New York Giants 7-round mock draft replacing lost veterans with young talent

Round 1, pick No. 7:  LB Devin Lloyd, Utah

While in my previous mock draft I had the NY Giants selecting Tyler Linderbaum out of Iowa,  it is unlikely that the NY Giants opt to select a center after signing Jon Feliciano to play center for the team.

With this in mind, the New York Giants should select Devin Lloyd out of Utah, as the linebacker position was in desperate need of a playmaker of his caliber last season. Whether they opt to trade back for Lloyd, or select him at 7 is entirely up to the team. However, for the sake of simplicity, lets just say the NY Giants decide to just flat out select him at 7.

As things currently stand with the New York Giants roster, the only linebackers currently under contract are Blake Martinez, who has been very good for the NY Giants since they signed him, Tae Crowder, who has played poorly since being forced to start, and then T.J Brunson and Carter Coughlin, two 7th round picks with little-to-no experience.

Coming in at 6’2, 237 pounds, Devin Lloyd finished up his senior season at Utah tallying 108 combined tackles, 8 sacks, 4 interceptions, 22 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble. Showcasing his Micah Parsons-esque ability to do it all, whether it be stopping the run, rushing the QB, or playing in coverage, there are very few things Devin Lloyd can’t do.

On the field, Devin Lloyd possesses tremendous IQ, being able to diagnose plays at the snap of the finger, he also showcased great speed, an ability in coverage, gaining a PFF grade of 81.8 in that category while only allowing 247 yards and 1 TD in 340 coverage snaps, per PFF.

The New York Giants have long needed a playmaker at the linebacker position, and with a sever lack of talent in the position being made clear this season, if he’s available, New York Giants should draft Lloyd.

While the option of trading back may still be available, as it is not entirely known how many teams are interested in Devin Lloyd, taking him at 7 may be the best option. While I am sure many will not agree with this selection, after the recent signing of Jon Feliciano, it is unlikely the NY Giants will look to draft Tyler Linderbaum, opening up the door to improve upon the defense.