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New York Giants 7-round mock draft 4.0, post-free agency

By Henry Buggy

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: A view of the stage prior to the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: A view of the stage prior to the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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No. 108 – South Carolina State LB Darius Leonard

NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 05: Darius Leonard (L) poses with Dennis Thomas after recieving his MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Award during the press conference for the 60th NFF Anual Awards Ceremony at New York Hilton Midtown on December 5, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 05: Darius Leonard (L) poses with Dennis Thomas after recieving his MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Award during the press conference for the 60th NFF Anual Awards Ceremony at New York Hilton Midtown on December 5, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

The Giants have already upgraded their linebacking corps with the acquisition of Ogletree, but there are still questions to answer.

B.J. Goodson is currently slated to start alongside Ogletree at inside linebacker. Big Blue’s former fourth-round pick was limited to just seven games in his second season due to an ankle injury.

The Giants need to add competition to the inside linebacker position, and Darius Leonard has the potential to be a steal in the fourth-round. The back-to-back MEAC Defensive Player of the Year racked up 238 tackles, 26.5 tackles for a loss, 12 sacks, and four interceptions over the last two seasons.

He has drawn comparisons with Tennessee Titans inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard and Jacksonville Jaguars weak-side linebacker Telvin Smith.

Placing Leonard next to Ogletree could give New York a dynamic-duo at inside linebacker. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller has Leonard falling to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 104 in his post-Combine mock draft. NFL Network’s Chad Reuter has the Minnesota Vikings selecting the South Carolina State prospect at the end of round three (No. 94).

If Leonard falls to the Giants in the fourth-round, he could be a perfect fit for Bettcher’s defense as an inside linebacker.

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