The running backs are going to look a whole lot different in 2013 after Ahmad Bradshaw, who led the team in rushing carries and yards each of the last three years, was cut this offseason. While the veteran running back is only 27-years old and remains unsigned, it’s unlikely that the Giants would bring him back with the level of depth they already have at the position. Let’s take a look at that depth:

The Returnees

Andre Brown: Brown figures to enter training camp with the inside-track to get the majority of the team’s carries. While Bradshaw suffered through injuries most of last year, Brown emerged to average 5.3 yards per carry. He doesn’t have the same pass-catching or pass-protection ability as Bradshaw (at least not yet), but he might already be a better rusher.

David Wilson:  After fumbling away his first career carry and ending up in Tom Coughlin’s doghouse for most of the season, Wilson showed some home run ability towards the end of the year. He had a couple big runs from the backfield, but his most electric plays came on the kick return. Wilson probably opens the year as the third-down back, but he’ll need to improve his catching skills.

The Rangers and Giants are cut from the same cloth when it comes to fan loyalty.  True New Yorkers couldn’t care less how many times the Islanders or Devils have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup…..1994 is still the most important year in New York Hockey.  The Giants, Rangers, Knicks, and Yankees are the big four, although the Mets have distinguished themselves by having the fortune of playing in two of the most memorable World Series in history, and in 3 of the top 5 games of all time according to MLB.com

1. Linebacker: Incredibly enough, the Giants didn’t draft a single linebacker this year, the second consecutive they chose not to pick one.  Tentatively, the expected starting linebacker core is Jacquian Williams at weakside, Dan Connor in the middle and Keith Rivers at strongside. This is not exactly an encouraging group to say the least. Williams has graded out negatively in each of his first two seasons according to Pro Football Focus. Connor did very well in the Carolina Panther’s 4-3 in 2010-2011 but struggled mightily as a 3-4 ILB for the Dallas Cowboys in 2012 and has never been particularly strong against the pass. Rivers is talented but has struggled mightily with injuries the past couple of years and was ineffective when he did play for the Giants this year.

Luckily enough, the linebacker market never really developed and there are still many options out there who could help the Giants. The best guy out there is middle linebacker Karlos Dansby. Cut loose by the Miami Dolphins despite a strong season, Dansby visited with the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals but got turned away. At age 31, he’s still a very productive player and would immediately become the best linebacker on the Giants. Dansby is strong against both the pass and run, plus he can play outside or inside. The other linebacker the Giants could target is former Buffalo Bill Nick Barnett. Barnett spent the previous two seasons with the Bills and was very productive, producing the 11th best and 9th best grade amongst 4-3 outside linebackers during his time there. Barnett would be an upgrade over Rivers and allow the Giants to use the oft-injured linebacker as a valuable reserve.

2. Safety: The Giants have done very little to address the position this offseason, drafting Cooper Taylor in the fifth round and adding mediocre Steelers safety Ryan Mundy. With the loss of Kenny Phillips, an already shaky safety core got worse. The Giants project to go with Antrel Rolle at SS and Stevie Brown at FS, with Will Hill as the third safety. Considering Rolle isn’t very good and Brown used an abnormally high number of turnovers to cover up the fact that he wasn’t very good in coverage or at stopping the run, the Giants could use help there.

Two top-tier safeties still remain on the market, in Kerry Rhodes and Quintin Mikell. Rhodes excelled in coverage, allowing just a 64.5 QB rating at passes thrown in his vicinity. Mikell isn’t quite the marveloso in coverage Rhodes is, but he’s an effective pass rusher and excellent at stopping the run. Mikell might be a better fit than Rhodes as Mikell has played in a 4-3 his entire career whereas Rhodes has played in mostly a 3-4 the last few years.

3. Cornerback: The Giants made minimal moves at corner this offseason, signing former Giant Aaron Ross and bringing back Terrell Thomas. The team also elected to bring back Corey Webster despite a career worst year from him in 2012. The outlook for 2013 is grim. Prince Amukamura was an above average corner in 2012 and should only improve in 2013, but he’s the only corner on the roster who doesn’t have huge question marks. Thomas is coming off two torn ACLs, while Ross, Jay’Ron Hosley and the aforementioned Webster were ripped apart in 2012.

Unfortunately for the Giants, the corner market is bare thin at this point. While names like Quentin Jammer and Marcus Trufant are out there, those guys don’t have much on the field impact anymore. The only corner out there who figures to provide a noticeable upgrade over any of the other Giants corners is former Cleveland Brown Sheldon Brown.

4. Running Back: With David Wilson and Andre Brown both averaging over five yards per carry in 2012 and the Giants drafting Michael Cox in the seventh round, running back would not seem to be an area to focus on. However, it would not be crazy to see the Giants bring back Ahmad Bradshaw. Wilson, while he excelled in short bursts, still has concerns about his pass protection and Brown is coming off a broken fibula. Despite chronic leg injuries, Bradshaw was excellent in 2012, running for over 1,000 yards on 4.6 YPC and more notably, doing well in pass protection. Bradshaw’s market has bottomed out, as the two teams most likely to sign him, the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, both drafted running backs relatively high in the draft. While it’s possible Bradshaw could find another suitor, teams seem legitimately scared off by his medical reports and thus the Giants could potentially bring him back on a veteran minimum deal.

That’s right… If you read the Final Breakdown, posted just hours before the draft started, I managed to get this one right almost perfectly. Everything I read, said as much smoke the Bills and Jets were blowing about former West Virginia WR Tavon Austin the St Louis Rams were not leaving this draft without him. They sent picks #16, 46, 78 and 222 in order to get Austin and the #71 pick, of which the Bills should have been thankful to get such a bounty. Think about this, Darrelle Revis got the Jets the #13 overall and a 3rd round pick next year, while a kid who has yet to play an NFL down, was able to haul a first round pick only 3 picks lower than what the Jets got for Revis, as well as a 2nd, a 3rd, and a 7th round pick in a draft class as an organization, you should already be prepared for. To me that’s amazing. I get the slot receiver in the NFL is a really sexy position and with guys like Wes Welker, Victor Cruz, and Danny Amendola getting new big contracts. (We all know Cruz is getting paid!), there should be a certain allure to giving your quarterback a guy who fits that mold. Sam Bradford should be thrilled. Austin will be an immediate upgrade along with college teammate Stedman Bailey to give the Rams some legitimate threats across the middle. Now, finally we can get to the Bills.

With the #16 pick in the 2013 NFL draft the Buffalo Bills select: Florida State QB E.J. Manuel.
Wait… what?? Not Geno Smith? Not Syracuse Alum Ryan Nassib? Not possible 1st rounder in 2012 USC Matt Barkley? No folks, the Bills seem to think that charisma can win you football games. If you listen to an interview with Manuel, you can’t help but fall in love with the kid. He seems to think and speak clearly and his smile will look great on a cereal box, but can he make a difference for the Bills this year? NO. The Bills took a major risk with this pick. First round picks should be players that fill a need. They got a player that down the line can make an impact, not an immediate one. If we made out grade based on just the first round the Bills would get a PUSH. Good thing we have a few more picks to look thru in a more succinct manner.

#41 – USC WR, Robert Woods – Matt Barkley’s most consistent target should be able to help spread the defense and give Buffalo their wish of using Stevie Johnson in the slot.
#46 – Oregon LB, Kiko Alonso – 81 tackles, 14 for a loss, and 4 INT his senior season at Oregon.
#78 – Texas WR, Marquise Goodwin – Raw receiver with incredible (4.27) 40 speed.
#105 – North Carolina State Safety, Duke Williams – a sure tackler with off field issues that drove him out of the 2nd round. The bills have said he will be on the field in Nickel packages from day 1.
#143 – Clemson Safety, Jonathan Meeks – A 6’ 209lbs “thumper” who fills a need at Strong Safety. DaNorris Searcy should be on notice.
#177 – FSU Kicker, Dustin Hopkins – Hopkins became the NCAA FBS All-time kick scorer with 459 points, and can also kick off, a great value pick in the 6th round.
#222 – Arkansas TE, Chris Gragg – caught 72 passes for 1, 003yards and 4 TD’s in 4 seasons.

PASS, FAIL OR PUSH? – PUSH – The Manuel pick is and overwhelming WHOA to what really isn’t a bad draft for the Bills. GM Buddy Nix got a lot of value late in the draft and as we said before helped his team with good talent at an inexpensive price. In three years, when we see E.J. Manuel either flourish or flop this grade will obviously change from a push.

Up next, with the #9th pick in the 2013 NFL draft, the N.Y. Jets (who probably should have traded one of their top two picks, but decided against it) select Alabama CB Dee Milliner. After trading away their multiple pro-bowl corner Darrelle Revis to Tampa only days before, Rex Ryan and his defensive mindset grabbed Milliner after both Detroit and Cleveland went in a different direction. Milliner was a unanimous 1st team All American in 2012. He finished his college career with 6 INT’s in 30 starts. His numbers are not outstanding, mainly because he had the Nnamdi Asomugha effect, where offenses knew better than to throw in his general direction. Milliner is not afraid to hit anybody, the problem with that is his injury history, including the torn labrum that kept him from fully participating at the NFL combine. Dee will compete with Antonio Cromartie for the CB1 job from day 1 of training camp.
The problem here will be the distractions. Milliner only 5 minutes after being drafted was asked what he thought of the sound of “Milliner Island?” Dee, even if he were to win DROY would still be hiding in the shadow of Revis, and that is something he just can’t control.

With the #13th pick in the 2013 NFL draft the NY Jets select: Missouri DT Sheldon Richardson – This means only one thing. The defense is going back to a 4-3. Richardson is a complimentary player in a 3-4 system but is a pass rushing penetrator in a 4-3. Perhaps the most athletic interior lineman in the draft, Richardson compiled 6 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 18.5 tackles for loss while at Missouri and managed 30 reps of 225lbs at the combine. (Whoa!) As for whether or not it fills a need… NO. The Jets needed an outside rusher or an offensive weapon, even an offensive lineman would have seemed like a more reasonable, safer decision. This pick left most Jets fans hanging their heads. Richardson isn’t going to win the Jets any games the way a Tyler Eifert could have. Even Texas Safety Kenny Vaccaro would have been possibly a better call if you are trying to fill a need. If this was picking the best player on the board, then I again would question; with so many needs, why not trade out of this position in order to obtain more picks for either this draft or next year?
The Jets also traded their 4th round pick to New Orleans for RB Chris Ivory. Ivory is exactly what Rex Ryan always wanted from new Titans back up Shonne Greene. At 27, the Jets signed Chris to a team friendly contract and should be the starter right from the start. This was a great trade on the part of GM John Idzik. Jets fans should be excited to finally have a running game. Let’s review the remainder of the NY Jets selections
#39 – West Virginia QB, Geno Smith – Great value at #39. What some considered the best QB in the weak QB class, Smith will challenge David Garrard for the starting job right away. This clearly spells the end of the line for Mark Sanchez, as the new GM now has his guy at QB. Pack your bags Mark, it may take until the trade deadline to find someone interested in your services, but it’s bound to happen if he isn’t flat out released.
#72 – Kent State OG, Brian Winters – Wrestling background with a nasty streak in him. He is a “brawler” which is exactly what the Jets offensive line needed, some toughness. I had hope the Jets would have decided on a guy like Chance Warmack at #9, Winters is a great complimentary piece while also getting Milliner at #9.
#141 – Virginia OT, Oday Aboushi – 32 starts at LT. He will give the Jets some depth at need position. He is not a starter, but can help fill a hole in case of injury or certain packages.
# 178 – Michigan DT/ OG, William Campbell – A DT the Jets are hoping to turn into a mauler in the middle as depth for the interior line. He put up 35 bench presses of 225lbs at his pro-day which is unbelievable.
#215 – Wake Forest RB/FB, Tommy Bohanon – John Connor is gone, and the Jets will be hoping to find their lead blocker in the 6’1, 246lbs Bohanon.

PASS, FAIL OR PUSH? – FAIL – The NY Jets were in a position to hold this draft hostage with two first round picks, and did nothing to address some serious holes on their roster. The team now has 5 QB’s after releasing Tim Tebow, thank god (no pun intended) and has no targets for whoever wins the QB1 job to throw to. The Offensive line is still a work in progress, as is the pass rush. I fully understand you couldn’t fix this team in one draft. Like the saying goes “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” I do however, feel trading one of the two top picks the Jets had after the Revis deal would have created both cap space, and given them the ability to fill more holes with good young talent. That’s the deciding factor why the Jets got a failing grade.

And finally last but certainly not least:

• 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.

The Giants have has a lot of success with players in these late rounds in the past, like Ahmad Bradshaw.  They have also done well with undrafted players who they will begin calling and signing immediately following todays draft.  Look for some names to surface quickly as the Giants search for the next Victor Cruz.

Speaking of Victor, he is expected to sign a deal this week at some point.  All of the Giants picks will be signed in orderly fashion and without drama as usual.  Overall it seems the Giants got good value from a very different draft.

04/08/2013 – 2013 Richmond Pro Day: Scouts brave the cold at Richmond Pro Day…The weather was crisp – about 35 degrees – for Richmond’s outdoor pro day on March 19. Scouts from 20 NFL teams braved the cold to watch seven players work out. Nobody there that had gone to combine, but there were three players of note: Cooper Taylor S (6-4??”, 228 pounds) – Taylor ran 4.58 and 4.49, did 36??” in the vertical, 10-foot-7 in the broad jump, 4.29 in the short-shuttle, 6.96 in the three-cone and 23 reps on the bench press. The coaches worked Taylor out as a linebacker. His official position will be strong safety, but he’s one of those guys who could possibly bulk up and play outside linebacker. Reminiscent of Kam Chancellor of the Seattle Seahawks. – Gil Brandt, NFL.com

Once again the Giants go with a versatile player who can play multiple positions and might develop into a strong Safety or An Outside Linebacker.  As the NFL has continued to evolve so have the positions on the field.  Linebackers have become more like safeties in both size and speed, and the size of the receivers have forced safeties and corners to evolve into bigger stronger players also.  Another good quality value and athletic pick.

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.

Follow me @Jferguson631

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.

Follow me @jFerguson631

2013 schedule

Week 1: at Dallas (8:20, NBC)

For the second consecutive year, the Giants will play their first game of the season against the Cowboys, this time in JerryWorld. Unlike last year, this match-up does not have much juice going for it other than the fact that they’re division rivals. Neither team made the playoffs last season and due to cap restraints, both have done little in free agency so far. The Giants two biggest signings were defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins and tight end Brandon Myers, whereas the Cowboys biggest move has been the $108 million extension for quarterback Tony Romo.

The Cowboys gave the Giants fits last season, dominating the matchup in Week 1 (24-17 Cowboys) and losing by literally a fingertip in Week 8 (29-24 Giants). Of course, the Cowboys have switched to a 4-3 scheme, something the Giants generally do better against so perhaps they won’t need Dez Bryant’s monster hands to win again.

Week 2: vs Denver (4:25, CBS)

Arguably the toughest game on the schedule, thankfully it’s early and at home. The most hyped part of this game will obviously be “Manning Bowl: Part Three”. However, what shouldn’t get lost in all the hype is the fact that the Broncos are really, really good. They went 13-3 last season, outscoring their opponents by 192 points.  While they did lose linebacker Elvis Dumervil this offseason, they have added guard Louis Vasquez, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton and most notably, former Patriots receiver Wes Welker.

The Broncos defense was one of the best in the league last season, although losing Dumervil and adding Dominique Rodgers Cromartie might have made it worse. Of course, the bigger concern for the Giants will be Peyton Manning, who destroyed Perry Fewell’s scheme in 2010 as an Indianapolis Colt, going 20/26 for 255 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-14 win.

Wishful thinking aside, it’s difficult to see the Giants winning this one.

Week 3: at Carolina (1:00, FOX)

The Giants make another trip to Carolina to play Cam Newton and the gang. The Panthers haven’t done much in the offseason, only notably adding former Giants wideout Domenik Hixon. The Giants went into Carolina on a Thursday night last year, and embarrassed the Panthers 36-7, as Newton threw three picks and Ramses Barden had the game of his life.

Newton did play much better down the stretch, throwing 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions in his final seven games. Given how much trouble the Giants have had overall against mobile quarterbacks, it’s not too difficult to envision this as a tough matchup for them.

Week 4: at Kansas City (1:00, FOX)

The Chiefs underwent a face lift, bringing in new head coach Andy Reid and quarterbacks Alex Smith and Chase Daniel. The team went 2-14 in 2012, so it’s hard to see them instantly becoming a contender in 2012. However, they do have talent with Tamba Hali at LB and an absolute force at running back in Jamaal Charles, who averaged 5.3 YPC and ran for 1,509 yards in 2012. There’s also the Andy Reid factor, in that he can manage to make almost  any mediocre quarterback look halfway decent in his season.

The Giants last trip to Kansas City was in 2009, a 27-16, a game most notable for Hakeem Nicks recording his first career touchdown pass and Eli Manning injuring his foot.

Week 5: vs Philadelphia (1:00, FOX)

After a 4-12 season, the Eagles are relegated to an also-ran schedule. They are in a full rebuild, firing Andy Reid and replacing him with Oregon head coach Chip Kelly, who will bring the read option to Philadelphia. Michael Vick will also be back as the starter, which depending on how you view him, is either good or bad news for the Giants. Despite their record, the Eagles still have plenty of offensive firepower with DeSean “I Ruin Seasons” Jackson and the two headed monster of LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown at running back.

The Giants destroyed the Eagles, 42-7, in Week 17 last year, marking the first win for the Giants at home over the Eagles since 2007. It remains to be seen if that was a blip or the beginning of success for the Giants in the rivalry.

Week 6: at Chicago (8:30, NFL Network, Thursday Night)

A trip to the Windy City will bring the Giants up against a new, more offensively minded Chicago Bears team. Long-time head coach Lovie Smith was fired after a 10-6 season, replaced by Marc Trestman, hired from the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. After quarterback Jay Cutler was injured again due to horrendous pass protection, the Bears signed LT Jermon Bushrod and TE Martellus Bennet, in a much needed effort to improve it.

Cutler certainly has talent and has shown it when he isn’t getting 30 times a game. With Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey along with Bennett, he has weapons in the passing game and he has the arm to exploit them. In what will likely be a cold and blustery night on a short week, the Giants will have their hands full.

Week 7: vs Minnesota (8:40, ESPN, Monday Night)

All you really need to know about the Minnesota Vikings is Adrian Peterson. The running back almost single-handedly carried the Vikings to the playoffs last season, he carried the ball 348 times for 2,097 yards, good for six yards per carry and one of the greatest seasons in NFL history.

There might not be a bigger polarization between quarterback and running back. While Peterson is an elite player in a field of his own, starter Christian Ponder is one of the worst quarterbacks in football, as he only averaged 6.08 yards per attempt with an 81.2 QB rating, essentially forcing the Vikings to abandon the passing game most of the time. This was in part due to the Vikings woeful receiving core, which went was as a wash this offseason as the team signed Greg Jennings but traded Percy Harvin to the Seahawks.

This game looks good on paper because while Peterson can win a game by himself, the Vikings offense will likely be completely one dimensional.

Week 8: at Philadelphia (1:00, FOX)

Second consecutive year the Giants finish a division rivalry in the first half of a season. On paper, these would be two very important games for the Giants to win given how tough the rest of their schedule shapes up to be.

Week 9: BYE

Week 10: vs Oakland (1:00, CBS)

The 2012 Raiders were a horrible, horrible football team and 2013 will likely see the same. In part because of an absurd trade for Carson Palmer, bad signings and years of bad drafting by Al Davis, the Raiders are a team without much talent, much money or many draft picks to help improve the team. They did acquire Matt Flynn from the Seahawks but he can only help so much. Running back Darren McFadden had the worst season of his career, gaining only 707 yards on 216 carries.

Oakland is a team on the right track but on paper (to be clear), they just don’t match up well with the Giants. While a repeat of the 44-7 massacre in their last trip to the Meadowlands might not be reasonable to expect, the game probably won’t be all that close.

Week 11: vs Green Bay (8:20, NBC)

The Packers make a trip to the Meadowlands for a third consecutive year. Last season, the Giants walloped the Packers 38-10, also on Sunday Night Football. Aaron Rodgers did not play well, going 14/25 for 219 yards, a touchdown and a pick, as he was overwhelmed by a pass rush that sacked him five times.

Green Bay lost wideout Greg Jennings this offseason, but still have plenty of weapons in Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Randall Cobb and Jermichael Finley. Odds are good that the Giants won’t hold GB to 10 points again. The odds are also good that the Giants will be able to put up 30 points on the Green Bay defense though.

Week 12: vs Dallas (4:25, FOX)

The second meeting of the season against the Cowboys and the Giants third consecutive home game. While Romo is always scrutinized by Giants fans, he has played very well against the Giants, particularly in the Meadowlands. In his last four games there, he’s thrown 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions, completing over 70 percent of his passes each time.

Week 13: at Washington (8:20, NBC)

The second time in four seasons the Giants will be playing the Redskins twice in the last five weeks of the season. It also marks the first time the Giants will be going up against Robert Griffin III.

Griffin suffered injuries to his LCL and ACL in the Redskins playoff loss against Seattle back in January. Barring something catastrophic, he should play in this game which is very bad news for the Giants. In their first meeting last season, Griffin savaged the Giants, going for 20/28 for 258 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT while running for 89 yards, with the Giants only being saved by a miracle Victor Cruz 80 yard touchdown in a 27-23 win. The next meeting didn’t go so well for the Giants, a 17-16 loss in which Griffin didn’t do much in the air but he and running back Alfred Morris ran over the Giants.

One of the biggest keys for the Giants this season will be how they handle the option read. The Giants didn’t handle it well at all in 2012 and if they don’t make serious adjustments, they’re going to have problems.

Week 14: at San Diego (4:25, FOX)

The last memory the Giants have of Phillip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers is Rivers throwing a perfect strike to Vincent Jackson over the head of Corey Webster for a touchdown with 30 seconds to go in a gut-wrenching 21-20 loss back in 2009.

Things have changed greatly for the Chargers since then. Norv Turner is gone, replaced by Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. Jackson is a Buccaneer and Rivers has gone from one of the best quarterbacks in football to something less than the best. River put up decent enough numbers in 2012, throwing 26 TDs to 15 INTs for an 88.1 QB rating but the Chargers went 7-9 and Rivers arm strength has almost completely dissipated at age 32.

Rivers has talent and McCoy did well with Peyton Manning’s less than full strength arm last year, but some guys simply lose it at a certain point. Rivers might be one of those guys.

Week 15: vs Seattle (1:00, FOX)

Probably the second best team on the Giants schedule. The Seahawks went 11-5 in 2012 under first year quarterback Russell Wilson and they’ve gotten significantly better. They acquired multi-functional receiver Percy Harvin from Minnesota, who will fit well in Seattle’s unique offense. They’ve added pass rushers Cliff Avril from Detroit and Michael Bennett from Tampa to fix one of their biggest holes in 2012. They also just added slot corner Antoine Winfield, giving Seattle a tremendous secondary with Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner at corner and Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor at safety.

This is a nightmare matchup for the Giants. Seattle has a loaded defense and a dangerous offense that features a beastly running back in Marshawn Lynch, wideouts in Sidney Rice and Harvin, and Wilson who had a tremendous rookie season (64.1 completion percentage, 26 TDs, 10 INTs, 3118 passing yards, 489 rushing yards).

Needless to say, I don’t see the Giants winning this one.

Week 16: at Detroit (4:05, FOX)

Simply put, the 2012 Lions season did not go well. They went 4-12, losing their final eight games, giving up 437 points. Their lone bright spot was Calvin “Megatron” Johnson who broke Jerry Rice’s single season receiving yards record, putting up 1,964 total.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for almost 5,000 yards but that was largely a function of the Lions facing so many large deficits, leading Stafford to make 727 pass attempts, an NFL record. He threw 20 TDs, but also 17 interceptions and a 79.1 QB rating.

The Lions faced the opposite problem of the Vikings, in that they were totally reliant on the pass. The Lions had a mostly ineffective running game, averaging only 4.1 YPC, 18th in the NFL. The Lions made a huge step to improve that, signing running back Reggie Bush from the Miami Dolphins.

Stafford is only 25 and had a monstrous season back in 2011. If Bush plays like he did in Miami and the Lions can find someone to throw to other than Johnson, the Lions will be tough to stop on offense. Like many of the games on their schedule, this will probably be a game where the Giants have to score 30 to win.

Week 17: vs Washington (1:00, FOX)

The season finale, and the third consecutive year the Giants close with a division rival at home. The NFL schedule makers probably scheduled this game envisioning the Giants and Redskins as the two best teams in the NFC East. The Giants will have to hope this game is as meaningful as their game against Dallas in 2011 and not as mostly meaningless as their game against Philadelphia last year.

Conclusion:

The Giants schedule appears to be a bit more balanced than in years past. While the second half schedule features tough matchups with Seattle, Dallas, Washington twice and Green Bay, there are also games against Oakland, San Diego, and Detroit, who combined to go 15-33 in 2012. The Giants bye is also nicely in Week 9, which is better than an early bye not too late.

While the common narrative has been that the Giants choke in the second half, the Giants simply need to play better football in 2013. If Eli Manning doesn’t get his head on straight and the Giants secondary doesn’t improve, the order of schedule will be irrelevant.

My early, early guess? The Giants go 10-6 and win the NFC East on the final day of the season. Of course, things can change and they will.

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.

Feb 21, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Syracuse offensive lineman Justin Pugh speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Pugh from Syracuse is projected as an early second day pick, so if he falls to the Giants, it will be another teams mistake. At 6’5 309lbs, Pugh, can play nearly every position on the offensive line with the most experience at LT. He would be a perfect pick for the Gmen with his versatility. The Giants should continue to look at offensive lineman throughout the draft as they need to get some younger talent on the roster.

After Cruz, 26,  switched to CAA Sports last month, talks between him and the Giants have been fairly quiet. Recent reports say Cruz is looking for $10-11 million per year while the Giants are offering around $7 million per year. He’s currently a restricted free agent on a first round tender.

A 10-11 million annual average would put Cruz in the same territory as receivers such as Vincent Jackson and Dwayne Bowe. The Giants’ offer is slightly larger than the 5 year, $31 million contract Danny Amendola signed with the Patriots.

The gap between the two sides reflects more than just money issues. Cruz views himself as a #1 receiver, no doubt buoyed by the 2,2628 receiving yards he’s put up in his first two seasons. The Giants view him as a slot receiver, more in the mold of former Giants receiver Steve Smith. Good but not irreplaceable.

Unless Cruz gets desperate or the Giants cave, it seems unlikely the two sides will come to a compromise. When dealing with Cruz, the Giants will have to worry about the ramifications a deal will have on their salary cap and how it affects their ability to resign other prominent free agents such as defensive end Jason Pierre Paul and their other wide receiver, Hakeem Nicks.

Nicks is reportedly viewed by the team as a #1 receiver and a bigger priority to resign than Cruz. On the surface, this doesn’t make too much sense. Cruz has had significantly more yardage than Nicks the last two years and was able to stay on the field a lot more.

It’s not that simple though. Game tape and advanced statistics tell a lot more.

Advanced NFL Stats had Cruz accounting for 22.6% of the Giants targets in 2011, receiving 132 total while Nicks accounted for 22.5% of the team’s targets, receiving 131. Cruz had 86 catches for 1,538 yards, good for a 18.7 yards per reception, while Nicks had 76 catches for 1192 yards, for a 15.7 YPR.

What those numbers don’t tell you is the kind of routes Nicks and Cruz ran. Cruz, playing mostly in the slot, ran 29.5% of his routes 15 yards or further down the field, 38th amongst receivers. Conversely, Nicks ran 42% of his routes 15 yards or further down the field, eighth most in the NFL.

Somehow though, Cruz had 25 plays of more than 20 yards while Nicks only had 17.  The reason for this is elusiveness.

Newsday

The majority of Cruz’s big plays in 2011 came as a result of missed tackles. Whether it was Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha or New York Jets safety Eric Smith, Cruz routinely caught short passes, made a few defenders whiff on tackles, and ran a long way. Cruz finished sixth in the NFL with 595 yards after the catch.

While it was a great formula of success for the Giants, it didn’t look like something that could be sustained because slot receivers rarely ever average that high a YPR and if they do, it’s not for long.

In 2012, due to a variety of factors, Cruz’s performance dropped significantly. He still had 86 catches and even more targets (143) than in 2011. However, his yardage fell to 1,092 and his YPR fell to 12.7.  Additionally, his catch rate fell from 62% in 2011 to 60% in 2012. He only had 12 plays over 20 yards and his production cratered in the second half, as he only caught 36 passes (on 62 targets) for 465 yards in his final seven games. Overall, he only ran 18.2% of his routes 15 yards or more down the field in 2012, 65th in the NFL.

Part of that is due to Nicks’ injury which kept him out for several games and which rendered him ineffective when he did play. There was also quarterback Eli Manning’s “dead arm” which caused him to struggle.

Primarily though, the league adjusted to Cruz and the Giants as a whole.  Teams started to play more Cover-2 against the Giants, leaving a deep safety down the field to prevent Cruz and Nicks from exploiting opportunities downfield. Giants backup quarterback David Carr noted in a game after the Eagles that safeties were “going straight at Victor.”

Strangely and yet not all too surprising, Nicks had 12 catches for 20 or more yards in 2012, the same number as Cruz despite missing three games and not recording a catch in two of the games he did play.

This is because Nicks is a more physical and versatile receiver than Cruz despite having just one inch on him. Nicks can beat receivers in man coverage at a level that Cruz is simply not able to.  Manning and the Giants offense as a whole suffered without a healthy Nicks and his presence helps open up opportunities for Cruz.

That’s not to say Cruz isn’t valuable. The Giants wouldn’t be able to find a receiver as good as Cruz on the street and some team will pay him.

Cruz’s problem is that he’s not elite in any one area. He doesn’t profile well as an outside receiver and while he has had success in the slot, he doesn’t have elite hands like Wes Welker, who never caught less than 68% of his passes in six seasons with the New England Patriots.

If the NFL did not have a salary cap, paying Cruz would not be a problem.  However, the Giants have limited resources to spend every year and they simply cannot and should not pay elite receiver money to a player isn’t substantially better than Smith.

Barring the unforeseen, Cruz will line up for the Giants during the 2013 season.  If the Giants are smart, he won’t be in 2014.

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.