2014 Mock Draft: The New York Giants Select…

Oct 26, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive lineman Ra

This week’s installment of the FanSided NFL mock draft was assembled by Peter Smith at With the First Pick. Having now climbed up to the #11 spot in the talent sweepstakes, the Giants used their improved positioning to select… Ra’Shede Hageman, a 6’6 310 pound physical specimen at defensive tackle for Minnesota.

Hageman is anything but your typical lineman. He was a 12-point per game scorer on the hardwood in high school, and he was recruited to Minneapolis as a tight end back in 2009. To further illustrate his rare breed athleticism, check out these combine results courtesy of Bruce Feldman’s preseason “Freaks List” (Hageman rated #2 behind only Jadaveon Clowney): 36-inch vertical leap, 465 lb. bench press and 1.57 second 10-yard sprint. He possesses the versatility and burst off the edge to play DE in a 3-4 scheme as well.

In 2013, Hageman recorded 34 tackles (22 solo), 11 tackles for loss, two sacks and a J.J. Watt-like eight passes broken up. To steal a piece of basketball scouting terminology, he possesses a 6’9 wingspan — which in tandem with his freakish athletic gifts — puts his ceiling somewhere in the stratosphere. As is the critique of many young linemen, Hageman needs to cultivate the “I want to dominate” mindset and bring A+ effort through the whistle.

He’s faced difficulty lowering his pad level at 6’6, which in turn has often prevented his athleticism and power from shining through. He’s still relatively new to the defensive side of the ball, making his raw potential tricky to project. You can get a sneak peek at Hageman in the Texas Bowl versus Syracuse or at the Senior Bowl on January 25th.

The middle of the Giants line has been stout against the run (3.8 YPC), but the future of key personnel is uncertain. The multi-faceted Justin Tuck and run stuffing DT’s Linval Joseph and Mike Patterson are all free agents to be. Johnathan Hankins is a space eater supreme, but Hageman would bring a dynamic, game wrecking presence to the core of the line.

The defensive line is an option, but the Jints have numerous voids to fill. Could this be the year the G-men finally tab a linebacker in round one? Khalil Mack (Buffalo), Ryan Shazier (Ohio State) and Kyle Van Noy (BYU) could all be available in the Giants expected range. How about addressing the lack of quality depth at cornerback with Darqueze Dennard (Michigan State) or Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (Oregon)?

If you were GM Jerry Reese, what position of need would you emphasize in this CRITICAL ‘restock the roster’ year?

Follow us on twitter @GMENHQ, or follow me personally @AdamGaneles