Light it up BIG BLUE – New York Giants Five Round Mock Draft

So good day football fans. This year I would like present the first annual

Light It Up BIG Blue – Atypical Familia

Some of these picks may look familiar to those who have perused other online mock drafts, as I have, but I would like to think my approach comes from a pragmatic angle, while at the same time having a little fun with the what if’s that only a rabid fan can think of. So without any further delay let’s light this Giants Mock Draft up Big Blue.

Round 1: Brandon Scherff OL Iowa

Now I know what you ar thinking, “This is the consensus first round pick on the majority of mock drafts online.” And while this may be true I did say I was going to approach this from a pragmatic angle and this pick just makes way too much sense. Scherff’s combination of strength and versatility are just too good to pass up at this point. The Giants need a road grader and versatile lineman with a little bit of nasty in the trenches. And this guy checks off all of those boxes. His weight room work ethic and Gregor Clegane like strength makes him the epitome of a trench warrior. I’m sure the label “Coughlin Guy” won’t be far off.

Round 2: Benardrick McKinney ILB MSU

At 6’4″ 244 lbs. McKinney possesses the size and frame of a prototypical 4-3 Middle Linebacker. His pass rushing ability may allow Spags to play him out of position on certain downs primarily as a pass rusher. Also his length in coverage could also help, and maybe the dreaded Tight End seam pass that has plagued the Giants for a better part of a century may finally be able to be covered. Paired up with last year’s Linebacking revelation Devon Kennard we could be looking at part of a future Linebacking corps that could be patrolling from sideline to sideline for years to come.

Round 3: Paul Dawson OLB TCU

What? Another linebacker? In back to back rounds? Why would this make any sense? Well remember when I was saying way back when about having a Linebacking corps of the future? The Giants off-season acquisitions are only stop gaps and the Giants really need to start looking at the future. Why Dawson when his combine numbers were not so impressive? You cannot teach football instincts and this guy has them. His college productivity was better than any of the Linebackers in the draft and most aren’t as versatile. And I remember a certain Vontaze Burfict who had a lousy combine and who went on to become a Pro Bowler. I can see the same happening with Dawson.

Round 4: Kurtis Drummond S MSU

Drafting from a position of depth and need the Giants would do well with this pick. Having shared the field the with cornerbacks Darqueze Dennard and Trae Waynes, Drummond has benefited from having quality corners to play with. But do not think that he is not a quality safety option at this point of the draft. Having played four years, this Spartan is a rangy type safety and a solid tackler with loads of game experience. The Giants could do worse than picking the Big 10 Defensive Back of the year. He won’t start day one, but he’ll definitely be in the mix by midseason.

Round 5: Nick O’Leary TE FSU

Standing 6’3″ and weighing 252 pounds O’Leary possesses the size and build of your more prototypical pass catching tight ends. An adequate blocker in college O’Leary served as a reliable safety valve for Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston. Having a knack for finding the open areas on the field O’Leary won’t make anyone forget about Mark Bavaro but he will certainly remind you more of a combination Kevin Boss and Jake Ballard with better hands. Between O’Leary and last year’s first-round pick out of FSU and current Carolina Panther Kelvin Benjamin they both played a big part in helping Jameis Winston capture his Heisman with some of the circus catches they came down with. His blue-collar style of playing football would make him an immediate fan favorite and right off the bat he would be a “Coughlin guy.”