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The NFL Draft is just 11 days away and we’ve seen almost everything when it comes to mock drafts.
In Draft Wire’s latest three-round mock by Luke Easterling, four defensive players — edge rushers Travon Walker, Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux along with cornerback Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner — are gobbled up in the first hour of the draft.
The New York Giants, selecting No. 5 overall, swoop in grab Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal.
Even if Andrew Thomas pans out at left tackle, the Giants need an upgrade on the other side, especially if they want to get the most out of Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. Neal is a massive mauler with impressive athleticism for his size, and might immediately be the best offensive lineman on the roster.
After the Carolina Panthers take Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett at No. 6, the Giants are on the clock again and land a pass rusher of their own in Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson II at No. 7.
While Kyle Hamilton might get consideration here, the Giants opt for the more premium position, landing one of this year’s most promising edge defenders in a deep class. Johnson backed up his impressive film with a dominant week at the Senior Bowl, and a stellar performance at the NFL Scouting Combine.
In the second round, Easterling mocks Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker, a player that could conceivably walk right out on the field and start next to Xavier McKinney, to the Giants.
In Round 3, Easterling has the Giants filling two other needs with UCLA tight end Greg Dulcich at No. 67 and Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal at No. 81.
If the Giants walk away with these five players in the first three rounds it would be considered a killing. All five could end up being impact players as rookies. But this is a pretty deep draft at many positions and with five picks in the top 81, the Giants are in the driver’s seat to upgrade their sagging roster no matter who falls them next week.
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