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I doubt the Giants give him a multi-year deal. But a Nicks-Cruz-Randle-Murphy-Jerningan-Edelman WR corps has elite talent and depth. I'd like it.

Don't get me wrong, I think Jordan can become a very good DE, but I think right now he would be best utilized as a 34 OLB or 43 SLB. He just needs to work on his pass rush moves and get stronger if he wants to hold up for 16+ games.

All of these moves for QBs by the Redskins makes me wonder if they are more worried about RG3's recovery than they are putting into the media. If this guy is supposed to be back by the start of the year, why have they signed Rex Grossman AND Pat White, as well as having Cousins on the roster? Seems a little fishy...

Good deal. Solid depth. DT seems like one of the deeper positions on the roster right now with Linval, Jenkins, Patterson, Rogers, Austin, and Kuhn (thinking PUP)

I'm a fan of his, for depth purposes only. He's a reliable special teams player who can come in and play in the slot.

I haven't looked over the whole thing, but the first thing that caught my eye was you calling Dion Jordan a premier pass rusher. The thing is, arguably the weakest part of his game right now is his pass rushing abilities. He is a perfect SAM in a 43 because of his experience in coverage. He's got fluid hips and is basically what the Giants thought Kiwi would be plus more. He can do it all. A swiss-army knife. I'd list him as a LB. I highly doubt Warmack goes top 10, especially at 6. Cleveland has a solid OL right now and doesn't need to invest in it with a top 10 pick. Supposedly Jarvis Jones has been overhyped all along, I think his ceiling is 17 to the Steelers and he could make it to the 2nd round. Star is going to be picked before 14. His medical concerns have been cleared and he looks like a top 5 pick again. Ansah is great value at 15, but doesn't fit with the Saints. They changed to a 34 and have young OLBs they plan on trying out as pass rushers. Ansah is more of a 43 DE or 34 DE rather than a 34 OLB Can't see Fluker going before Cooper. The talent difference between the two is significant. Would be ECSTATIC if Sheldon Richardson fell to 19. Would be an absolutely perfect complement with Linval. Richardson is #1 on my realistic big board for the Giants. I don't see how Austin drops out of the top 17 or so. He's got elite talent and the hype for him is unbelievable. Highly doubt Green Bay goes with Lacy. NO WAY Montgomery is a first round pick. No way, no how. Overall, I think this was well done and you put a lot of time into. Some small refinements and this could be great. Good job! Sorry for the criticism.

The Giants should really look into Kevin Minter. He was thought to be a 1st rounder at the beginning of the draft process, but it's now more widely known that he is viewed as a 2nd-3rd round prospect. He's been compared to Antonio Pierce, and is a great run stuffer. He's got the athleticism to go sideline-to-sideline. His coverage needs improvement, but he's a similar player to Te'o without the hype and more experience as a leader on one of the best defenses in the country (LSU).

April Fools joke, I assume...

There's a 0.00000000001% chance the Giants draft Te'o in the first. In fact, I highly doubt they draft a LB in the first at all. They haven't seen 1984. Te'o doesn't fit as a first rounder because he would only be a two-down player for this defense. You don't draft two-down defenders in the first. I'd take him in the 2nd or 3rd, but reluctantly. There's just a bunch of better LBs in FA and in the draft than Te'o.

Honestly, it's a parallel move. Dan Connor is someone who the Giants were rumored to be interested in during the draft process. They got him for as cheap as they possibly could. Pointing at his stats from last year are irrelevant because he was out of position in a 34 and a backup to Sean Lee and Bruce Carter before their injuries. Connor was solid for the Panthers, who play a 43 defense. Both Connor and Chase are two-down LBs at this point, so as long as they stop the run they do their job. I loved Chase as a player for the Giants, but he got a multi-year deal somewhere else when he wasn't going to get anything over the minimum for the Giants. Both should be considered stop-gab LBs at this point, but Connor has more potential.

NP, I was just linking the story because I googled it. No big deal...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/fashion/weddings/rebecca-helwig-and-will-beatty-vows.html?pagewanted=all

I'm almost positive Beatty just got married recently. As for Giants, or in this case a former Giant, I think Travis Beckum may have been.

I think Hightower would be a great addition. He is one of the best pass protection RBs in the league, and is also a great receiver out of the backfield. If his knee is 100% (it's been a year and a half) he would be a perfect 3rd down back. Replaces two of Bradshaws best attributes and we can still give Wilson and Brown the majority of the carries.

I'd take Brown over Te'o too. Fits better with what the Giants do on defense.

I hope you are right. The cheaper, the better. But the only way they get him that cheap is if they get it done before the season starts. Nicks is gonna go off in a contract year. We don't want to get caught paying $11m or more.

I highly doubt the Giants restructure a deal. That would raise his cap hit to above $20m for the next two seasons after this year. The more likely scenario is Eli adding years onto his deal, even if they are voidable. This could spread his cap hit over more years and free up some space. But whether it happens or not, you gotta love Eli for being so willing give himself a paycut to help retain a teammate. Such a team player. Anything under $10m a year would be a steal for Nicks. That's why I think they need to get a deal done with him now. His value is as low as it has been for his entire career.

The list I pulled was just from what I saw when scrolling through twitter. I've seen plenty of experts with him as a first round grade. The major complication is how well he performs at his workout. I'd love to be able to grab him in the 2nd like you mentioned, I just don't see that happening. The ACL is a major factor when it comes to his draft status, but it's not like the Giants have never drafted anyone high who had a previous knee injury. As for the Gholston-Carradine, I wasn't comparing the actual players, just the roles I see them fitting in the NFL. I don't see a 4-3 team drafting Gholston to play DE when he fits better in a 3-4, IMO. I have a feeling that all of the DTs I would draft at 19 (Floyd, Star, Richardson) will be gone. There will also be a run on pass rushers (Ziggy, Jordan, Werner, Jones, Mingo) gone by 19. At least, this is just the way I see it. I'd love to be able to trade down and still get Tank later in the first. I think this would also be a great idea in order to grab Arthur Brown and gain some picks. As for at the 19th pick, I'd love to get either of the guards. Warmack would be a great anchor in the running game and Cooper would just be a stud all around the line. I love the fact that Cooper can play center, because I don't know how much longer I can put up with Baas. I wouldn't mind Trufant either, but with Miami and Tampa Bay severely needing CBs, I'm worried they might not be there. We also already have solid depth at CB. There isn't much room on the depth chart for playing time. I'm almost certain the first round pick is going to be a DE. Maybe someone great slips, but I honestly don't think Tank would be a reach at 19. I'd love some OL help, but it's much easier to find help there than it is DE later in the draft.

Of the five safeties you mentioned, I really don't feel completely comfortable starting any of them. Rolle and Stevie are below-average in coverage, and Hill is very unproven. Mundy and Sash are essentially just special teams players who can play as an in-the-box safety. Any other role and they will be exposed. Honestly, out of the five, I'd say that Will Hill is the only one who I can see being a starter on this team in three years. I think the Giants have more depth at CB than S with Webby-Prince-Hosley-Ross-T2. That's a formidable group with solid depth and players with starting experience across the board. Not a huge fan of Alford. I like him, but he is being hyped off of his forty time and I don't like the fact that he played against worse competition in college. Not a fan of Nico Johnson for the Giants. Nico seems like he would fit best as a 3-4 thumper, not in the middle of a 4-3 defense where you need to run sideline-to-sideline and be asked to cover TEs and RBs constantly. Nico may be pro-ready, just not for this scheme. I was actually debating between Thornton and Winters with my pick. I ultimately went Winters because I feel like he has higher potential and the Giants have set up a pre-draft meeting with him. I'd be ecstatic with either in the 5th round though. I think people should really lighten up to the idea of safety in the draft. Maybe not the first round, but there is tons of great safety talent in this draft. Rolle is entering his 4th year of a 5 year deal, and Stevie is going to be a FA after this year. Giants need to make moves at this position because there isn't two future starters on this roster right now. One late-round S prospect who has gotten a ton of attention today is Cooper Taylor. He's 6'4", 230 lbs, ran somewhere between 4.45-4.55 in today's pro-day, and had a faster 3-cone drill than Milliner. Could be a steal late. I haven't put any research into him, but intriguing prospect. I actually wasn't going for a bold prediction at all at 19. I've seen at least 4 different mock drafts with the Giants going Tank at this point, and I've felt like he'd be the pick at 19 for almost a month now. It's just too perfect of a fit. I think he is a 1st round pick undoubtedly, as long as his full workout on April 20th goes as well as planned. I'm going to attach some quotes to some passages I've read about Tank today. His 32 reps at the pro day has really gotten scouts to start talking about him, and many think he could be the best 4-3 DE in this class if healthy. I'd take him over any DE in this class. Yes, that means Ziggy and Werner too. I don't really care what Mayock thinks because nobody can get a full evaluation of him as a prospect until that workout a month from now. I bet if he runs a sub-4.85 and looks good in position drills, everyone is going to move him into their top three at the position. 4-3 DEs and 3-4 DEs have completely different values in this league, so comparing him to Gholston has no substance. I'll guarantee you that Tank goes before Montgomery. 0% chance that happens. 19 is a spot where I am not completely sure Tank will still be around. This kid is a top 10 pick if healthy, and he is still a very raw football player. As much potential as Ziggy, IMO. Anyways, here are the thoughts on Tank that I spoke of earlier: - @SC_DougFarrar

I've been putting this thing together for about a week. I usually try to do one player a day to get one of these done. But yeah, definitely time-consuming. I haven't watched all of those videos either, I watched some and just linked all I saw relevant. Most of comments are just a collection from my knowledge of watching, and websites like nfl.com & cbssports.com.

That's a terrible rule. What if the Giants were to lose Nicks, Cruz, Tuck, etc. next year and just sign some veteran minimum deals in return? They would just receive 7th rounders? That's some BS, IMO.

Funny because I posted this mock on another forum I frequent and they loved the draft but hated safety in the 3rd. I think Swearinger is the real deal. Probably my favorite safety in the draft. Kid brings it all to the table. Inter-changeable and can play deep or in the box. Also, remember that Stevie Brown is going to be a free agent next year. Giants are going to be in the market for a safety whether its Stevie, a FA, a draft pick, or possible bring KP back (one can only hope, lol). I definitely do not want anything to do with Lattimore, especially in the 3rd. I love him as a person, but two knee injuries basically kill all the hope I have for him. The 3rd round is such a crucial draft pick that you can't risk it on a player like him. Sorry other mock drafters, didn't mean to raise the bar like that. I don't expect you to put as much effort into that, because it was probably too much. I just wanted to add the highlight videos to win some people over on prospects, like you are with Swearinger. Appreciate the positive feedback.

How did it equal out to just one pick? We lost three people who signed above the veteran minimum and only signed one ourselves (Bennett)

I don't know if anyone else posts mock drafts, but it's one of my favorite things to do in the offseason. While this is probably my 7th or 8th mock of the offseason, this is my first here. Hope you guys enjoy! 1. Cornelius "Tank" Carradine Position: Defensive End School: Florida State Height: 6'4" Weight: 274 lbs. Forty Time: N/A Bench Press: 28 reps Vertical: N/A Highlights: ; ; ; vs. Miami (2012) ; vs. Duke (2012) ; Comments: I know everyone compares Ziggy Ansah to JPP, but the true comparison is Tank Carradine. He excelled in junior college for a few years, and was given a starting spot at FSU because of injury. From the moment he got his opportunity, he took advantage of it. He's explosive off the snap with very strong hands. Uses his leverage well to get past OTs. Great motor who hustles from sideline-to-sideline. Has a wide variety of pass rushing moves in his arsenal. While he lacks experience against major competition, it is easy to realize that he is the most talented pass rusher in this draft class. Why isn't he considered a top 10 pick? He tore his ACL in November. While this is a major injury concern, he is supposedly months ahead of schedule and plans on having a workout for NFL teams before the draft. This kid is a freak athlete that would be a perfect complement to JPP and strike fear in offenses around the league. 2. Kyle Long Position: Offensive Tackle/Guard School: Oregon Height: 6'6" Weight: 313 lbs. Forty Time: 4.94 seconds Bench Press: N/A Vertical: 28 inches Highlights: ; ; Comments: First of all, Long's got the bloodlines to suceed in the NFL. His brother is Chris Long, DE for the Rams, and his father is hall-of-famer Howie Long. Kyle is a multi-sport athlete, having received a scholarship from FSU for baseball and was drafted by the White Sox. He has som experience playing DE early in his collegiate career. He's definitely got the size to play both on the exterior and interior of the offensive line. Good lower-body strength and flexibility will help him translate to OT at the next level. Explodes out of his stance, knocking DEs back immediately. Excellent mobility will allow for pulls and screen plays. He is still new to the sport and position, so he is quite raw. Tends of overextend, which causes loss of balance. Tendency to lunge at players. Has the athleticism and potential to be a Pro-Bowler on the offensive line, but will need some coaching help. I think he translates best as a RT in the NFL, but could also be an effective guard. Reminds me of Brandon Albert from the Chiefs. May not start right away, but I can definitely see a place for him on this line a year from now. 3. D.J. Swearinger Position: Safety School: South Carolina Height: 5'10" Weight: 208 lbs. Forty Time: 4.67 seconds Bench Press: 17 reps Vertical: 37 inches Highlights: Ultimate Highlights ; ; ; ; ; vs. UAB (2012) ; Comments: Four year starter and captain of the defense at South Carolina. Has played CB, FS, SS, and slot CB in college so he is versatile. High-motor player who plays downhill. Delivers vicious hits that may be flagged in the NFL. Will scare WRs from running routes over the middle of the field. Can play in-the-box or as a deep safety. Loves to contribute in run support. Effective blitzer and does a great job shedding blocks. Attacks the ball in the air well and has a tendency to dislodge the ball from the pass catcher. Good hands and can make the difficult interception. May not have the speed for single-high safety, although he was used in this role frequently, but excels in two-deep. Tendency to leave his feet or go low on tackles. May be too aggresive. Gets overly physical in coverage. Reminds me of Dashon Goldson of the 49ers. With Rolle's ridiculously overpriced contract, I'm expecting the Giants to start looking for the future at safety soon. Maybe Stevie and Will Hill are part of that, but I doubt Rolle is. Anyways, I think Swearinger could start right away, but it won't happen. He'd be excellent in the 3rd safety role right away for Fewell. Will eventually be starting at either FS or SS for this team, and will be difference-maker in the secondary. 4. Kiko Alonso Position: Linebacker School: Oregon Height: 6'3" Weight: 238 lbs. Forty Time: N/A Bench Press: N/A Vertical: N/A Highlights: Ultimate Highlights ; ; vs. Fresno State (2012) ; vs. Washington (2012) ; Comments: Alonso has had an eventful career at Oregon. Has been charged for a DUI and breaking into a house while intoxicated, and also tore his ACL in 2010. Even with the mishaps, Alonso was a major contributor for the Oregon defense. While I am nervous about the off-field issues, having former teammate Spencer Paysinger will be very beneficial for his new and former teammate. First off all, he is a versatile linebacker who can play in a 3-4 and 4-3. I think he can play all three LB positions in the 4-3, but translates best as a SLB or MLB. Does the little things. Knows the technique for shedding blocks and has a powerful punch. Great at timing blitzes. Can cover RBs in the flats. Great awareness in coverage. Great motor and high effort. Great at penetrating on goal-line situations. Wrap-up tackler. Has trouble reading running lanes and attacking the FB. Takes himself out of plays with wasted movement. Overall, reminds me of Daryl Washington of the Cardinals. He is an explosive and linear athlete. Great special teams value and will contribute in nickel packages. I see him being the MLB of the future for the Giants, as long as he can translate from Oregon's unique defense to the Giants defense. Could also be a starting SLB if the Giants prefer a better athlete in the middle. 5. Brian Winters Position: Offensive Guard School: Kent State Height: 6'4" Weight: 320 lbs. Forty Time: N/A Bench Press: 9 reps (hurt during workout) Vertical: N/A Highlights: ; ; Comments: Winters was an all-state football player and wrestler in high school. He's played LT and RT during his collegiate career, but translates to a guard in the NFL. Explosive off the snap and finishes blocks through the play. Throws around small defensive linemen. Natural flexibility which helps in pass protection. Great at moving the pile. Can get to the next level and take out LBs. Frame has more room to add strength. Needs some help vs. stronger linemen. Is much stronger than his combine bench indicates. Compares to Adam Snyder of the Cardinals. I think will be the true gem of this class right away. I think he could start from day one, like Diehl did as a rookie. He can come in and contribute at LG right away if Boothe isn't retained. Has the ability to be a starter for a decade. Provides depth at guard and tackle because of his experience at the college level. 6a. D.J. Hayden Position: Cornerback School: Houston Height: 5'11" Weight: 191 lbs. Forty Time: 4.42 seconds (Pro Day) Bench Press: N/A Vertical: N/A Highlights: ; ; vs. UCLA (2012) ; vs. Penn State (2011)Comments: Hayden has one of the most unique medical concerns in all of football. He tore a vein (inferior vena cava), which carries blood from the lower-half of the body to the heart. This injury is something that happens often in car accidents, and 95% of its victims are killed. This is going to be a very strange case in the NFL. Hayden has the talent to be a day two pick, easily. Before this freak injury, he played nine games recording eight pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, four interceptions, and two touchdowns. He's got great quickness and timed speed. Can man-up outside or in the slot. Excellent change-of-direction ability. Plays off-man well and can cover ground quickly. Has the toughness to win 50/50 balls with WRs. Good wrap-up tackler in run support. Has a knack for creating turnovers. Only has average size and no elite athleticism. May not be strong enough to continually press in the NFL. Nobody knows how well he will return after the life-threatening injury. Being compared to Richard Marshall. I think this could be an excellent sleep on draft day. He has all the ability to be a top-3 round CB, but injuries have made him undraftable to some teams. Could provide depth right away but can be coached up into being a starter if he checks out medically. 7a. Steve Beauharnais Position: Linebacker School: Rutgers Height: 6'1" Weight: 240 lbs. Forty Time: 4.84 seconds Bench Press: 19 reps Vertical: 33 inches Highlights: ; ; Ultimate HighlightsComments: Although his teammate Greene got all the hype, Beauharnais has been a productive player for Rutgers all four years. He is a durable athlete with ample strength. Excels in run support and has a knack for stopping RBs and FBs in their tracks. Uses hands well to shed blockers. Athletic enough to handle coverage, but shouldn't be covering players often. Will only see the field as a SLB, and possibly a two-down MLB. Solid hands in coverage. Also has the ability to put his hand in the dirt and rush the passer. Doesn't have the agility to play man-to-man coverage. He is being compared to Desmond Bishop. While he may never be a starter, I think he can be an excellent reserve LB and stud special teams player. 7b. Lucas Reed Position: Tight End School: New Mexico Height: 6'6" Weight: 247 lbs. Forty Time: 4.65 seconds Bench Press: 25 reps Vertical: 37 inches Highlights: N/A Comments: Let me preface this discussion by saying that this pick was just my guess as to who TE coach Mike Pope said he is in love with in the draft. Reed is the brother of Texans LB Brooks Reed, and has been very inconsistent in college. Has all the athletic ability to be a TE in the NFL. He had to be corrected by coaches at the Shrine game multiple times because his route running is very raw. His production in college has declined every year. This guy is probably only a training camp body and possible practice squad TE, but I think Pope can mold him into being a solid TE in the NFL. So, what do you guys think?

They don't. I think the way it works is if the player's salary is, say 950k, it counts as somewhere between 500-700k against the cap. The top 51 rule also applies, but it won't effect vet minimum because it's mostly just UDFAs and rookies who fail to reach the top 51.