The 2018 NFL Draft can’t come soon enough.
The New York Giants hold their highest draft selection in over three decades this offseason.
The East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl are both in the rearview mirror, and the NFL Scouting Combine is just around the corner.
It’s been one month since GMEN HQ dropped it’s first seven-round mock draft and plenty has changed. Big Blue has since named Pat Shurmur the franchise’s 18th head coach. He, in turn, has named James Bettcher the team’s new defensive coordinator.
Giants new general manager Dave Gettleman and Shurmur have given their support of 37-year-old quarterback Eli Manning this offseason. Both have made it clear, the offensive line is the priority.
The issues with the G-Men were visible to everyone but Jerry Reese and Ben McAdoo it seems. How Reese and McAdoo neglected to address the offensive line in both free agency and the draft was mind-boggling. Thankfully that era in Big Blue’s history came to a screeching halt this past December.
Gettleman has said he plans to let free agency set up the team’s draft strategy. He also plans to take the “best player available” with the No. 2 overall pick. Whether that player is a quarterback is unknown.
It only makes sense for New York’s new general manager to hold his cards close to his chest. With so many quarterback-needy teams, Gettleman serves the franchise best by leaving others guessing.
Plenty is expected to change in the coming months. Free agency, the NFL Scouting Combine, and pre-draft visits have consistently had an impact on the outcome of drafts in recent years.
But that won’t stop Giants fans from looking ahead, especially when considering the importance of this year’s draft.
First-Round – Penn State RB Saquon Barkley (Pick No. 2)
If Gettleman truly intends to take the “best player available” then Barkley will be Big Blue’s first-round selection.
The Nittany Lions running back is considered the top draft prospect by most draft analysts. ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah all have Barkley listed as the No. 1 talent in this year’s class regardless of position.
The G-Men have needs along the offensive line and could look to take a quarterback with the second pick, but a player of Barkley’s caliber doesn’t come along too often. The 5-foot-11, 230-pound tailback amassed 3,843 rushing yards, 1,195 receiving yards, and scored 51 touchdowns in three seasons at Penn State.
Gettleman has shown he is willing to take a running back early, selecting Christian McCaffrey with the No. 8 overall pick in last year’s draft.
USC quarterback Sam Darnold could also make sense here, but New York likely has at least one more full season with Manning under center. Gettleman and Shurmur may also want to see what they have in Davis Webb before using their highest pick since 1981 on a quarterback.
Trading back also remains an option, especially with multiple offensive tackles expected to go in the first-round. But adding a game-changing running back like Barkley will not only take the pressure off Manning, he will also make New York’s offensive line look better with his ability to make tacklers miss.
Second-Round – Ohio State OT Jamarco Jones (Pick No. 34)
Free agency will have a significant impact on New York’s draft selections. If the Giants are unable to sign a left tackle this offseason, Big Blue will almost certainly use one of their first three picks on the position.
Jones is quietly rising up draft analysts’ big boards. The Buckeyes 6-foot-5, 310-pound left tackle earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for his play in 2017. He replaced Detroit Lions first-round pick Taylor Decker, starting 27 consecutive games in his junior and senior seasons.
Texas’ Connor Williams, Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey, and Oklahoma’s Orlando Brown are considered the top tackles in this year’s draft class, but all three are currently projected to be first-round selections.
Jones, Western Michigan’s Chukwuma Okorafor, UCLA’s Kolton Miller, and Mississippi State’s Martinas Rankin are considered the next group of tackles. While Big Blue could potentially take any of the tackles listed above, Jones arguably has the best chance to come in and start at left tackle as a rookie.
The Buckeyes prospect has started receiving high praise in recent weeks. At least one NFC scout believes he’s a safer pick than Notre Dame’s top tackle, via NFL Network.
"“He has holes like they all do but I think he’s safer than Mike McGlinchey as a pro. Ohio State’s scheme doesn’t give you as many pro-style looks as Notre Dame, but I think he’ll fit in well as a pro.”"
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller also gave high praise of Jones just a month after listing him as the tenth best tackle in this year’s class. “I like Jones more than overhyped players such as Oklahoma’s Orlando Brown at the same position,” Miller wrote.
The Ohio State prospect has drawn comparisons with former Baltimore Ravens first-round pick Michael Oher. A player Gettleman signed ahead of Carolina’s 2015 Super Bowl run.
Third-Round – Iowa ILB Josey Jewell (Pick No. 66)
The Giants need to address their linebacking corps at some point this offseason.
Adding the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in the third-round would surely make some Big Blue fans happy. Jewell is considered one of the top inside linebackers in this year’s draft and was a consistent playmaker at Iowa.
Through four seasons, Jewell amassed 433 tackles, 28 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, 26 passes defended, six interceptions, and three forced fumbles. He not only consistently made plays for the Hawkeyes defense but was a team leader.
The Giants could also look to add an outside linebacker like Uchenna Nwosu or Lorenzo Carter in the mid-rounds of the draft. But selecting Jewell would give the G-Men a potential signal caller for the next decade.
Bettcher could start Jewell alongside B.J. Goodson when the team lines up in a 3-4 defensive front and also rely on the two linebackers in their nickel defense. Whether Goodson is a long-term solution is unknown, but the addition of Iowa’s 6-foot-1, 235-pound linebacker would certainly make New York’s defense better.
Jewell has drawn comparisons with Dallas Cowboys All-Pro linebacker Sean Lee and his college tape has already won over at least on AFC director of scouting, via NFL Network.
"“I like him a lot. I think he will run faster than people think for sure. Give me a guy with his mindset and instincts and I can sell him to a coaching staff even if he’s not as big as they are looking for. His tape will win them over.”"
The Hawkeyes linebacker is the only prospect to be featured in both GMEN HQ’s mock drafts this year.
Fourth-Round – LSU OL Will Clapp (Pick No. 104)
The Giants added their franchise left tackle at the start of the second-round and get some much-needed interior offensive line help in the fourth-round.
LSU’s 6-foot-5, 309-pound center earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2017 after earning first-team All-SEC honors at left guard the previous season. NFL Draft analysts have wide-ranging opinions regarding the Tigers redshirt junior.
He could be off the board as early as the third-round. But NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein currently projects him to be a fifth to sixth-round draft selection despite comparing him to Tennessee Titans starting center Ben Jones.
Clapp has the ability to play center or guard at the next level, making him a valuable asset for Big Blue. The Giants will look to solve a majority of their offensive line issues prior to the draft, but at the very least Clapp would give New York some depth at both the center and guard positions.
He has the talent to challenge Brett Jones and John Jerry for starting roles and has impressed at least one NFC scout with his work ethic and intelligence.
"“He’s really smart and he’s a great worker and teammate. He has his limitations but a lot of starters in the league have limitations.”"
Fourth-Round – Texas CB Holton Hill (Pick No. 137)
Johnathan Hankins’ departure in free agency last offseason will land Big Blue a compensatory pick in the fourth-round.
The G-Men will likely look to add some youth to their secondary, especially with questions surrounding Eli Apple and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie this offseason.
Hill has the talent to be a starter at the next level, but off-field question marks could force him to fall in the draft. After starting the first nine games of the 2017 season, Hill was suspended for a violation of team rules.
Walter Football’s Charlie Campbell has the Longhorns prospect projected to be a third to fifth-round selection.
There are wide-ranging opinions regarding multiple cornerback prospects in this year’s class. Hill and LSU’s Kevin Toliver could both be potential steals at this point of the draft, but the Tigers cornerback seems unlikely to be on the board at the end of the fourth-round.
Bettcher got the most out of his players during his three-year tenure as Arizona’s defensive coordinator. He could surely utilize Hill’s skill set. At least one NFC scout believes Hill will be available on the third day, via NFL Network.
"“He will fall further than he should because you can’t trust him. He needed a clean, productive season to rehab the perception around him and I felt like he should have gone back to school. He can play. He’s a Day 2 talent, but I doubt he goes there.”"
Through three seasons in Austin, Hill recorded 122 tackles, eight passes defended, three interceptions, and three defensive touchdowns.
Fifth-Round – N.C. State DL B.J. Hill (Pick No. 141)
The Giants will run multiple defensive formations under Bettcher, but his base defense is still a 3-4 front.
With Jay Bromley likely to walk in free agency this offseason, the G-Men will need to add another interior defensive line presence.
N.C. State’s 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive tackle could fill that void. Through four seasons, Hill amassed 183 tackles, 23.5 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, nine passes defended, and two forced fumbles.
He is currently projected to be a fourth to fifth-round draft selection, according to Zierlien. Hill has the ability to play defensive tackle in a 4-3 or defensive end in a 3-4 front, making him a valuable asset for Bettcher.
Placing Hill alongside Damon Harrison and Dalvin Tomlinson would give Big Blue a young dominant defensive line that can thrive for years to come.
Sixth-Round – Central Michigan OLB/DE Joe Ostman (Pick No. 179)
This selection may not move the needle for Giants fans but that could easily change come training camp and the preseason.
The Chippewas 6-foot-3, 255-pound defensive end led the FBS with 14 sacks in 2017. In his junior and senior seasons, Ostman racked up 129 tackles, 33 tackles for a loss, 21 sacks, and five forced fumbles.
He is currently projected to be a sixth to seventh-round draft selection but was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. If the Giants don’t re-sign Devon Kennard or add another outside linebacker or two in free agency, Gettleman may look to add a pass rusher earlier.
But selecting Ostman in the sixth-round could very well prove to be a steal. He has the potential to make an immediate impact on special teams, and Bettcher could surely utilize him as rotational 3-4 outside linebacker.
“When he gets into a camp, he’s going to be a really hard guy to get rid of,” a longtime NFL special teams coach said of the CMU prospect, via College Football 24/7.
Ostman doesn’t check all the physical boxes NFL teams look for in a pass rusher, but he has the work ethic and athleticism to succeed at the next level.
The Giants do not have a seventh-round pick after trading it to Pittsburgh for cornerback Ross Cockrell.
Next: 5 Potential Replacements For Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg