NFL Draft 2012: New York Giants First Round Candidate: Vontaze Burfict

This past week, we started looking at potential players the Giants could draft in April's NFL draft.

The Super Bowl Champion New York Giants have the 32nd and final pick of the first round, so they will have to wait until the very end of the night until they can use their pick.

The first guy we looked at this week was Dwayne Allen, a tight end from Clemson.

This time, we look at defense and a potential playmaker.

When people look at Vontaze Burfict, some have compared him to Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens and even former Giants Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor.

A 6'3", 250 pound junior from Arizona State, Burfict is one of the top linebacker prospects that will be a part of the draft.

His size, speed and natural, raw talent alone should translate very well into the NFL and for any team looking to draft an inside linebacker.

In his junior year, Burfict had 69 total tackles, 40 solo, five sacks and one interception for the Sun Devils.

In many of his scouting reports, the one knock on Burfict is that they feel he is an "undisciplined" player. But then again, at one time, many felt LT was too, and he changed the game at linebacker.

At age 21, most rookies might seem undisciplined. They're still young and they don't know any better. If any coach can teach discipline, it's definitely Tom Coughlin, whose reputation is built on making players more disciplined.

In many mock drafts that I looked at, some had Burfict getting taken three picks ahead by the Baltimore Ravens.

But then I also saw others seeing the Ravens drafting offensive line and in particular, a center, so it's no guarantee the Ravens draft an heir for Lewis' position.

In 2011, linebacker was a position the Giants struggled with. Jonathan Goff and Clint Sintim both missed the entire season; Greg Jones, Mark Herzlich and Jacquian Williams played a lot of time as rookies and they had to sign Chase Blackburn back, who was becoming a substitute school teacher while away from football.

If the Giants wanted to draft a linebacker that would make a major impact, Burfict could definitely be their guy.

In recent drafts, the Giants have selected other positions on defense with their first-round pick: Mathias Kiwanuka, Jason Pierre-Paul, Aaron Ross, William Joseph and Prince Amukamara, to name a few.

They haven't drafted a linebacker with a first-round pick in quite some time, going all the way back to the 1981 NFL Draft, when they did take Taylor with the second overall pick, and we know how that worked out for the Giants.

It's been a while since the Giants had a true playmaker-type linebacker on defense. Antonio Pierce was a solid leader, but you really have to go back to Jesse Armstead as the last playmaker-type linebacker the Giants had.

If the Giants draft Burfict with the 32nd pick, they would have an impact player who tackles very well and has very good speed to chase players down.

His coverage ability could use some work, but that's what professional coaching is paid to do.

Giants general manager Jerry Reese has a few choices he could go with when his team's turn comes up in April.

But will Burfict still be on the board by the time the Giants are picking?

And if so, would the Giants take him?

Only time will tell.