Previous Five Picks
26) Jacksonville Jaguars: Quentin Groves, OLB/DE, Auburn
27) San Diego Chargers: Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
28) Dallas Cowboys: Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina
29) San Francisco 49ers: Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan St.
30) Green Bay Packers: Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
31) New England Patriots: Forfeited as punishment for Spygate.
Click here to see the entire Mock Draft.
The Longest Mock Draft in NFL History Continues...
That’s right.
I’m going to beat my own self-imposed deadline of April 1st by a whole day.
Pick No. 32: New York Giants
The New York “Football” Giants.
As a Patriots fan, I knew they were picking last in the draft BEFORE the Super Bowl. I just assumed the reason was because the Patriots lost their pick.
The Super Bowl results STILL hurt.
I still don’t understand why the Patriots didn’t stop the five- and seven-step drops after the very first double-fake handoff play didn’t work.
I still don’t understand why they didn’t roll Brady outside the pocket at all until the fourth quarter.
I still don’t understand why they didn’t use the shotgun more once they figured out the offensive line couldn’t block the Giants’ defensive line.
It was interesting, because I’m not used to rooting for the big, evil empire that everyone wants to lose. I’m used to rooting for the scrappy underdog who knows that if they land a few big punches, the bully will wilt.
And that’s just want the Giants did. They punched the Patriots offense in the face, and for the first time in the Belichick era, the Pats had no answer. They couldn’t run the ball. They couldn’t protect Brady.
They were powerless.
The Giants’ defense had one of the best games I’ve seen in AGES. They were tremendous.
There’s something to be said about stepping up in the playoffs, but you have to wonder where this team was during the regular season. I saw plenty of the New York Giants, and it was a different team that showed up and beat the Patriots.
The offense was clutch (a little lucky at the end, but certainly clutch), and the defense was dominant.
(As an aside, the most underrated play of the Super Bowl was the sack of Brady on second down with about 20 second left in the game. It forced the Pats to give up on trying to drive into field goal position and just lob up a few Hail Mary passes.)
Anyway, the Giants are poised to have another decent season in 2008.
Couple of points, though...
1) Tom Coughlin is still the guy everyone in New York wanted to fire for the last two seasons.
Don’t let him become the next Brian Billick—a guy who caught lightning in a bottle, won a Super Bowl, then undeservingly remained employed four years longer than he should have.
2) Eli Manning is still Eli Manning.
He may have had a few good playoff games, but they were just OK playoff games. Outside of one drive in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, Eli wasn’t good. He didn’t kill his team in any of the playoff games, which is a huge step up from where he was for most of the regular season. But he’s a lot more Trent Dilfer than he is his brother.
3) Their defense played tremendous in the Super Bowl—but their secondary is terrible.
It’s a credit to how well their front-seven was able to pressure Brady. Show any offensive coach a Giants defensive backfield depth chart and he’ll salivate with the possibilities.
Taking that into consideration, the final pick in the longest mock draft in the history of the Internet is…
The Pick: Reggie Smith, S, Oklahoma
They need cornerback help.
They need safety help.
There’s a guy coming out of Oklahoma who can provide both.
Smith has the ability to play corner, but he’ll probably stick to safety in the NFL. He’s been a playmaker there for Oklahoma. His 2007 season was fantastic.
While other guys have shot past him on the draft board because of their workouts, he remains a first-round talent because of what he did on the field.
The Giants might not be able to recapture the magic they found in 2007, but they’ll be as formidable in 2008 as any defending Super Bowl champion.
Finally, It’s Over!
Well, it’s been two months, thirty one picks, two hundred angry Raiders fans, and four hundred reminders about Spygate. (Thanks Anonymous!)
It’s finally done.
So what have we learned?
Spreading a mock draft over the course of two months can cause some seriously odd things to happen with your draft board.
Agreeing to write a 30-plus part series is borderline crazy. Insane. JJ Stankevitz can attest to this as well.
NFL fans are passionate, and if they don’t agree with you (hello Raider Nation!) they will let you know about it. In no uncertain terms.
Sometimes they even challenge you to a knife-fight (isn't that right raiders52@msn.com?).
Anyway, I had a great time. Hope you all enjoyed reading it. Thanks to everyone who read, commented on (good or bad), or emailed me about the Mock Draft series.
In the coming weeks, we’ll have a follow up and probably a version 2.0 (which will be a single article, not thirty individual ones…thank you very much).
Until next time…
I’m SeanMC.
SeanMC is a Senior Writer at Bleacher Report. His archive can be found here. You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.
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6 months ago
2) Eli Manning is still Eli Manning. He may have had a few good playoff games, but they were just OK playoff games. Outside of one drive in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, Eli wasn’t good. He didn’t kill his team in any of the playoff games, which is a huge step up from where he was for most of the regular season. But he’s a lot more Trent Dilfer than he is his brother.
Just OK? Eli posted back to back 100+ QB ratings (117 and 132. Tampa, the 117 game, was against the #1 pass defense).
Overall in his 4 playoff games he posted a 60% completion rate and a QB rating of 95.
from 6 months ago
eli manning goes 2 hard. i dont know what ur talkn bou. probly cuz u cant throw
6 months ago
With the addition of Sammy Knight at safety, the Giants won't bother with drafting there- Knight is a proven starter in the NFL, and with a d-line better than the one Knight played with in Jacksonville, expect the vet to have a much more productive season.
Any of the safeties this year in the draft aren't even first-round worthy. Kenny Phillips out of the U should be an early second round pick, and then maybe Reggie Smith.
Giants have much bigger needs at cornerback. Due to the weak performance at this year's combine, Brandon Flowers could still be available to the Giants in the first round. Mike Jenkins from South Florida also looks attractive with additional benefits as being a KR specialist. If the Giants manage to shore up the d-back position after the draft, expect the Giants defense to lead the team to more playoff appearances.
6 months ago
It's kinda scary when you look at the Super Bowl teams from past years, and how big the drop off has been the next year.
from 6 months ago
Except in New England. I will also think that the Pats will be in hot pursuit of the SB again and draft some defensive corners to replace AS. Could be another big season like last year.
from 6 months ago
The Bears were supposed to have another strong season and SB run after going in 06, just a warning from somebody who has been through it. Also, ask a Raiders fan, they did the same thing a few years ago.
6 months ago
This was some achievement, congrats Sean on the conclusion (for now) of this series...
The Giants D, I still shiver at the thought of what went down at the Superbowl, that and the image of Pierce holding off three players against Green Bay in the Championship game those guys (enough to make a difference anyway) for some odd reason just wanted it more.
Eli, roll the dice we aint got a clue what he'll be like it is going to be exciting to watch what the big win will do for him. I think he is gonna be a mix of old and new which will no matter what be a good thing for the Ginats...
6 months ago
I agree , the secondary will be addressed
whether it's in the 1st round or not is the question
6 months ago
You're correct, the secondary should be the Giant's top priority in the draft. The secondary played well in the post-season but they cannot rely on their current secondary to play well throughout the course of an entire season. That is one area of their defense they need to improve this off-season.
6 months ago
Although I disagree with your mock draft immensely, I enjoy reading your reasoning behind each pick. I am willing to bet you a case of St. Louis' finest beer (Budweiser) against Boston's finest ale, (Sam Adams?) that my final mock will be more accurate than yours.
I don't drink anymore, so I am willing to bet St. Louis Toasted Ravioli against some of Boston's local fare. Probably cheaper to ship?
What do you think, SeanMC?
Will an Irishmen take a bet from a Cherokee?
I got the Giants going with Dan Connor in the first to replace Kawika Mitchell, they took Aaron Ross, #1 last year and Corey Webster pretty high a few years back. Webster played well down the stretch and Ross will be a stud. Unless you believe Smith can play safety to replace G. Wilson?
I will add you as my 1 and only favorite writer soon as I figure out how to do so.
from 6 months ago
I'll take any bet you're willing to make, but not on this version of my mock. If you wrote one back in late January, which is when this was technically put together, than sure.
I'll take my chances with Mock v2, which will be out sometime in the next few weeks....
6 months ago
Congrats on finishing! And Smith was one of about seven OU defensive players who scared the crap out of me on two nonconsecutive occasions this year.
6 months ago
Yeah I must congratulate you as well Sean. You did probably the hardest thing a sportswriter could do in making a mock draft. The only difference between this is that you wrote roughly 1-1/2 pages about why each player is going to be selected. You had 31 chances to be berated, ridiculed, or teased by fans of each respective team. However, the only ones that drop negative feedback are all named Anonymous. I wonder if they are all somehow buddies or if they just all just share half a brain? Even if you're mock draft goes completely to the crapper, who cares? The NFL draft is usually one of the most unpredictable days in the sports calendar and you have 31 predictions. If you get 1/2 of them right I'd say it was a job well done. I still can't wait until Oakland takes DeSean Jackson with the fourth pick to see RaiderNation be disappointed once again.
6 months ago
Hmmm. Sean is a Patriots "sour grapes" fan, so who really cares what he thinks about Eli Manning.
6 months ago
Hmmm. Sean is a Patriots "sour grapes" fan, so who really cares what he thinks about Eli Manning.
6 months ago
eli manning goes 2 hard. i dont know what ur talkn bou. probly cuz u cant throw
6 months ago
Trent Dilfer? Ouch... I could have sworn Dilfer was in his 7th season at the time with the Ravens when they won, after which he would merely be a back-up in Seattle, Cleveland, and San Fran... (well, maybe the 49ers could use him). But Eli is going into his 5th season, with a team that has no other starter-worthy QB (Jared Lorenzen need not apply), with a Super Bowl win to boot. Unfortunately, it's always difficult what to expect from Eli (20 interceptions and 13 fumbles in '07). If Shockey and Plaxico stay healthy, and Smith becomes a reliable target, Eli might just have his rating up in the high-80's in the upcoming '08 season.
And he might just win another playoff game (sorry Trent).
6 months ago
I love -- LOVE -- the idea that the Giants will hear people dissing them even though they won the Superbowl. It's exactly what they need to keep the team focused, so please world, keep it up. They thrive on that stuff (in case you haven't noticed).
BTW, of course NE is going to be in contention again next year -- they play perhaps the easiest schedule in the history of modern football. Their next year's opponents had a winning percentage last season below .400, and they play in a pathetic division that guarantees them at least six wins and a division title. Problem is, the easy road isn't always the one that gets you to the mountaintop.
6 months ago
I don't agree with several points you made. Eli Manning outplayed Brett Favre in that figid air in Green Bay. He's not a great QB. But to say he didn't play well is not true. I don't think you actually watched the Giants play in the playoffs.
Tom Coughlin has a much better track record than Brian Billick, see his successful run at Jacksonville and had great success at BC. The Giants run was impressive because they lost Shockey, Ward, Kiwanuka and still won Super Bowl XLII, unlike San Diego who couldn't overcome their injuries.
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