Leonard Floyd May Be Off The Board Before The New York Giants Draft

Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd was once considered a mid-to-late first round pick, but as the hype grows leading up to the draft, analysts and scouts alike talk themselves into certain picks. Some of those analysts speculate that even the Jacksonville Jaguars selecting with the fifth pick are interested in Floyd.

Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media had Floyd as the “most likely” selection for the New York Giants last week. Paul Schwartz of the New York Post has Floyd the pick in his prediction this morning. He calls Floyd a “three-down linebacker who can thrive in Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive system, especially with the upgraded defensive line cleaning up the congestion.”

So as Giants beat writers and fans start to talk themselves into Floyd as an ideal pick, it may all be ripped away from them.

Todd McShay’s final mock draft was released this morning and, sure enough, Floyd is off the board before the Giants make their pick. McShay has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafting Floyd one pick earlier. Here’s his write up:

“As I’ve been saying for the past 10 days or so: Floyd is the hottest name in the draft. The last Tampa Bay edge rusher to record double-digit sacks was Simeon Rice in 2005. Floyd has a ton of upside in that area, given his elite first step and freakish athleticism.”

Of course, there’s always the option that Jerry Reese could trade up to ensure he grabs Floyd, but that’s unlikely. The Giants only have six selections in this year’s draft; they lost their 7th rounder in the Brad Wing trade. Reese is also not the type of GM to make trades during the draft. He’s not very nimble, but if he’s going to make a trade, it would be down with the Tennessee Titans at 15.

The real reason Reese may not want to trade down is the player sitting there at ten. In McShay’s mock draft, the Giants would then select Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin. Reese needs to solidify the right side of the offensive line, but that selection would be the third first-rounder added to the line in four years.

With one of the worst defenses in the league, another first-round pick spent on the O-line would signify a clear misallocation of assets by Reese. If Floyd is off the board, Reese will be forced to be nimble. A trade down would allow them to select Sheldon Rankins or even Darron Lee and grab an extra pick or two in this year’s draft.