Given the level of football knowledge that my counterparts had in regard to the players in the draft and the needs of the teams they were drafting for, I felt that the return that I received in this mock draft was solid. It was obvious from the get-go that it would be difficult to get players much beyond their draft value, as it was a savvy group of general managers.
With that in mind, I feel I was able to fill a number of critical needs that the New York Giants had on their roster. By trading back two spots I was able to accumulate additional high-level draft capital by picking up the 37th overall selection in this draft and a third-round pick next year.
Additionally, trading back nine spots with the Raiders in the fifth round allowed me to gain back the sixth-round pick that I had traded away to secure the second and third-round picks from the Chargers.
In the end, I was able to draft an elite defensive playmaker in Isaiah Simmons with the sixth pick. That would immediately make the defensive unit of the Giants more formidable. I was able to significantly upgrade along the offensive line with the additions of Lloyd Cushenberry III at center and Austin Jackson at tackle with the two second-round selections.
By adding Zuniga and Robinson in the third and fourth rounds of the draft, I was able to add two high ceiling pass-rushing talents. Given how baren the Giants defense in regard to pass rushers, this is a major score in the middle of the draft.
Adding depth at safety and cornerback with the selections of J.R. Reed, Shyheim Carter and Rodney Clemons helps to bolster two areas of the Giants roster that are extremely thin. Each of those players has enough upside to be solid contributors in specific package schemes for the Giants as soon as this season.
The selection of Jon Runyan gives New York a developmental project with an excellent pedigree who could eventually become a starting guard down the road with some improvement in technique. Meanwhile, Michael Warren II adds much-needed depth at the running back position while giving the GMEN a potential darkhorse candidate to play a large role in short yardage situation. With the addition of Quez Watkins, Big Blue gets a speedy receiver who could develop into a contributor later on.
In summary, I feel like the Giants would walk away feeling as though they addressed their most pressing needs if this were their actual draft results. While they didn’t get one of the top four tackles in the draft, it’s difficult to complain given that they still received arguably a top-five tackle and a top-two center, despite opting to go with Simmons with their top pick.
Trading back twice allowed for the Giants to accumulate valuable draft capital that will be vital in expediting their rebuild. It allowed them to select Simmons in the first round because they could either use their second-round picks to move back into the first or take the two best offensive line candidates at that point and address their biggest needs.
The team would have to be happy with the quality depth that they were able to acquire late in the draft. This draft is loaded with talent and I feel that if the Giants play their cards right, this mock serves as a prime example that they can significantly improve this roster quickly