Giants 2013 Mock Draft: Predictions for Day 2 and Beyond

With their first selection in the 2013 NFL draft (pick No. 19), the New York Giants selected Syracuse OL Justin Pugh. You can find my analysis/grade of the pick here, and read about how Pugh fits in with Big Blue here.

During my final seven-round mock draft for the G-Men, I wrote about how I believed the Giants' two pressing needs were to improve the pass rush and the offensive line. 

The selection of Pugh addressed the offensive line, and I expect the Giants to address their pass rush on Day 2.

While I believe that's the direction the team will go in, I certainly acknowledge that the Giants could easily draft a cornerback like Jamar Taylor, or a linebacker like Kevin Minter or Arthur Brown.

But given their need to address the pass rush, their next pick is a no-brainer:

Round 2, No. 49: Florida State DE Tank Carradine

This would be an absolute steal for the Giants, as Tank Carradine possesses first-round talent, but he is coming off a torn ACL in the Seminoles' season finale against Florida.

For those saying that Carradine can't fall to the Giants at 49? I've been hearing differently and so has Ralph Vacchiano of the NY Daily News, who tweeted that an insider told him that the Giants have been eyeing Carradine in the second round.

Carradine is a bit of a risk coming off the injury, but he's one worth taking, especially at pick No. 49. He'd team with Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka to form a pass rush capable of terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.

Round 3, No. 81: Oregon ILB Kiko Alonso

Ah, linebacker: the bane of the average Giants fan's existence.

Perusing Big Blue's depth at the position is an exercise in frustration. Keith Rivers, Dan Connor and Jacquian Williams are currently listed as the starters. That's a bit of an issue.

As I've written previously, the team can overcome issues in the back seven with a dynamite pass rush, so I think Big Blue will wait until Round 3 to fill their pressing need at linebacker.

I'm a huge fan of Oregon's ILB Kiko Alonso. He's been overshadowed a bit by teammate Dion Jordan throughout the draft process, but Alonso is a stud prospect in his own right.

The Giants need youth and athleticism in their linebacking corps, and Alonso can make the thumping hit.

Round 4, No. 116: Georgia S Bacarri Rambo

I originally mocked Florida RB Mike Gillislee in this spot, but after going back and forth, I've changed my mind.

I'm now projecting the Giants to draft Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo with their fourth-round selection.

Rambo has terrific hands and is an opportunistic playmaker, but he isn't the best tackler. He also possesses one of the best names in the entire draft.

I think Rambo would be a good fit in the Giants three-man rotation at safety, along with Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown.

Round 5, No. 152: Penn State OLB Gerald Hodges

In Round 3, the Giants grabbed an inside linebacker in Oregon's Kiko Alonso. In Round 5, I project them to take an outside linebacker: Penn State's Gerald Hodges.

Hodges is a tackling machine (109 tackles last year as a senior) who has the coverage skills needed to succeed in today's pass-happy NFL.

While Hodges is more of a steady player rather than a star, the Giants don't need their linebackers to be all-world type players. Hodges is reliable, can cover the tight end and would provide the Giants with sorely needed depth at the position.

Round 6, No. 187: Miami (Fla.) CB Brandon McGee

The Giants have their two starters-of-the-future at cornerback on the roster already: Prince Amukamara and Jayron Hosley.

With Aaron Ross back after a year in Jacksonville, Corey Webster re-signed and Terrell Thomas back in the fold, I don't believe the Giants will address the position in the early rounds.

With that said, the Big Blue definitely need to add a corner during the draft, and the sixth round is where I project it will happen, with Miami's Brandon McGee.

McGee has good size (5'11") and speed (4.38 40-yard dash at the combine), and while his cover skills aren't elite (hence his sixth-round projection), I believe he'd be a steal at pick 187.

Round 7, No. 225: Florida OG James Wilson

With their first of two seventh-round picks, the Giants go back to the offensive line and take a player who I consider to be a major sleeper: Florida guard James Wilson.

Wilson (6'3", 320 pounds) played well against tough competition in the SEC and would provide depth in the interior of the Giants' offensive line.

Round 7, No. 253: Syracuse WR Alec Lemon

The Giants are pretty much set at wide receiver. 

I expect the team to sign Victor Cruz to team with Hakeem Nicks, in order to form one of the best one-two punches at wide receiver in the NFL.

Add last year's second-round pick Rueben Randle, along with free-agent acquisition Louis Murphy and Jerrel Jernigan, and it's a pretty solid corps.

But the team can always use another receiver in case of injury. Syracuse's Alec Lemon was a consistent player for the Orange (201 total catches) and would be a value pick at this spot. He'd join teammate Justin Pugh in New York.