The smoke has somewhat cleared and I think I am ready to submit this year’s Atypical Familia’s Light it up Big Blue 6 round 2016 Mock Draft.
This is a post written by Joseph Fontanez aka Atypical Dad.
I’ve listened and read what the sports pundits have had to say. I’ve done my research and have to admit…I have no clue what The New York Giants are going to do. Leading up to this draft there were two moves that have reshaped the order of mock drafts everywhere. St. Louis trading up with Tennessee for the first pick of the draft. And Philadelphia trading up with Cleveland for the second pick. Barring any more trades (fat chance of that) who may and will drop down to the Giants could result in some interesting options.
Light It Up Big Blue 6 Round 2016 Mock Draft
Round 1 Darron Lee OLB Ohio State University
Before the trades and before the knee issues affecting two prime Giants’ draft candidates Jaylon Smith and Myles Jack, who by the way would have been long gone by the the time The Giants pick if both were healthy, I had one and only one player in my mind that would help address a couple of issues on defense. In a league where the prototypical linebacker is not so prototypical Lee has the speed and athleticism to be the difference maker the Giants have lacked at the position for some time. He’s sort of a poor man’s Myles Jack. While Lee might not solve the issues at middle linebacker that seem to have been plaguing the Giants since Antonio Pierce retired, he does fit as a weak side linebacker that can cover running backs or tight ends in space. Maybe the days of the wide open tight end in the seam might become a thing of the past. He could also be called upon to cover the slot and be used as a hybrid safety/linebacker which is becoming more and more commonplace in the league. I thought Reggie Ragland might have fit here but I don’t think the Giants would use a Top Ten pick on a player who potentially could be only a two down player.
Round 2 Taylor Decker OT Ohio State University
Another Buckeye for The GMen and at a position of need. Since having been destroyed by Khalil Mack his sophomore year Decker has since rebounded and become one of the best offensive lineman in this draft. Picking up Big 10 lineman of the year in 2015 he fought through being part of someone else’s highlight reel and turned it around to be one of the more highly touted tackles in this draft. His frame and his nastiness would be just what the Giants need on the right side of the line, and would go a long way in getting the ground game going in the right direction. I don’t know about you, but I would be intrigued in seeing the Decker vs Mack rematch.
Round 3 Jordan Payton WR UCLA
A possession receiver with better than average hands Payton would be the perfect receiver to complement Odell Beckham on the opposite side of the field. He ran a 4.47 at the combine showing that he does have speed but he’s not necessarily a burner. But it’s his ability to create after the catch and play in space is what is appealing about him. It would take pressure off OBJ and if Victor Cruz comes back healthy would create a three headed, pick your poison, wide receiver tandem.
Round 4 Tyler Matakevich ILB Temple
This name has popped up a few times in other mock drafts that I have seen and I wanted to avoid picking him, but the more I watched his highlights and the more I learned about Matakevich the more I feel that if he is available The Giants have to scoop him up here. There are gifted athletes in this draft, physically freakish athletes, and football players. This guy is a football player. Not physically gifted Matakevich used his football IQ and vision to always be around the ball. His work ethic paid off and attributed to his winning both The Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik awards. Labeled as underrated and overachieving he reminds me a lot of Chris Borland when he was coming out of Wisconsin. Each have similar builds and similar resumes. He would compete for the starting ILB position immediately. I just hope the Giants don’t pass up on him like they did Borland. Unexpected retirement notwithstanding.
Round 5 Jonathan Jones CB Auburn
This might be wishful thinking because as Rich Eisen said, “He can fly”, and cornerbacks that run 4.3 40s usually don’t last this long. But what could have him drop this far is the fact that he is only 5’9″ tall. He however plays bigger than his height,(Where have I heard that before? Jayron Hosley I’m looking at you) and is a ball hawk that could be the slot corner the Giants have been looking for while adding depth at the position.
Round 6 Nick Vannett TE Ohio State University
And it’s a Buckeye trifecta. And why not. You cannot argue with the talent that is produced from that school and getting Vannett here would go a long way in adding to the Giants tight end depth. With Will Tye as their starter and health concerns with Larry Donnell, adding Vannett would help solidify this unit and in time he may supplant Tye as the starter once he becomes more familiar with The Giants playbook.
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