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2018 NFL Draft: Updated top 25 targets for New York Giants

By Henry Buggy

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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#16 – Georgia LB Roquan Smith

PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Roquan Smith #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates after defeating the Oklahoma Sooners 54-48 in double overtime in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Roquan Smith #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates after defeating the Oklahoma Sooners 54-48 in double overtime in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

There are many intriguing linebacker prospects in this year’s draft class from Iowa’s Josey Jewell to Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds, but Smith may be the perfect fit for what Big Blue needs in a middle linebacker.

Giants middle linebacker B.J. Goodson missed nine games this season due to injury, and New York has not had a long-term solution at the position since Antonio Pierce retired after the 2009 season. The Giants tend to overlook the linebacker position and focus on the defensive line and secondary, but Georgia’s 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker is surely not flying under the radar.

Despite concerns about his size, Smith may be the best sideline-to-sideline linebacker in this year’s class. Kiper has the Bulldogs inside linebacker listed as the 15th best overall prospect.

Smith has played huge in Georgia’s two most important games this season, recording a combined 24 tackles and one sack in the SEC Championship and Rose Bowl. He leads the Bulldogs defense with 124 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, and 5.5 sacks.

If the Giants are looking to add a signal-caller and leader to the middle of their defense, Smith might be the ideal prospect.

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