• Ohio State linebacker Etienne Sabino, as per Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
• LSU tight end Chase Clement, as per Jenny Vrentas of the Newark-Star Ledger.
• Virginia Tech linebacker/safety Alonzo Tweedy, as per Vrentas.
• Charleston Southern cornerback Charles James, as per Vrentas.
• Mount Union linebacker Charles Dieuseul, as per Vacchiano.
• Virginia Tech Wide Receiver Marcus Davis as per @bigbluebloggers

The Giants started the draft process with 77 players on their roster, and drafted 7 more, which left them at 84 and room for 6 undrafted free agents. Not sure if the Giants have another move in the back of their collective minds, or if they will go ahead with 89.

9. New York Jets – Jonathan Cooper, OG/North Carolina – I know just yesterday I had Cooper going to the Jets at #13, but they can’t chance the Titans or Miami would take him before then. The Jets, more than most teams, need a starter from day 1 at probably 4 positions. If Tavon Austin is drafted by either Buffalo, or St. Louis as predicted, The N.Y Jets will tell all the viewers at #9 who exactly is making the decisions for the team. If they trade this pick… It’s Idzick. If they pick a defensive player, Rex Ryan is making the decisions, and if they pick a lineman, Woody Johnson is thinking longevity with his early pick in 2013.

8. St. Louis Rams 8. Buffalo Bills – Tavon Austin, WR West Virginia – Everything I have read today had mentioned that both the N.Y. Jets as well as the Bills are very high on Tavon Austin, but neither is as high on him as St. Louis. With St. Louis having two first round picks, the ability to move up is infinite. This also works in favor for Buffalo who has to pick in front of Minnesota to make sure they get their pick of a QB like Ryan Nassib at 16, or E.J. Manuel and still acquire more picks later this year, or possibly next. If the Jets don’t go after Nassib at #13, he will fall directly to Buffalo.

7. Cardinals – Star Lotulelei, DT/Utah – ESPN’s Todd McShay “loves” this guy. I also think he can play in either scheme (4-3 or 3-4) as both at DT, or DE. He beats the Offensive line early in games and often and makes his presence felt. At 6’3” 311lbs, Star has the prototypical size and strength to be an impact player right away, which is exactly what a first round pick should do for your team.

6. Oakland Raiders – Sharrif Floyd, DT/ Florida – Floyd racked up 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two kick blocks as a junior before declaring and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah was quoted as saying, “everybody” has Floyd pegged as a top-five pick.” . At 6’3 297 pounds, and with a solid 40 time, Oakland loves highly touted athletic players of which Floyd definitely fits the mold. West Virginia WR Tavon Austin could also go here, or the Raiders could do something smart and move further down again in order to grab more talent, much like the Patriots do every year.

5. Detroit Lions – Ezekiel Ansah DE/ BYU – Ansah reportedly didn’t hire a trainer for the combine instead focusing on finishing his classes at BYU. His draft stock was already high but this news makes him seem kind of freakish. Measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds with 35 1/8-inch arms, Ansah posted the sixth fastest forty times (4.63) of 37 defensive linemen who ran, and his 34 1/2-inch vertical tied for seventh. There is also a rumor that his 40 at the combine was the first one he ever ran in his lifetime. In 5 years’ time, this will either seem like the steal of the top 10, or a total bust.

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Luke Joeckel, OT/ Texas A&M – Chip Kelly gets to choose between a dynamic DE in BYU Ziggy Ansah or the consensus #1 for the last few months. I understand his new offense has been quoted by LeSean McCoy as being “a track meet” and I truly think that unless another team that is looking to move up, like the San Diego Chargers, trades into this position the choice will be Joeckel or North Carolina OG Lane Johnson.

3. Cleveland Browns – Geno Smith, QB/West Virginia – In the first trade of the NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders are said to be looking to trade down, and Cleveland has been rumored to be very interested in both, West Virginia QB Geno Smith, or BYU DE Ezekiel Ansah. Brandon Weeden was the last regimes QB, and unfortunately his biggest loss will be the fact that his new bosses didn’t draft him, and therefore will never have “their guy” until they draft “their guy.” There is also talk that if the top two tackles don’t go 1 & 2, Oakland would be willing to trade for nearly anyone who thinks the LT is a position of need and is willing to pay with multiple picks.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dion Jordan, DE/Oregon – Dion is an anomaly. Most prospects unable to compete at either the combine or their pro day typically fall on draft boards. Instead, all this kid has done is run a 40 and he’s being considered as one of the best defensive players available this year. Jordan was unable to help his draft stock at the Oregon Pro day because he is recovering from a recent surgery to repair a torn labrum. He ran a 4.53 unofficial time at the combine, which is amazing. GM David Caldwell recently said, “We’re pretty close – It’s down to two people.” Most people believe the two he referenced are Oregon DE Dion Jordan and West Virginia QB Gen Smith., but there is new talk that OT Luke Joeckel or Central Michigan OT Eric Fisher depending on who Kansas City takes is a likely pick for Jacksonville. Again, I don’t see it. The Jags offense was woeful, but it’s still better than their defense.

1. Kansas City Chiefs – Eric Fisher OT/ Central Michigan – Yes for the first time in 3 months Texas A&M OT Luke Joeckel has fallen from the top spot. A lot of chatter has been made about Fisher being the favorite of Andy Reid and I can’t say there is a heck of a difference between him and Luke. It will come down to who the coaches liked more, and thought was the better guy. There has been some speculation the Chiefs will try to trade down, but I don’t see it.

19. New York Giants – Bjoern Werner DE/ Florida State – We begin with the home town team which is great because there has been a certain consistency to the Giants mock drafts up until now. The Giants more glaring needs are at CB, OL, and DE. If Texas FS Kenny Vaccaro is available I would have to say that’s the pick, but he has to get past the Dallas Cowboys who desperately need safety help and pick at (18) just before the Giants. Another option for the Giants would be Florida State CB Xavier Rhodes. Other drafts have Rhodes going as high as 12 to the Dolphins so his availability may not even be an option for the Giants. Finally is OLB/ILB Jarvis Jones from Georgia. Jones was considered top ten worthy before half the NFL got scared off from a diagnosis of Spinal Stenosis. If team doctors to medically clear him, he is an explosive a football player as the Giants could ask for and he would play at a position of weakness in the defense. Another position of weakness is DE after the loss of Osi to the Atlanta Falcons. Bjoern Werner really fits the mold of what the Giants look for. His size and weight are nearly identical to what Jason Pierre Paul’s were when he was drafted. They also share some other similarities of which I have spoken at length about in earlier mock drafts. DE’s and DT’s are not hard to come by in 2013; neither are OL for that matter. I’ll mention it again, if Rhodes or Vaccaro falls to the Giants, it’s a no-brainer. I don’t see that happening and therefore am keeping with my pick of Bjoern Werner.

18. Dallas Cowboys –. Kenny Vaccaro, S/Texas – Dallas let Gerald Sensabaugh walk this off season and only have Barry Church coming back off an Achilles injury. The need for a safety has to be a priority for the Cowboys. Vaccaro is a top 12 talent that falls to the Cowboys because of team need. If he gets past the Rams, Dallas will jump at the opportunity. There are also rumors that the Cowboys have fallen in love with North Carolina DT, Sylvester Williams. Williams will help fill a hole at both DT and in DE. I have Williams falling all the way to the Vikings.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jarvis Jones OLB/ Georgia – The National Football Post reported Georgia OLB Jarvis Jones’ neck injury is “starting to look like it might be a non-factor on draft day,” and “there is little chance he falls out of the top ten.” Teams like the Steelers, who run like a well-oiled machine year in and year out are the type of franchise that are encouraged by taking a chance on a guy like Jones. Where so many other teams will pass on him due to his medical red flags, the Steelers, will do their due diligence to find him healthy and a heck of a football player. The release of James Harrison, who just signed in Cincinnati, also makes this move more likely.

16. St. Louis Rams – DeAndre Hopkins, WR/ Clemson – The rams booked two pre-draft workouts with Hopkins, much in the same way they did with Brian Quick last year. Quick was able to be taken in the 2nd round, where I don’t think that Hopkins would make it that far. Hopkins could fill a much needed hole for the Rams as their primary receiver and a guy who can grow in this offense, something Sam Bradford has yet to ever really have. Jeff Fisher may also look for any top offensive lineman that may fall out of the top 15. More and More skill position players will find themselves drafted in the first round, than had been predicted because though they are typically very risky, they also carry the most immediate rewards for their perspective teams.

15. New Orleans Saints – Barkevious Mingo, DE/ LSU – Mingo has been a favorite of Rex Ryan and the Jets, but as we inch closer to draft day, I believe their other needs will be addressed. Tennessee, San Diego, and Miami could all be going with an O-Lineman so Mingo has the potential of falling if the Jets don’t take him. Instead he’ll end up with a different Ryan in New Orleans and immediately put him in as a starter. Mingo has some of the best workout numbers of any prospect during the combine, but there is a fear he is a workout warrior and not a football player.

14. Carolina Panthers – Sheldon Richardson, DT/Missouri – The Panthers statistically had a top 15 defense in 2012 finishing 10th in the league for yards per game allowed. Richardson, who stands 6’2”, 294lbs., became Mizzou’s first-ever All-SEC designee, as he was named to the 2nd-team for his outstanding play. His presence should help solidify Carolina’s front seven.

13. New York Jets (Via Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – Jonathan Cooper, OG/North Carolina – I was certain the Revis deal was going through, but for the Jets sake, I had hoped for more than the #13th pick in this years’ draft. This is where newly hired GM John Idzik will earn his paycheck. My best guess is San Francisco moves up to #13 in order to grab Stanford TE Zach Ertz. San Fran has more picks than any other team in 2013, and Idzik knows he needs to fill more holes than what 1 player can do. He will trade down in the draft to acquire, heck I hope 2-3 picks! If the Jets decide to use this pick, the most recent news thinks the Jets will go with an OL with one of their top 2 picks. That’s great and makes a lot of sense. They can watch and see who may fall from grace into their laps at this point. I anticipate hopefully one of the two top guards to still be available, Cooper or Warmack. I understand the Jets are moving to a west coast offense. This should further influence them to solidify the line since Mark Sanchez had a tough time staying upright when he knew the system he was playing in. Cooper is an uber-talented guard and NFL’s Gil Brandt was quotes as saying he’s “the most purely athletic guard I can remember seeing” coming out of college. Cooper plays with “light feet, great balance,” and also showed a “nasty streak,” consistently “looking for contact.” Cooper is considered by some to be the best guard prospect in the class.

12. Miami Dolphins – Menelik Watson, OT/ Florida State –This kid is very intriguing. He has only played 2 years of football after coming over from Manchester England, but is considered by NFL.com’s Gil Brandt as a “very good offensive lineman.” Pursued by the likes of Oklahoma, Oregon, Auburn, Cal and Rutgers, Watson elected to sign with Florida State where he emerged as a starter in just his second season of playing the sport. The Dolphins have given Watson a lot of attention heading into the draft including two private workouts for the English native.

11. San Diego Chargers – Lane Johnson, OT/ Oklahoma – The new regime of GM Tom Telesco, HC Mike McCoy, and OC Ken Whisenhunt have a lot of work to do to keep the Chargers relevant. Johnson did 28 reps of 225lbs at the combine and with his strength will help Philip Rivers try to redeem himself after getting sacked on 50 of his 587 drop backs. The Bolts’ most glaring need is at left tackle, where Jared Gaither up and quit last season, and Johnson will also help fill the void on the right side where Louis Vasquez played before he departed to Denver. D.J. Fluker could also be a great pick here

10. Tennessee Titans – Chance Warmack, OG/Alabama – Warmack is on the radar for a lot of teams. The question has now become “when to draft a guard?” There is a growing concern that taking a guard early is a bad idea. Who says? I get that guards historically have never been drafted high, but their value is different in today’s more pass happy NFL. CBS Sports has Warmack as the second best prospect in this years’ draft behind only Luke Joeckel. Whatever lineman falls out of the top ten will be wearing Titan blue next year.

Keep an eye out for the top 9 picks tomorrow and we’ll keep you updated on all the latest news.

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32. Baltimore Ravens – Kevin Minter, ILB/LSU – I am not alone in thinking Baltimore will be looking to somehow replace Ray Lewis and the skill set he gave the Ravens throughout his career. Minter has been compared to Jets LB David Harris. Harris has 22.5 sacks in 6 seasons with the Jets, so to be honest; I think Baltimore would be thinking bigger than those numbers. Minter was the most dependable player on an LSU defense chock-full of prospective NFL talent, According to NFL.com’s Rob Rang, Minter compares to DeMeco Ryans and not Harris as mentioned before. Rang was quoted as saying “Like Ryans, Minter is slightly undersized and relies on his instincts and reliable tackling ability — rather than sheer explosiveness — to accumulate impressive stat-lines. Florida International SS Jonathan Cyprien is another name to watch for here.

31. San Francisco 49ers – Zach Ertz, TE/Stanford – I believe the 49’ers will move up in the draft in order to secure Ertz. Zach has been mentioned as a target for plenty of teams and because of his popularity, as well as the 49’ers having more picks than anyone else in the draft, they’ll move up somewhere in the teens to make this pick. With the departure of Delanie Walker the 49ers need a substitute for their 2 TE sets. Colin Kaepernick needs the keep with the same offensive sets to make the pistol offense as effective as we saw it in 2013. Ertz is a poor blocker and will struggle at time at the next level, but his hands are that of a possession WR. Look for the NY Jets to trade out of the #13th pick they just got from Tampa in order to acquire 2-3 picks from San Fran in exchange.

30. Atlanta Falcons – Desmond Trufant, CB/ Washington – The brother of Seattle Seahawk CB Marcus Trufant and NYJ CB Isiah Trufant, little brother Desmond may be the best of all three. He set career-bests in 2011 as a junior with a pair of interceptions and 16 passes defended, and has the luxury of picking the brains of his two older brothers about the trials and tribulations of the NFL. Atlanta is also short at the DE position and if a big name, (Moore, Werner, Jones) were to fall to 30, I think they’d gobble them up.

29. New England Patriots – Margus Hunt, DE/ Southern Methodist – The Patriots are one of the best at scouting small school kids, with big time talent. Speaking of talent, Hunt hails from Karksi-Nuia, Estonia, and came to SMU as a decorated track and field athlete (he’d set a junior world record in the discus throw at the 2006 World Junior Championships). Margus first started playing football in 2009 and set an NCAA record with 17 blocked kicks (10 field goals, seven extra points) for Southern Methodist. His lack of time spent around the game of football may be the only critique scouts have given him. Good for Margus, Coach Bill Belichick can push him into the film room, and let him learn in training camp and practices what it takes to be a complete NFL player before rushing him out there.

28. Denver Broncos – Datone Jones, DE/ UCLA – Offense is no longer a problem in Denver, thank you Peyton Manning, Wes Welker, etc.. Jones ran a 4.80 official forty at the Combine and was a top-five performer among defensive linemen in the 20-yard shuttle (4.32). Gil Brandt of CBS believes Jones is more of a fit as a DE in a 4-3. Denver will be looking for a replacement for Elvis Dumervil who recently signed with Baltimore. Jones will team up with Von Miller to cause havoc on the rest of the AFC West.

27. Houston Texans – Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/Tennessee – Patterson scored a touchdown via kickoff return, punt return, receiving, and rushing, joining Carl Pickens (receiving, KR, PR, INT) as the only players in Tennessee history to score a touchdown four different ways in a career. Andre Johnson isn’t getting any younger and this kid would be a top 12 selection if he had his head on straight. I think going to a veteran team like Houston would be a great fit. He would get to see how real professionals work every day, and learn how to read and react to defenses, while making crisp cuts and running good routes. Originally I had Patterson going as high as 8 to the Bills, but as we get closer to the draft, the chatter in Buffalo is to move down and grab Syracuse QB Ryan Nassib somewhere in the 20’s.

26. Green Bay Packers – Eddie Lacy, RB/ Alabama –This is a luxury pick. The luxury of having one of the best QB’s in the game! Aaron Rodgers has done virtually everything possible in the passing attack for the Packers. Having a quality, forceful downhill runner to get those tough third downs, is something Lacy proved he could do having totaled 1,046 yards and 17 touchdowns in 7 games last year. He’s proven to be worthy of a 1st round pick.

25. – Minnesota Vikings (Via Seahawks) – Alec Ogletree, ILB/Georgia – Coach Leslie Frazier strongly hinted that the Vikings may use one of their first-round picks on a middle linebacker, and it should be between Ogletree, LSU ILB Kevin Minter, and Notre ‘ Manti T’eo. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock says he is “scared to death” of Georgia LB Alec Ogletree as a first-round pick due both to off- and on-field concerns, but the need for a linebacker is too high for the Vikings to not take the chance that Mayock is wrong.

24. Indianapolis Colts – Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE/ Florida State – Can I start by saying I love his nickname “Tank.” With Dwight Freeney looking to sign elsewhere, the Colts will be in a position of need at DE. “Tank” has been rising up boards and some have him going to the Vikings who sandwich the Colts with picks after the Percy Harvin deal. We’ll get to the Vikings in a second; Carradine suffered a torn ACL in November of 2012, and was performing at his pro day in April. That’s Adrian Peterson like, heh, another Vikings reference. With that being said…

23. Minnesota Vikings – Sylvester Williams, DT/ North Carolina – How do you continue to make the Williams wall work in Minnesota?? Draft another Williams of course! In the first of their 2 picks the Vikings will give the Williams wall a little help at DE and DT with Sylvester’s help. If Williams gets past the Cowboys, which is a big “If,” I would expect Minnesota to jump at the chance of having what many consider to be a highly touted prospect.

22. St. Louis Rams (Via Redskins) – Matt Elam, S/Florida – At 5’9”, Elam’s size is a major concern for NFL teams looking to draft him since he will be the last line of defense against the Gronks and Calvin Johnsons on the league. He was asked to cover slot receivers at Florida so he has shown his ability to cover well, and he’s also known for laying a hit. St. Louis has many needs, safety being one of the most prevalent. The Rams should send Robert Griffin a thank you card for this one.

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Jonathan Cyprien, SS/ Florida International – The Bengals will be choosing between a DB, S, and RB so there is no guarantee on Cyprien. However the needs to address to secondary may seem more logical when what most seem to think is the best Strong Safety in this years’ class is still on the board. Since TE’s have become such an important factor for how offenses move the ball these days, the ability to stop them becomes a defensive priority. Cyprien is known to explode into opposing players, but is criticized for taking bad angles on plays, therefore missing tackles. Something a coach can fix if he’s willing to listen.

20. Chicago Bears – Tyler Eifert, TE/ Notre Dame – In my last draft I had mentioned that I wouldn’t rule out the Bears as a potential landing spot for Eifert. Well after more reading, I understand new HC Mark Trestman likes to run a 2 TE set in his offense often, and that was the key to this pick. Martellus Bennet just signed with Chicago, but having Eifert on the opposite side would give Jay Cutler 2 safety nets, when his offensive line fails him again and again. Offensively, Eifert is a beast. At 6’5” 250lbs. he’s a massive target with great hands. His only trouble is blocking. He ran a 4.68 40 time at the combine and it’s been suggested on other mock drafts that he could go as early as the Dolphins. If there is one of the top 7 offensive lineman still available at this point Eifert should be an after-thought considering how often Jay Culter gets rushed out of the pocket. The likelihood of that happening seems to lessen the closer we get to draft day.

Tomorrow GmenHQ will post picks 19-10 with all the latest information corresponding to each team, and picks 9-1 on Thursday.

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OFFENSE – Needs – OL, RB

The offensive line was been slowly dissolving into a weaker unit as a whole. Chris Snee and David Diehl are both getting up there in age, and the need for a rock solid starter for years to come should be a focal point at some point early in 2013. Luckily for the Gmen this year is a great year for lineman and they should have their pick of whoever may fall out of the top 15 this year, or even have the opportunity of taking a solid starter in rounds 2-4. The ability for that prospect to learn the nuances of the line from veterans like Snee and Diehl would also work in the Giants favor.

It’s believed up to 7 offensive linemen could go in the first round. I would not expect the top 4 lineman, Joeckel, Fisher, Cooper, and Warmack to be available at 19; however, guys like D.J. Fluker, and Melenick Watson would be an excellent addition for the Giants. Fluker earned preseason All-SEC recognition in 2012 and went on to earn many honors, including second-team All-America by AP and Walter Camp and first-team All-SEC from the coach and second-team from the media while starting each of the Crimson Tide’s games en route to the national title. Menelik Watson recorded a 27.5-inch vertical jump and 19 strength lifts. He played right tackle at Florida State but the feeling is he can play left tackle. If the Giants decide to go in another direction in round 1, look for Justin Pugh in round 2, or Barrett Jones in Round 3. Both players versatility is unparalleled to the entire lineman class outside of the top 4 lineman in the draft. Pugh may be the biggest reason Ryan Nassib is considered to be a good QB prospect since he kept him on his feet throughout his college career, while Jones was D.J. Flukers’ teammate and has won a national championship playing 3 separate positions on the offensive line (C, OG, and OT.)

Running back is a much smaller need since we’re really talking about a back-up here. David Wilson will be the #1 back going forward and Andre Brown can’t stay healthy, so were looking for a versatile back with some pass catching ability to be a fill in while Wilson and Brown get some rest. Brown will be a free agent after next season so there should be an interest in having some security at the position, but it won’t be until round 4 or lower. Guys I love like Michigan State Le’Veon Bell and North Carolina Giovanni Bernard will be long gone, so the Giants will be looking for a RB who can also be used as a punt returner, or a great blocker on special teams. Enter Florida RB Mike Gillislee. Gillislee went crazy in his senior season after finally getting the starting gig. He totaled 1,152 yards and 10 touchdowns in the SEC. That takes talent, and this kid has some serious upside. Considered a top prep-school prospect coming out of high school, Gillislee sat behind Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps before they both left for the NFL. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not going to be a starter, but he would be more than helpful. He should be chosen in rounds 4 or 5.

DEFENSE – Needs – LB, DB

Dan Connor, Mark Herzlich, Mathias Kiwanuka, Keith Rivers. Those are the best ILB’s on the Giants roster as of now. Kiwanuka is no slouch. He’s a heck of a player and a great LB, but he’s not a natural MLB. Rivers was just signed to a 1 yr. deal, but he’s not a MLB either. Herzlich is a fantastic story, and an inspiration in the locker room, that being said he’s not going to the pro-bowl this year, though I wish him the best on making it one day. The glaring need for a captain in the middle has been a problem for the last two years, and it should be a priority.

The problem is this isn’t a great class of ILB. As a matter of fact I only really like two of them and that’s LSU’s MLB Kevin Minter and Georgia LB Jarvis Jones. Just like Gillislee at Florida, Minter and Jones played in the SEC, which is a tutoring lesson for the NFL. So many great NFL players come from that conference. Minter was clearly the best defensive player on his team at LSU, but is he worth the #19th pick overall? Jones on the other hand would be a gift if he somehow falls to #19. Teams are very skeptical of Jones because of some pretty serious medical concerns. Jones was diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis, a narrowing of the spine that can result in numbness, loss of muscle control, and in some cases paralysis. He has since been cleared by doctors, saying that it was a miss-diagnosis, but that really tainted his draft stock. He is a top 10 talent that will fall some but I’m not sure he makes it to 19. If he should, would the Giants consider him healthy enough for them to draft? That’s a question for Jerry Reece. I think it would be an easy pick myself. Jones isn’t even considered a true MLB, which goes against my own thought process. He’s just too good to pass up if he’s still there. Now if he isn’t I think the Giants should look at OL or a CB in the first round.

With that being said, let’s talk about the CB / S class for the 2013 NFL Draft. This class has some serious talent. Dee Milliner barring any major injury will be a shutdown corner in the NFL. The Giants would need to move way up in the draft to even think about Dee and that’s not Mr. Reece’s style. Instead the Giants should be looking at 3 guys in particular.

(1) Florida State CB, Xavier Rhodes – Rhodes, like Jarvis Jones would have to fall in the draft according to most mock drafts. According to what you read, he could go to the Dolphins at 12, the Bucs at 13 and the Saints at 15. The kid has a 40.5” vertical leap, an 11’ broad jump, and he ran a 4.39 40 at the combine. All 32 teams were present at his pro-day, and is considered by most to be the second best CB prospect in this class.

(2) Texas FS, Kenny Vaccaro – Vaccaro emerged as arguably the best safety in the Big 12 as a junior, posting 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, eight passes broken up and two interceptions. While the Longhorns’ talented defense struggled in 2012, Vaccaro registered a career-high 107 tackles and five turnovers (two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery). He has great instincts and hits hard, 2 qualities needed to be successful as a FS in the NFL. Giants’ fans should be thrilled if Vaccaro is taken at #19.

(3) Houston CB, D. J. Hayden – Hayden, also has similarities to Jarvis Jones. Hayden had what could have been a fatal injury last year. Hayden suffered a heart issue — a torn inferior vena cava — which was called the “most unique injury in the history of the draft” by a Packers executive, but he’s getting good news in his team physicals after checking out at the Combine. Hayden was elected to the 2012 ALL Conference USA team even though he only played 9 games after the heart related injury. He was a team Captain at Houston, and shows the willingness to fight through adversity. I would take him last of the three only due to the unbelievable injury he suffered in a practice! Still, he’s very talented and would be a good pick for the Giants.

For those of you who follow my draft and are wondering how I could have written this entire piece without mentioning Florida State DE Bjoern Werner after having him as the Giants pick for many weeks now, I say… I just did. (HA!) I would like to remind everyone reading this that the article is about players the Giants should be looking at to fill a need, not who they think is the best player available at the time. I know, semantics but hey! What can you do?

Follow me on Twitter @Jferguson631

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dion Jordan, DE/Oregon – Dion is an anomaly. Most prospects unable to compete at either the combine or their pro day typically fall on draft boards. Instead, all this kid has done is run a 40 and he’s being considered as one of the best defensive players available this year. Jordan was unable to help his draft stock at the Oregon Pro day because he is recovering from a recent surgery to repair a torn labrum. He ran a 4.53 unofficial time at the combine, which is amazing. GM David Caldwell recently said, “We’re pretty close – It’s down to two people.” Most people believe the two he referenced are Oregon DE Dion Jordan and West Virginia QB Gen Smith.

3. Oakland Raiders – Geno Smith, QB/West Virginia – I jokingly put “the ghost of All Davis lives” when I first put Geno to the Raiders in late January. The truth is Davis would have been drooling at the opportunity to grab a mobile QB, especially if he had been alive to see RGIII the year before. Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie will be left with making a franchise changing decision, as QB’s taken in the top 5 can cost a GM their job if they don’t pan out. Just ask Mike Tannenbaum. The Raiders released Carson Palmer due to salary cap issues, and have only have Matt Flynn & Terrelle Pryor on staff at QB. This pick is easy.

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Ezekiel Ansah DE/ BYU – Ansah reportedly didn’t hire a trainer for the combine instead focusing on finishing his classes at BYU. His draft stock was already high but this news makes him seem kind of freakish. Measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds with 35 1/8-inch arms, Ansah posted the sixth fastest forty times (4.63) of 37 defensive linemen who ran, and his 34 1/2-inch vertical tied for seventh. There is also a rumor that his 40 at the combine was the first one he ever ran in his lifetime. Ansah is a lightning in a bottle type of player and would be a welcome addition to any defense that drafts him. Billy Davis should be thrilled.

5. Detroit Lions – Dee Milliner CB/ Alabama – The Lions were active in free agency acquiring RB Reggie Bush, DE Jason Jones, and CB Chris Houston. Former Colts GM Bill Polian mentioned Detroit as the “greatest show on turf.” That ought to be billboard material for division rival Bears, Vikings and Packers. The ability to stop those teams, as well as the rest of their opponents next year will be a priority on draft day. In a past mock I mentioned that according to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, teams wanting Alabama CB Dee Milliner will “probably have to trade ahead of Detroit at No. 5 to get him. Enough said.

6. Cleveland Browns – Sharrif Floyd, DT/ Florida – NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah was quoted as saying, “everybody” has Floyd pegged as a top-five pick.” The reason for his fall to six has more to do with the rise of Dion Jordan and Ziggy Ansah up opposing teams’ draft boards. At 6’3 297 pounds, with a solid 40 time, Floyd racked up 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two kick blocks as a junior before declaring. Cleveland recently spent some big money on DE Paul Kruger and will be developing an intimidating pass rush after drafting Floyd to compliment him. Utah DE Star Lotulelei could also fit nicely here.

7. Arizona Cardinals – Eric Fisher OT/ Central Michigan – Carson Palmer was recently acquired and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Total Access that the Cardinals are unlikely to draft a quarterback at No. 7 overall. This may not be the popular thing to do from a fan perspective, but it makes a heck of a lot of sense. The QB class outside of Smith is not worthy of a selection this high and a good LT is a necessity in a rebuilding process. Bruce Arians and his imaginative play calling would love to feel confident their QB, whoever it is, will stay upright no matter what the play, and Fisher can do just that. Watch for Arizona to draft a QB in the 2nd round.

8. Buffalo Bills – Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/Tennessee – I am less confident in this pick every day. Last time I had mentioned “Patterson needs a coach that isn’t going to take any crap and can bring him in with more a drill instructor mind set than a player coach mentality”. Now there are reports from a WR coach that Patterson would be an offensive coach’s dream. This is pure crap. You don’t change from a head case to a saint in the time since the combine. GM Buddy Nix mentioned to the press that he wanted to draft a big time WR as well as a franchise QB. Good luck with that. Patterson is considered to be as immature as he is talented. There was a report from a scout that he questioned Patterson’s intelligence and thinks the team that drafts him will have to simplify their offense to make him successful. Still, he scored a touchdown via kickoff return, punt return, receiving, and rushing, joining Carl Pickens (receiving, KR, PR, INT) as the only players in Tennessee history to score a touchdown four different ways in a career. Some drafts have Buffalo grabbing Ryan Nassib here, but I can’t see it. His combine was average and he’s not coming from a football powerhouse in Syracuse. His talent is fantastic, but even with his former coach now in charge of the Bills; Nassib would be a major risk here. I do however think West Virginia WR Tavon Austin has a legitimate chance to be drafted here.

9. New York Jets – Star Lotulelei, DT/Utah – The Jets are a tough team to gauge simply because they have so many needs and on both sides of the field. Lotulelei has been all over draft boards due to his supposed heart issues which have since been declared a non-issue. Star won the Morris trophy which is the award given to the best defensive player, voted by the Pac-12 offensive lineman he played against. His prototypical size at 6’3 311lbs. will help Rex Ryan in his pursuit of a pass rush. He should be a great addition to a line that just lost Sione Pouha and is in desperate need of improvement.

10. Tennessee Titans – Chance Warmack, OG/Alabama – I stand by this pick since the first mock in Late January. The Titans need to give Jake Locker a chance. Ha! Chance… In order to do that he needs to stay on his feet and taking the best guard at 10 would be a big time pick for the Titans. Warmack is a wild card to me, as the Jets, Cardinals, and Eagles could all use some help at the offensive line, so if he’s still available Tennessee will pounce. CBS Sports has Warmack as the second best prospect in this year’s draft behind only Luke Joeckel.

11. San Diego Chargers – Lane Johnson, OT/ Oklahoma – The new regime of GM Tom Telesco, HC Mike McCoy, and OC Ken Whisenhunt have a lot of work to do to keep the Chargers relevant. Johnson did 28 reps of 225lbs at the combine and with his strength will help Philip Rivers try to redeem himself after getting sacked on 50 of his 587 drop backs. The Bolts’ most glaring need is at left tackle, where Jared Gaither up and quit last season, and Johnson will also help fill the void on the right side where Louis Vasquez played before he departed to Denver.

12. Miami Dolphins – Jonathan Cooper, OG/North Carolina – Miami lost Jake Long to St. Louis and now are left with Jonathan Martin at left tackle and they brought in Nate Garner to be a swing tackle/guard. That being said, neither of those guys is going to a pro bowl any time soon. Cooper will help Miami recover from their loss of a former 1st round lineman. Greg Cossel from NFL films praised Cooper saying “the most purely athletic guard I can remember seeing” coming out of college. Cooper plays with “light feet, great balance,” and also showed a “nasty streak,” consistently “looking for contact.” Cooper is considered by some to be the best guard prospect in the class.

13. New York Jets (Via Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – Tavon Austin, WR/West Virginia – For this to happen, Derrelle Revis must first become a Buccaneer. Consider it done! This trade is going to happen and it will happen before the draft, simply because no team would be willing to give up a first round pick for a player that they haven’t medically deemed healthy. Austin is a heck of a talent and will do wonders in the west coast offense the Jets are planning on using. Jets fans should also be looking towards receiving a 3rd round and maybe a late round pick or a pick in 2014 in the Revis trade.

14. Carolina Panthers – Sheldon Richardson, DT/Missouri – The Panthers statistically had a top 15 defense in 2012 finishing 10th in the league for yards per game allowed. Richardson, who stands 6’2”, 294lbs., became Mizzou’s first-ever All-SEC designee, as he was named to the 2nd-team for his outstanding play. His presence should help solidify Carolina’s front seven.

15. New Orleans Saints – Menelik Watson, OT/ Florida State – This kid is very intriguing. He has only played 2 years of football after coming over from Manchester England, but is considered by NFL.com’s Gil Brandt as a “very good offensive lineman.” Pursued by the likes of Oklahoma, Oregon, Auburn, Cal and Rutgers, Watson elected to sign with Florida State where he emerged as a starter in just his second season of playing the sport. Drew Brees and Mark Ingram will enjoy Watson’s services as he is helpful in both the run and the pass.

16. St. Louis Rams – D.J. Fluker, OT/Alabama – Some scouts doubt if Fluker can play tackle in the pro level. St. Louis is in dire need of offensive line help, so the concerns will be listened to, but ignored. D.J. Fluker who measures in at 6’6” 339 would be the 7th offensive linemen taken in this mock and the second of the first round coming from a SEC powerhouse in Alabama that produces NFL players every single year.

The Giants will start their voluntary offseason workout program on Apr. 15.

OTA workouts: May 22-23, May 29-31 and June 3-7

Giants mandatory minicamp: June 11-13

The talk of course is all about who shows and who doesn’t, but barring injury rehabbing players most guys will be in attendance.  The one name that will cause the most buzz of course is Victor Cruz.  Cruz did show up at the Manning workouts last week and it would seem silly for Victor to choose not to show up again this week in New Jersey.  The one thing for me that points to Victor Cruz definitely planning on attending this week is the following story:

According to Ed Werder of ESPN, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz isn’t expected to report to next week’s voluntary workouts. Cruz still hasn’t signed his restricted free agent tender as he continues to wait for a lucrative long-term contract from the Giants.

While it’s true he hasn’t yet signed his tender, he is in no way “Waiting” for a lucrative deal….they have offered one, and the two sides are continuing to negotiate in good faith.  To use the fact that it’s not signed yet as the reason why he won’t show up Monday shows a complete misunderstanding of the process.  Couldn’t he be waiting to sign it while at the facility on Monday? Wouldn’t it show his commitment to the team to participate fully in the workouts?  It’s the new NFL after all where the players won’t even pretend to touch each other…there is no more risk of injury than there is in walking down the street.

So…Back to work Monday…The schedule is revealed Tuesday, and the draft begins the following Thursday in New York.

Victor is playing the game along with his agent(s) and the Giants in typical fashion are not panicking or talking publicly.  The fact that Victor went to Duke University to work out with Eli is all you need to know at this point.  He is planning on being a Giant.

The risks of injury, the risk of landing somewhere with no media attention (see Jeremy Lin). the risk of not having a top 5 QB is simply not worth a few more million a year that Victor will and has already seen in endorsements in New York.  The wealth and connections you gain by playing in New York and WINNING is worth more than any amount of money up front.  Look at Michael Strahan, Coach Coughlin, and even Brad Benson.  They are household names, they are revered in this town, and part of New York History.

Victor Cruz will benefit from staying in New York on every level as opposed to moving to Detroit, Houston, San Diego, or any other locale.  Relax Giants fans,Victor is a smart kid and will make the choice to stay for the benefit of all and make the Giants receiving corps the best in the business.

The NFL Schedule comes out on the 16th of April stay tuned to GMenHQ for instant analysis as soon as it is available.  Will it be another 6-2 start?

Every team already knows it’s opponents for the season and if they will play them at home or on the road.  For the Giants we know that trips to Dallas, Philly, Washington, Chicago, Detroit, Carolina, Kansas City and San Diego are on the docket. With the home opponents being the Cowboys, Redskins, Eagles, Packers, Vikings, Seahawks, Broncos, and Raiders.

The preseason Opponents are Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Jets, and New England in that order with most dates and times still to be announced.

Who will be the opener?  Will they open at home or on the road? Will the Manning Bowl III be a primetime affair? (You can bet it will be).

Eight days to go until the suspense is over.

Our thoughts here at GMen HQ are that the Giants easily could move up and take a top notch offensive lineman if they feel they won’t get a chance to steal one at 19.  I don’t believe they will go with a position like Tight End as many had predicted before free agency and the signing of Brandon Myers from Oakland.  It seems that of they don’t move up and take an o-lineman that they will indeed pick defense again, and once again pick a pass rusher.  The organizational belief that you can never have enough QB’s or pass rushers will win out over any thought of taking another project at o-Line or linebacker.  Bjoern Werner as you can see below has emerged as the favorite at that position.  There has been talk of linebacker Alec Ogletree, but the D-line is what makes linebackers successful in this league.  The interior of the line has been addressed in free agency, JPP needs to return to form, and Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka will play various roles in the defensive rotation.

Overall we believe if the Giants stay at #19…it will be defense first.

However with the way the pre season runs these days in the NFL the only QB they will probably actually play any protracted amount of time against will be Luck and whomever The Jets trot out.  With Pittsburgh being the first game, and New England being the last we can guarantee Tom Brady might not even be in the building, let alone throw any passes.  The exciting match-up comes on a primetime affair televised on FOX between Eli Manning and Andrew Luck.  Luck is an emerging star with all the tools and in week two of the pre season he will probably play the entire first half.

Three AFC teams that the Giants don’t face again in the regular season in 2013, should make for a good opportunity to test a few things out and to get after a few QB’s with some talent….and The Jets

19. New York Giants – Bjorn Werner DE, FSU
We all know the Giants love to have pass rushers. They lost Osi Umenyiora this offseason and would love to replace him. They could really use a LB but with a talent like Werner on the board, I can’t see them passing him up.

I agree with Sayre that the Giants always seem to get a good value from their picks. It’s a staple for a solid franchise and the N.Y. Giants are just that. Werner brings a tenacious work ethic, and truly superior natural athletic ability. As i have mentioned in previous posts about Werner, he only picked up the game in high school. With some professional coaching, Werner could emerge as one of the better players available in the 2013 draft.

As long as his health checks out this summer, Patterson will join a deep defensive tackle rotation featuring Jenkins, Linval Joseph, Marvin Austin and Markus Kuhn.  Another solid value pickup here for the Giants who have had a very quiet and very successful offseason so far.

The Pre-Season Schedule gets released today for the NFL.  Stay tuned to GMenHQ for the announcement.

Asomugha was an unqualified bust with the Eagles after signing as the top free agent on the market in 2011. His press-man coverage skill set was never ideally suited to the “Wide Nine” scheme prevalent in Philadelphia over the past two seasons. The 31-year-old bottomed out by allowing an eye-popping 120.6 passer rating on throws in his territory last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

The 9ers have been carved up by opposing QB’s in the last two post seasons.  Eli Manning and Victor Cruz made them look amateurish two years ago, and Joe Flacco made 55 million dollars off his performance against an over confident talkative secondary.  Will Asomugh actually be an upgrade, or was he just the best player on a very bad team in Oakland a few years back?  We will see.

However, while a lot of good players at the top have gotten very good money, the results of the 2011 labor agreement, with its hard caps, salary floors, and reduced rookie salaries are impacting the market in new and interesting ways. Teams like Miami, Tampa Bay and Tennessee are spending like they’ve never spent before. Over the last two years, Tampa Bay has spent a potential $197 million on 5 players (CB Eric Wright, G Carl Nicks, WR Vincent Jackson, S Dashon Goldsen, and G Jeremy Zuttah). Miami, this year, went on a spending spree to the tune of a potential $137.53 million on 6 players.

What is also interesting is that teams that are used to spending money, such as the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, have largely been sitting on the sidelines this off-season, with neither team making a single major acquisition via free agency.

While Giants fans are likely griping about the cuts of stalwarts DT Chris Canty, LB Michael Boley, and RB Ahmad Bradshaw, not to mention the departures Martellus Bennett and Kenny Phillips via free agency, there are reasons for Giants fans to be optimistic. First of all, of the 5 players I just mentioned, only Martellus Bennett and Ahmad Bradshaw contributed significantly to a 2012 giants team that went 9-7. Michael Boley, Chris Canty, and Kenny Phillips were either injured or ineffective much of the year. The Giants have also made several under-the-radar free agency signings, bringing in pass-rushing interior lineman Cullen Jenkins, sure-handed pass catcher Brandon Myers, and underrated MLB Dan Connor – all three should be upgrades at their positions, in at least some respects. In a lot of cases, the Giants have added by subtracting; Michael Boley was clearly on his last legs last year and Jacquian Williams, when he played, was much more effective in covering the tight end and closing on speed backs than Boley was or could hope to be in the future. Martellus Bennett brought a great deal of talent to the position, but his blocking, while adequate, was not nearly as dominant as many had been led to believe prior to his signings, and his occasional drops killed more than a half-dozen drives last season. David Wilson, replacing Bradshaw, should bring a great deal of explosiveness to the offense, something we saw glimpses of last year, his ascent to the starting position could give the giants a dynamic therat they’ve lacked at the running back position since Tiki Barber retired in 2006.

There are several other reasons Giants fans should be optimistic about returning to the top of the NFC East in 2013. First, they should be getting back a healthy Hakeem Nicks and a motivated Jason-Pierre Paul, 2 of the four most important players in their 2011 Super Bowl run (The other two being Victor Cruz and Eli Manning). Several young Giants are also entering the primes of their careers and should start producing at a higher level than we’ve seen in recent years. Those players include the recently re-signed LT Will Beatty (28 years old), starting Cornerback Prince Amukamara (24 years old), the aforementioned WLB Jacquian Williams (25 years old), and starting Defensive Tackle Linval Joseph (24 years old). While we lack the across-the-board star power that the Niners and Seahawks have, we are solid across most positions, and will benefit from a higher-than-usual draft spot which we can use to supplement our roster moving forward.

Besides  are roster, the Giants will also benefit from a much easier schedule than we’ve seen in some time. While the last two years has seen us play the likes of the 49ers, Seahawks, Ravens, Patriots, Packers, Falcons, and Saints in abundance, we are luckier this year with softball non-division games against the Raiders, Chiefs, Chargers, Lions and Panthers. Not to mention that the NFC East is probably weaker than it has been in some time with the Eagles rebuilding, the Redskins and Cowboys cap-strapped and unable to make significant additions to their roster, and with Robert Griffin III unlikely to cause the same headaches in year 2 as he did in year 1.

While the Giants do have holes, there is reason to be hopeful that the G-Men can reclaim their rightful place at the top of the NFC East once again.

The NFL never take’s a back seat to anyone anymore and April is no exception.  The full NFL schedule will be released on April 16th. The draft will be held in New York City beginning on April 25th, and of course Free Agency is in full swing and will continue till training camps open in August.  The season is right around the corner for football fans, and hope springs eternal tomorrow for baseball fans.

Romo has never been comfortable with trusting his running game and it has led to some great fantasy performances, but only because the flawed fantasy scoring that doesn’t subtract more points for turnovers and points against the offense.  Tony has been durable playing 16 games in 6 of his years as a starter.  He has 121 turnovers vs 177 TD’s.

The question always is asked if you had one choice of a Qb to win one game who would it be? Rodgers, Eli, Brady, Peyton……the answer is debatable except for one common thread….it is never Tony Romo.