New York Giants Rush 2016 Draft: Full Mock Draft
By Michael Stewart
The New York Giants will be embarking on a very important draft in 2016. What makes this draft slightly more important than years past is that this will be the 1st draft without Tom Coughlin since 2004.
Also, this draft could define the end of GM Jerry Reese’s tenure with the Giants. Many fans, sports writers wondered why Giants ownership only fired Coughlin and not Reese as well. Perhaps it was that they didn’t want to totally dismantle the team’s two top personal positions at the same time. Or maybe the Giants felt that GM Jerry Reese listened to Tom Coughlin when deciding on draft selections too much.
You can come up with your own conclusion as to why Reese is still the Giants GM; perhaps this is his last chance to make things right and to turn the Giants around. I believe that if Reese doesn’t have a successful season (free agent signings, draft, UDFA) and the Giants once again miss the playoffs. Reese will be let go and the search for a new GM will be the Giants #1 priority for 2017-18 season. With that being said; I have put together two mock drafts, Jerry Reese and mine.
GM Jerry Reese Selections
1st round: Vernon Hargreaves III (CB) Florida: Despite the signing of Janoris Jenkins to pair up with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the Giants CB position is rather thin and if history tells us anything; it’s Jerry Reese’s infatuation of drafting a CB within the 1st two rounds during his Tenure (4-tied with WR for the most). Hargreaves III is a playmaker and from every scouting report I’ve read and films I’ve watched on him; he is the real deal. This wouldn’t be a bad pick, but certainly the one I wouldn’t make. Alternate Pick: Laquon Treadwell (WR) Ole Miss 6’2/221
2nd round: Michael Thomas (WR) Ohio State 6’3/212: Big WR that will compliment OBJ on the field. Thomas not only would be effective in the red zone; also between the 20 yard lines as well. Thomas played in offense at Ohio State that didn’t feature a premiere passing attack to utilize his true talents. Alternate Pick: Jalen Mills (FS) LSU 6’0/191
3rd round: Jerald Hawkins (OT) LSU 6’6/305: Hawkins has long arms and shows good awareness against the blitzes. Very athletic, but needs to get stronger in the upper body. With some hard work, Hawkins could emerge as a starting OT within 2 years. Alternate Pick: C. J Prosise (RB) Notre Dame 6’0/220
4th round: Hassan Ridgeway (DT) Texas 6’3/303: Ridgeway possesses three qualities you like to see in a DT (Power, Athleticism and Instincts). Needs to refine his technique, but would fit in well with the Giants rotational DL. Alternate Pick: Scooby Wright III (MLB) Arizona 6’0/239
5th round: Sean Davis (FS) Maryland 6’1/201: Another hard hitting FS for the Giants as Davis can play CB or FS and has excellent downfield coverage ability; which the Giants need. Alternate Pick: Daryl Worley (CB) West Virginia 6’1/204
6th round: Keith Marshall (RB) Georgia 5’11/219: Marshall did very well at the combine (4.37 dash) and (25 reps on the bench press), the combination of power and speed. Alternate Pick: Avery Young (OT/OG) Auburn 6’5/328
My Selections
1st round: Reggie Ragland (ILB) Alabama 6’1/247: Could this be the year the Giants draft a LBer in the 1st round (last time was in 1984-Carl Banks). Ragland has all the ingredients (high football IQ and tons of talent) to be the Giants MLB for the next decade. I’m a firm believer in loading up your defensive front 7 and Ragland would be a good start. Alternate Pick: Shaq Lawson (DE) Clemson 6’3/269
2nd round: Emmanuel Ogbah (DE) Oklahoma State 6’4/273: Adding another DE to strengthen the Giants front 7 on defense will make the rest of the defense better. Ogbah could slip to round 2, if so he will be a great addition to the DL and a suitable replacement if the Giants don’t re-sign JPP. Alternate Pick: Artie Burns (CB) Miami (Fla) 6’0/193
3rd round: Maliek Collins (DT) Nebraska 6’2/311: Not a power DT like Hankins or Harrison, but Collins would bring a different dimension to the Giants interior DL of quickness and agility. Had a better 2014 season than 2015, but there’s enough information on Collins to see that he would add interior pressure for the Giants. Alternate Pick: T. J Green (FS) Clemson 6’2/209
4th round: Charone Peake (WR) Clemson 6’2/209: Combination of size and speed will be a great #2 WR for the Giants opposite OBJ. Could emerge as a steal in the later rounds. Alternate Pick: Sebastian Tretola (OG) Arkansas 6’5/340
5th round: DeAndre Houston-Carson (FS) William & Mary 6’1/201: Played both FS and CB in college and has the speed to stay with WR in coverage and also a lethal weapon on special teams. Alternate Pick: Keyarris Garrett (WR) Tulsa 6’4/207
6th round: Willie Beavers (OT) Western Michigan 6’5/321: Good size and athleticism to play either tackle position. Played well against projected 1st & 2nd round DE in 2015; just needs to work on technique as he possesses all the physical tools. Beavers could go earlier in perhaps round 5. Alternate Pick: Aaron Green (RB) TCU 5’11/203
Ever since Jerry Reese became the GM for the Giants, projecting mock drafts for the Giants has been difficult. Reese has been very good not showing his hand during the weeks leaning up to the draft. When assessing the mock draft for Jerry Reese, I relied on his history on draft day as secondary and WR’s were the primary targets for him through the 1st two rounds. I can’t see Reese passing on drafting an OT,OG,DL, CB, FS, RB or WR.. I think he will pass on the TE, QB, SS, LBer and OC positions.
When selecting my picks, I wanted to think outside the box; which is something that Reese has never done throughout his tenure with the Giants. Despite the Giants investing a large portion of their cap space on three main defensive players (Jenkins, Oliver and Harrison);
I would still invest my 1st three picks (which I did) on the defensive front 7 simply because history tells us that the last two Super Bowl victories by the Giants (both against the New England Patriots) was mostly due to their dominant front 7 on defense. Through rounds 4-6 I wanted players that were very productive in college, but also had good character and displayed good work ethic. Adding depth is as important as adding projected starters to your team.