcolm Perry, RB, Navy

Why not?

No. 238 — Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island

This is one of the difficult things about drafting on a laptop while using a simple vertical board. When I pick I try to stay within the top 20-25 names that come up on whatever big board I’m using, and I don’t scroll much beyond that. In all honesty, had I seen Coulter’s name I would have selected him way back in Round 5 instead of Gandy-Golden.

Here’s Gil Brandt on Coulter:

“He’s a guy we’re gonna be asking about a year from now, ‘Where’d he come from? Why’d we miss on him?’” Brandt said. “He’s 6-foot-1 7/8, big receiver. Plays big. Can run under 4.4 (in the 40-yard dash). I like these guys who come from a school like Rhode Island with something to prove. Don’t want to put too much pressure on him, but he could be (the) Metcalf of this draft.”

No. 247Justin Strnad, LB, Wake Forest

So, how is this guy still available?

PFN says: In my opinion, Strnad is one of the more underrated conventional linebackers in the draft. Effective in space, he’s a three-down player who must polish his game, but he offers a lot of upside for the next level.

No. 255Michael Warren II, RB, Cincinnati

I have advocated for the Giants to add an inside power runner to complement Saquon Barkley. That’s what I try to do here with the 5-foot-11, 218-pound Warren.

PFN says: Warren was a powerful ball carrier and great red-zone threat at Cincinnati the past two seasons. He possesses the skills necessary to be a No. 3 back and occasional spot starter at the next level.


Previous mocks

Version 1.0
Version 2.0
Version 3.0
Version 4.0
Version 5.0
Version 6.0
Version 7.0


Just for grins

Here is a 7-round Giants mock draft posted Saturday by Emory Hunt of Football Gameplan. My favorite part of Hunt’s draft? Rule No. 5.



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