New York Giants 7-round mock draft 4.0, post-free agency
By Henry Buggy
No. 34 – LSU RB Derrius Guice
The Giants have been missing a physical presence in their backfield since the departure of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. Over the past four years, former general manager Jerry Reese had selected three different running backs.
Former fourth-round pick Andre Williams is no longer with the team, and neither Paul Perkins nor Wayne Gallman have proven themselves three-down backs at the next level. As of right now, Gallman is projected to be the team’s starter in 2018, but that could quickly change by the end of the month.
The addition of Derrius Guice gives Big Blue that much-needed physical presence. The 5-foot-10, 212-pound prospect is considered the second best tailback in this year’s class, trailing only Barkley.
He has great vision and power and has drawn comparisons with Marshawn Lynch. NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks and Charles Davis both have Guice falling to the second-round in their respective mock drafts.
Guice’s biggest question mark coming out of LSU is his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. Through three seasons in Baton Rouge, he amassed 3,074 rushing yards, 250 receiving yards, and scored 32 touchdowns.
Guice and Gallman could give Big Blue their best one-two punch since Jacobs and Bradshaw. Both could flourish behind a revamped offensive line, which is centered around Solder and Hernandez.
With Guice, Gallman, Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram, the Giants will be stacked with talent at their skill positions. At the same time, it won’t force them to abandon their offensive line, as they’ve done in the past.