New York Giants Mock Draft: Updated Day 2 Predictions

One down, seven to go.

The New York Giants addressed the offensive line in the first round of the NFL draft, plucking Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers with the ninth overall pick, a choice that was likely made after Washington, drafting fifth, snapped up NFL Draft Scout’s top-rated offensive tackle, Brandon Scherff.

The Giants, though, seem pleased with landing land Flowers (6’6”, 329 lbs), who played left tackle for the Hurricanes.

“Ereck is, as you have probably heard, a physical, nasty, tough football player and you just don’t see that too often anymore in college football,” Giants vice president of player evaluation Marc Ross told reporters.

“Super productive against the highest level of competition there, the Florida States and the Nebraskas. He is a good player who is just scratching the surface of how good he can be."

Ross, who like general manager Jerry Reese and head coach Tom Coughlin views Flowers as a tackle at either side, didn’t seem too concerned with the alleged weaknesses in Flowers’ game.

"The guy is 20. They all have technique flaws. Nobody is ready-made to play in the NFL, even fourth- or fifth-year seniors,” he insisted. “He is just learning to play, but even with technique flaws, the guy was a productive and dominant player at times.”

With one need addressed, the Giants will look to use their remaining seven picks—their original six plus the extra seventh they got from Denver thanks to the Brandon McManus trade—to fill in some of the other holes on their roster.

What are the needs and who are the prospects remaining after Day 1? Let’s try to project how the rest of the Giants’ draft might play out.

Round 2

Rick Bowmer/Associated Press

Pick 40: Eric Rowe, CB, Utah 

I picked Utah’s Eric Rowe in my final seven-round mock draft, and I’m sticking with the pick.

After the Giants failed to re-sign free safety Stevie Brown, who inked a one-year deal with the Texans, the cupboard at the free safety position is thin.

Rowe, who can play both cornerback and free safety, has the skill set to help a defensive backfield that was all too often victimized by the big passing play last season.  

According to the Giants’ year-end statistical package distributed to the media, they allowed 59 big-pass plays of 20 or more yards. Of those big-pass plays, 12 went for 40 or more yards, and 15 went for touchdowns.

Not only is Rowe good in coverage—per Pro Football Focus, he allowed just 13.8 percent of the pass targets against him to be completed, tying for eighth with Byron Jones, the Cowboys’ first-round pick—but he is a physical player and a good tackler, something the Giants can never have enough.

Round 3

Pick 74: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

In this round, I was hoping for Clemson ILB Stephone Anthony. However, the New Orleans Saints grabbed him in the first round with the 31st overall pick.

I’m going to switch gears here and go with a defensive tackle whom I’m hoping makes it to the third round.

That would be Florida State’s Eddie Goldman (6’4”, 336 lbs), a big-bodied type with a quick first step, good vision and better-than-average strength to collapse the pocket.

Goldman, a second-round talent on NFL Draft Scout, would be a nice addition to the defensive interior rotation, a unit that is facing a transition sooner than later with Kenrick Ellis, Cullen Jenkins and Markus Kuhn all entering the final year of their deals.

Round 4

Pick 108: Taiwan Jones, ILB, Michigan State

With Stephone Anthony off the board, my next preference at inside linebacker is Michigan State’s Taiwan Jones (6’3”, 245 lbs).

Compared by Brandon Thorn of NFL Draft Scout to Buffalo Bills ILB Brandon Spikes, Jones is a hard-hitting thumper who uses his long arms to shed blockers and has shown good closing speed.

Jones finished his four-year career with 183 tackles (92 solo, 25.5 for a loss), 5.5 sacks, one interception and five passes defensed.

A student of the game and a natural leader, Jones is still regarded as raw in aspects of his game and might be a year away from being able to step in on a full-time basis.

That works out just fine for the Giants, who will have Jon Beason and Jameel McClain at the ready to fill the middle linebacker spot for at least the coming season.

Round 5

Pick 144: Nick Boyle, TE, Delaware

I had Delaware tight end Nick Boyle in my final predraft seven-round Giants mock, and I’m sticking with him in this round.

The Giants tight ends last year were solid but not spectacular. Daniel Fells was the best of the bunch when it came to run blocking, which is an underrated yet important skill for a tight end in this offense.

Boyle has that covered and then some. Standing 6’4” and weighing 268 pounds, he has the size and appears to have sufficient strength to match up against both defensive ends and linebackers.

Boyle, who long-snapped in high school, is also a decent receiver, almost reminiscent of former Giants tight end Kevin Boss, whose speed didn't create major concerns.

Like Boss, however, Boyle is probably someone who can be counted on to convert passes in the short- to medium-yard ranges. He could potentially be that H-back or part-time fullback down the line as he gains more experience.

Round 6

Pick 186: Kenny Bell, WR, Nebraska

I initially had Purdue running back Akeem Hunt in this spot, but I’m going to go back to a player whom I looked at earlier in the process.

That player is Nebraska receiver Kenny Bell (6’1”, 185 lbs), a top performer among receivers at the combine in the vertical jump (41.5 inches), broad jump (129.0 inches) and three-cone drill (6.66 seconds).

Dane Brugler of NFL Draft Scout notes that despite possessing a lanky frame Bell has deceptive speed which often leaves cornerbacks in the dust.

Bell, who has special teams experience as a punt returner, also has good hands and is a decent blocker. While he's in need of a little more bulk, he can be a functional downfield blocker as a rookie.

Bell finished his four-year collegiate career with 181 receptions for 2,689 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed six times for 109 yards and one touchdown.

Round 7

Pick 226: Terry Poole, OL, San Diego State

I’m sticking with San Diego State offensive lineman Terry Poole as one of the Giants’ two seventh-round picks.

At this point, we know that New York addressed offensive tackle with its first-round selection of Ereck Flowers out of Miami.

While the Giants have guys who can play guard—John Jerry, Brett Jones, Dallas Reynolds, Brandon Mosley and Eric Herman are some of the names to watch—other than Jerry, the others haven’t really been able to crack into the lineup despite being in the league for multiple years.

What’s more, if Herman, Mosley and Reynolds haven’t been able to advance in their respective developments, is it realistic to hope that the light switch goes on now?

As for Jones, playing offensive line in the CFL is a little different than the NFL. It remains to be seen how well and how quickly his transition goes.

While Poole (6’5”, 307 lbs), a two-year starter at offensive tackle following his transfer from JUCO, would also be an unknown at this point, his upside is promising.

Poole, whose best position in the NFL will be at guard, was receptive to coaching at the East-West Shrine game, according to Bo Marchionte of NFL Draft Scout.

Round 7

Pick 245 (from Denver): John Crockett, RB, North Dakota State

It probably wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Giants to add another running back to their current group, especially given the pounding that running backs usually take over the course of a season.

Since the Giants have typically rolled the dice in the seventh round on running backs—Ahmad Bradshaw, Da’Rel Scott and Michael Cox are all past seventh-round draft picks for New York—would it be surprising if they use this round to add to the position again?

A good candidate would be North Dakota State’s John Crockett (6’0”, 217 lbs). In 46 games played over three seasons, he rushed 752 times for 4,309 yards (5.7 average), with 41 touchdowns.

He also added 43 receptions for 485 yards and one receiving touchdown to an impressive college career that also saw him double as the kickoff returner.

Crockett’s biggest deficiencies all seem to be correctable through coaching. Dane Brugler of NFL Draft Scout notes that he often plays too high and prefers to try to dart away from would-be tacklers rather than challenge them with power. 

Brugler also notes that Crockett doesn’t consistently break tackles, which might suggest that he doesn’t have a taste for the physical part of the position, but the production potential is certainly there if the Giants want to take a flier on him.

Unless otherwise noted, college stats are via the NFL's draft pack. Draft rankings and projections are via CBSSports.com.  

Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.

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