#7 – Alabama S Minkah Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick could be the first defensive player off the board come April but is unlikely to end up with Big Blue. The Crimson Tide’s star safety will arguably be the best prospect on the field during Monday’s national championship game, but his position is not a major area of concern for New York.
The Giants seem set moving forward with Landon Collins and Darian Thompson at the safety positions, but it is fun to imagine Collins playing alongside Fitzpatrick.
Both Miller and Kiper have Fitzpatrick listed as the top defensive player on their respective Big Boards, and Bleacher Report’s draft analyst lists him as the “most NFL-ready” safety.
The Chuck Bednarik (college football’s best defensive player) and Jim Thorpe (college football’s best defensive back) award winner has amassed 166 tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss, 24 passes defended, nine interceptions, five sacks, and four defensive touchdowns in three seasons at Alabama.