Giants select two defenders in latest 2022 Touchdown Wire mock draft

In the latest two-round 2022 mock draft from Touchdown Wire, the New York Giants select two defenders and an offensive tackle.

With the 2021 NFL season still a month away, what could football fans be less interested in than a 2022 mock draft? Not so fast. NFL fans and pundits are always looking ahead and would be remiss if they weren’t aware of what was lies ahead on the horizon.

Luke Easterling of Draft Wire recent published his latest two-round 2022 NFL mock draft and for the New York Giants that means three picks. Here’s how Easterling sees things shaking out.

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Round 1, Pick No. 8 – Christian Harris, LB Alabama

Fans have to be concerned if the Giants are picking this high. That means they had another losing season and failed to qualify for the postseason again. If that happens, there’s little chance they answer with a linebacker with their top pick. If they don’t win eight games and/or Daniel Jones shows no improvement, general manager Dave Gettleman will be gone and a new GM will be calling the shots. That would likely mean going in another direction at quarterback. This pick will be used to either draft one or trade for one, possibly Aaron Rodgers.

Round 1, Pick No. 10 (from Chicago) – Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC

Again, this presents an issue. This pick will not be used for a EDGE rusher if the Giants have another losing season. This would also mean that Azzez Ojulari and/or Elerson Smith busted as rookies. This pick will likely be part of a trade to move up in the draft order or in a trade for a veteran QB.

Round 2, Pick No. 40 – Nick Broeker, OT Ole Miss

This pick is contingent on what happens in Round 1. I’m never averse to taking an offensive tackle early in the draft but this selection tells me that one or both Andrew Thomas and Matt Peart busted. That means Gettleman is surely gone and who knows what the new GM has in mind.

I have no issues with the players Easterling has mocked to the Giants but it stands to reason that if they are drafting eighth, they won no more than six games in 2021 and if that happens John Mara is likely to blow this thing up. That would mean eight losing seasons out of the last nine and that just cannot the tolerated. The fans won’t stand for it.

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Giants select two defenders in PFN’s latest 2022 mock draft

In the latest 2022 NFL mock draft from Pro Football Network, the New York Giants select two key defenders.

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Pro Football Network has pounded the drum and beat the dead horse to dust when it comes to New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. They don’t believe in him, they feel the Giants are wasting time and have repeatedly projected a quarterback to Big Blue in the 2022 NFL draft.

However, PFN finally took a much-needed and long-awaited break from that narrative last week during their most recent 2022 mock draft. And while they still took a jab at Jones, they passed on the Giants taking a quarterback.

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Rather, with the seventh overall pick, PFN has the Giants selecting USC edge rusher Drake Jackson.

7. New York Giants: Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC

If the Giants are picking seventh overall, the Daniel Jones experiment failed for likely the last time. However, with the sure-fire QBs off the board, PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator has the G-Men acquiring a top-tier edge defender. Drake Jackson can play the edge, kick inside, stop the run, and rush the passer. What more could you ask for from a top-10 pick?

With their second pick in the first round, acquired in a draft day trade with the Chicago Bears this past April, PFN again has the Giants going back to the defensive well with Alabama linebacker Christian Harris.

10. New York Giants (via Chicago): Christian Harris, LB, Alabama

With two selections in the first 10 picks of this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, the Giants double-dip in the defensive player pool. This time, they draft Alabama linebacker Christian Harris. Outside of Blake Martinez, New York’s linebacking corps is suspect. Adding Harris brings a physical presence in the heart of the defense that has been missing for some time.

If the Giants are again picking inside the top 10, a bunch went wrong. But without knowing what the future holds, grabbing two Day 1 defensive starters would be a huge get.

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Watch: Breakdown of Lions OTAs live from Allen Park

Our Jeff Risdon offers up his thoughts immediately after practice

In lieu of a formal podcast this week at the Detroit Lions Podcast, we decided to change things up a bit. I recorded a quick-hit notebook live from Lions headquarters immediately following Thursday’s practice session that wrapped the first week of OTAs.

These were my initial impressions of the team Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have assembled, with a focus on the physical characteristics since the action on the field was pretty light.

We plan on doing more of this as the offseason progresses. Thanks for watching!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX6KUrWAzjs

Analyzing the Detroit Lions 13-player UDFA class

The Detroit Lions stayed busy after the conclusion of the 2021 NFL Draft by signing 13 UDFAs and we analyze their roster potential

Even though the Lions finished the 2021 NFL Draft with the third to last pick, they stayed busy on the phones signing 13 UDFA to round out their roster.

Here are the 13 players and what they can bring to the table in Detroit

Jonathan Adams, WR, Arkansas State

Adams finished his career at Arkansas State with 2,306 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns, earning the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year award in his senior season. He makes his money by making the tough contested catches, notching 23 contested catches, best in college football, and tied for the lead with 15 deep catches, only behind first-round selection Devonta Smith. He can abuse corners with his massive catch radius and superb body control, making one highlight after another. He does have average speed and lack of consistency leading to 11 dropped passes his senior season–the most in college football–and ran a limited route tree. Even with the negatives against him, he can be a deep threat that wins those 50/50 balls.

The Lions need to stock the wide receiver room, only taking one in the draft in Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth round, but he will mainly be used in the slot. The Lions gave Adams $90,000 in guaranteed money to come to Detroit, so they must feel he has a shot at contributing to the team.

D’Angelo Amos, S, Virginia

Amos was a graduate transfer from James Madison to Virginia, where in his lone season he recorded 47 tackles, three pass breakups, and two interceptions. In an interview, Amos noted that the Lions were interested in him after they initially met him at an All-Star event in Texas in January and had constant contact with the Lions until the draft. Amos has also contacted James Madison alum Dean Marlowe, who the Lions signed this past offseason.

The Lions didn’t address safety in the draft even though it was one of the holes that needed answering; Amos can potentially be a depth piece with a good camp. Also, Amos is a very good return man, returning 1,259 punt yards along with five punt touchdowns, which may be his ticket to making the team.

Tavante Beckett, LB, Marshall

Beckett had a rocky start to begin his collegiate career. After his freshman season, he was dismissed from Virginia Tech, where he was charged with conspiracy to sell and possession of marijuana, but those charges were later dropped. He would transfer to Marshall, where he would earn C-USA Defensive Player of the Year his senior season, finishing the year with 90 tackles and no touchdowns allowed.

He has a strong nose for the football and can sniff through the traffic to find the ball carrier, but unfortunately, he is erratic and misses tackles. With his small stature for a typical linebacker, some see a move to safety will be his best bet to make in the NFL. He is not the most athletic, but there is no denying his playmaking ability, and with coaching, he could carve out a role.

Rakeem Boyd, RB, Arkansas

Boyd is a feel-good story coming of JUCO to find success at Arkansas, where he led the team in rushing in 2018 and 2019 but chose to opt out in 2020 after six games. He is a very patient runner allowing the block to develop and attack the crease making a weapon in the open field. He has to rely on his instincts more due to a lack of finesse and explosiveness. He does have some receiving capabilities, but he has multiple drops in the process and needs to work on his pass protection.

With his straight-line speed capability, he will be best utilized as a role player to get you those few extra yards, but nothing more. The Lions running back room seems set at the moment with Swift, Williams, and Johnson. He will have to compete with seventh-round pick Jermar Jefferson, but even then, that might not be enough to separate himself from the pack.

Jake Hausmann, TE, Ohio State

Hausmann had a lackluster career while with the Buckeyes catching only three passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. He was mostly regulated to special teams and utilized for his blocking. Unfortunately, with the lack of vitals to go off of and his poor testing numbers, it seems like Hausmann is destined as a camp body.

Drake Jackson, C, Kentucky

Jackson was a surprise non-draftee due to his center starting experience with his time at Kentucky earning a starting spot his freshman year while playing 45 straight games. He has strong intelligence, sound hands and can clear lanes going into the second level.

The problem being with Jackson is his size with only 31” arms and 8 ¼ in hands, which hinders his position versatility to guard, putting him as a center-only type player. Now the Lions only have Evan Brown behind Frank Ragnow for center depth, but Jackson is smart and a technician to find a role along the Lions offensive line.

Jerry Jacobs, CB, Arkansas

It was bad timing for Jacobs to solidify his status as a prospect when he tore his ACL in 2019 and then opted out after he transferred to Arkansas putting significant jeopardy to his draft stock. If he continued the trajectory he was on in 2018 when he notched twelve pass breakups and four interceptions while at Arkansas State, it could’ve been a different story. He is a very aggressive player but lacks the fundamentals to utilize his full potential. He will need to get coached to iron out the wrinkles, but the potential is there to turn the corner.

Tommy Kraemer, G, Norte Dame

Kraemer is a versatile offensive lineman seeing time at tackle and guard during his time at Norte Dame, where he started 39 games for the Fighting Irish. He looks like your prototypical guard with strong hands that can control the line of scrimmage from just looking at him. His downfall is his footwork and technique that doesn’t allow him to give off blocks and handle athletic players. He has the grit to make it on the Lions squad that needs guard depth.

Javon McKinley, WR, Norte Dame

McKinley seemed to be on the top of the list of UDFAs the Lions wanted to go after, considering they gave McKinley a cool $100,000 to come to Detroit. It was a rough go for him to start his collegiate career with his long injury list, 2016- Missed 6 games (broken fibula), 2017- Out for the season, 2018-Limited to four games. 2019-Missed the final four games (foot sprain). In his final season, he was able to play the whole season while leading Norte Dame in receiving with 717 yards with three touchdowns.

He wins off of contested catches and strong body control and ball skills. If it weren’t for the injuries, McKinley might have seen better pastures, but he is coming to a Lions receiver squad in desperate need of bodies.

Dedrick Mills, RB, Nebraska

Mills was Nebraska’s leading rusher in 2019, where he rushed for 745 yards, but then he saw his 2020 campaign shorted with injuries but finished the season with 396 yards and three touchdowns. He is very similar to Mills on the profile type with straight-line speed, navigate the gaps, and his ability to make cuts with a strong vision.

On the flip side, he lacks the agility to change direction and top-end speed to get to the next gear once he clears the lanes and also not a strong receiver even though he received targets with the Huskers. If the Lions decided to keep a fourth running back, Mills and Boyd would have to battle it out.

AJ Parker, CB, Kansas State

Parker found a spot as the nickel corner with Kansas State starting every game starting in his sophomore season. Even though he might not be an explosive athlete, he manages to make plays on the ball defending 24 passes along with six interceptions in his career. He can read the offense and get in the passing lanes and off coverage with his strong instincts.

With his size, though, he sometimes has issues getting through blocks to make plays on the ball carrier, which tends to be his downfall. The Lions starting nickel corner is Corn Elder, and if Parker can overcome his shortfalls, he could find his way as a depth player.

Sage Surratt, WR, Wake Forest

During his time at Wake Forest, Surratt lined up inside and outside and before he was sidelined with a shoulder injury includes leading the Power 5 schools with 1,001 yards and eleven touchdowns. He is a massive player at 6’2’ and 209 pounds, and he uses every bit of strength alength to abuse defenders for contested catches.

He won’t be the fastest player on, the field and his route tree is very limited, which might keep him as a big slot and red zone option for the Lions, where he can compete with Quintez Cephus for potential reps.

Brock Wright, TE, Norte Dame

Like Hausmann, Wright saw very limited action during his stint at Norte Dame, catching only seven passes during his four seasons. He mostly got his playing time as a blocking tight end, but he shows he does have the athleticism (9.21 RAS) to ne utilized in the passing game if called upon. It seems Dan Campbell is trying to recreate a version of himself with these two blocking tight ends. If Wright can outshine players down the tight end depth chart, Wright could find his way on the roster.

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Center prospects for Cowboys to consider in each round of 2021 draft

Tim Lettiero reviews seven centers who look to battle for a starting or roster spot in each round in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft.

Travis Frederick’s retirement was a roster travesty, to say the least. One of the most underappreciated players of this generation, he left the Dallas Cowboys with a massive hole right through the heart of the offensive line. While trustworthy Joe Looney stepped in for a bit and did his job, the Cowboys looked elsewhere, drafting Tyler Biadasz in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. Biadasz was solid in the starts he was given but it’s unlikely he’ll be able to live up to the hype of fellow former Wisconsin Badger.

Depending on how the staff viewed Biadasz’ limited reps, there is potential for a new starting center or simply some competition in the near future. Here are some options worth a look in each round of the upcoming draft:

3 USC Trojans named to Bednarik Award watch list

Three USC Trojans defensive players, Jay Tufele, Drake Jackson and Talanoa Hufanga, were named to the Bednarik Award watch list.

In case you were worried attention was only being paid to USC’s offensive players during the preseason award campaign, never fear – three Trojans defensive players; defensive tackle Jay Tufele, defensive tackle Drake Jackson and safety Talanoa Hufanga, were all named to the Bednarik Award watch list – given to the nation’s top defensive player.

Jackson is entering his sophomore season after making the freshman All-American team last year, when he racked up 46 tackles, 11.5 for loss, and 5.5 sacks.

Hufanga was on the All-PAC-12 second team last year after recording 90 tackles, second on the team, along with 7.5 tackles for loss.

Tufele is likely the best bet, as he is cropping up on a handful of first round mock drafts this offseason – with many expecting a breakout campaign in 2020. He was a PAC-12 first teamer in 2019 when he racked up 41 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks.

USC has had one Bednarik Award winner, linebacker Rey Maualuga, who won the award back in 2008.

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