Top 40 NFL Draft 2016 Prospects Who Might Be Giants
By Neal Lynch
Vadal Alexander
G/OT, LSU Tigers
Date of birth: March 23, 1994 (age 21)
Height: 6 feet 6 inches
Weight: 329 pounds
- 2015 All-America Second Team (Walter Camp, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated)
- 2015 All-America Third Team (AP)
- 2015 All-SEC First Team (Coaches, AP)
- 2014 All-SEC Second Team (Coaches), All-SEC Honorable Mention (Media)
- 2012 Freshman All-America Second Team (Scout.com)
- 2012 All-SEC Freshman Team (Coaches)
Vadal is one of three senior prospects NFL.com thinks the Giants will target. NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst Dane Brugler says Vadal is…
"“experienced at both guard and tackle, is a mauler in the run game with heavy hands and the core strength to generate movement at the point of attack. He has some issues in space as a pass blocker, which is why his NFL future is likely inside at guard.”"
Mackensie Alexander
CB, Clemson Tigers
Date of birth: November 12, 1993 (age 22)
Height: 5 feet 11 inches
Weight: 195 pounds
Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com has Mackensie falling to the G-Men in the 3rd Round, which seems like a steal to me. Charlie’s colleague has Big Blue snagging Alexander in the 2nd Round. Back in August, Mackensie called himself the country’s best cornerback by a long shot. If the Giants lose Prince, they have to make a play for Mackensie. His stats don’t jump off the page because teams have learned not to throw his way. He’s the shutdown corner without stats to back it up.
Halapoulivaati Vaitai
OT, TCU Horned Frogs
Height: 6 feet 5 inches
Weight: 325 pounds
DraftSite.com has Big Blue getting Vaitai in the 3rd Round.
Kenneth Dixon
RB, Louisiana Tech
Date of birth: January 21, 1994 (age 21)
Height: 5 ft 10 in
Weight: 213 lb
- 2012 Freshman All-America
- 2012 WAC Freshman of the Year
- 2012 First Team All-WAC
- 2012 Louisiana Freshman of the Year
- 2012 First Team All-Louisiana
- Second-Team All Conference (2013, 2014)
- New Orleans Bowl MVP (2015)
- school’s all-time leading rusher
- 87 career total touchdowns (lead the FBS in touchdowns twice)
WalterFootball.com projects Dixon to the Giants in the 3rd Round. Let’s say the Giants do draft one of these running backs. What do you do with Jennings and/or Williams? Do you cut one of ’em? Try to trade them? I’m all for drafting the best player available when that player is a ‘can’t miss’ once-in-a-lifetime guy. Are any of these RBs that kind of player?
Pharoh Cooper
WR, South Carolina
Height: 5 feet 11 inches
Weight: 208 pounds
- 2014 First-team All-SEC (AP and Coaches as wide receiver)
- 2014 Second-team All-SEC (AP and Coaches as all-purpose back)
- 2015 First-team All-SEC at WR
- 2015 Second-team All-SEC (all-purpose)
- 90 touches, 1,000+ yards from scrimmage and 9 touchdowns in 2015
- Ranks ninth in school history in receptions (138), eighth in receiving yards (2,163), and sixth in touchdown receptions (18)
The versatile playmaker believes he’ll go in the one of the first two rounds, but could fall into round 3. That’s where DraftTek.com thinks the Giants will be able to snag Cooper.
Next: MID ROUND OPTIONS