In the latest NFL.com mock draft, analyst Chad Reuter has New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman doing something very uncharacteristic — trading back in the first round.
In Gettleman’s seven trips to the NFL Draft table, he’s never traded back. This year, with his pick — No. 4 overall — a hot ticket, he’ll be getting some offers to move back, and he’s going to have break precedent and pull the trigger.
In Reuter’s three-round mock, Gettleman flips picks in the first round with No. 5 Miami, picking up a second-round pick this year and a mid-rounder next year.
With the fifth pick, Reuter projects Gettleman will select massive Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton after Miami takes Oregon quarterback at No. 4. The first three players Reuter sees being selected are LSU quarterback Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals), Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa (Washington Redskins) and Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young (Detroit Lions).
Becton over Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons? Why not? He’s a surer bet. Simmons might be the sexier pick here, but Becton fills a more pressing need and he’s do big and athletic he’ll be hard to pass up. Personally, I would have held out for one of Miami’s other two first-round picks (No. 18 or 26) instead of a second rounder.
In Round 2 at No. 36, the Giants snatch up Wisconsin edge rusher Zack Baun and Utah defensive tackle Leki Fotu at No. 56.
Defense, defense, defense. They need defense. Can’t really argue with this. Baun comes from a long list of solid Badger defenders and Fotu is a 6-foot-5, 335-pound specimen who ran a 5.15 40 at the Combine.
In Round 3, the Giants don’t have their pick (No. 68) having foolishly forked it over the Jets in the Leonard Williams deal, but Reuter has Big Blue grabbing Louisiana Tech cornerback Amik Robertson with the 101st pick, which is scheduled to be awarded to them when the league announces the compensatory draft picks.
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