KiLLaKyLe

Sounds more like a replacement for Cruz in 2014, in my opinion.

 

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.

I disagree about Jordan, he is a DE.

 

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.

Wasn't questioning it Kyle. It was a line from some Jeff Dunham (standup comic) where one of his dummies (Walter) asked him if he was gay.. he replied "no, I'm married", and Walter replied "Yea so is Tom Cruise" lol

 

Not sure this clip has it..

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=_I226Sfgs0s

 

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

So did Tom Cruise

 

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

I can see Beatty being gay.

 

You know Kareem McKenzie is gay?

 

Doesn't matter, Just saying. I saw him at outback one day with his bf.

 

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.

Teo sucks.

 

Give me Ogletree or Minter.

 

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

From what I read between the lines, the Giants have offered Cruz right around $6M per and maybe would go a little higher. Best guess on length of deal is 4 years, so something like $25M over 4 and they'd have to figure out what's guaranteed/bonus Vs salary. I think Cruz went in looking for more like $35M over 4.

 

And on a related note, I don't see how they give Nicks the $9M per year mentioned above. I'm thinking more like $7.5M to $8M, tops, is all they'll be able to fit. If he goes pff for 85/1400/12 this year and can get $9M+ in FA, well, that's why we drafted Rueben Randle. Sucks but that's cap reality.

 

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.

restructuring sucks balls.. how about a pay cut??.. LOL..

 

watch some of these top QB's who get paid the highest salary (aka Flacco).. they should take pay cuts so teams can make the right calls to get the right guys..

 

If you're getting paid 130Million but the team don't have the cash to pay linemens to protect ya ass.. wouldn't you take a pay cut to get a couple of stud linemens so you can play out the contract and retired an HOF QB??..

 

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.

 

That would be huge

 

Something like 5 years $45 million.

 

That's a steal for Nicks

 

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.

Most experts don't have Carradine as a first rounder yet, even if the handful you cherry picked do. And even with a great workout, he's likely going in the bottom of the first, and if he doesn't work out stellar, anywhere from the middle of the second the early 3rd, depending on the medical, assuming it will be at least projected to be stable by regular season.

 

Don't get me wrong, I fully expect Carradine to be an impact player in the NFL. A very good player. But he tore his ACL. Regardless of how great the medical looks, he still tore it, and has a surgery in that knee. That's increased risk, because if he tears the same one again, it's a much harder road to come back, and that's an IF he can come back. You can't change that fact, no matter how good of a player he is. And it's the increased risk that will have him towards the back end of the first at best, even if he has a great work out on April 20th, and even if he clears medical. I think you're going to eat your words about Montgomery being picked before him.

 

BTW, I wasn't comparing Gholston to Carradine. I'm not impressed by Gholston. I was using him as an example that Mayock had him ranked as a 3-4 DE only, which he's not. A player like Gholston could play a 4-3 end in the NFL no problem, just like he did in college. So I was using that example to say that if Mayock ranked a guy like Gholston as a 4-3 end, that might also affect where he has Carradine. That's not to say Mayock's word is gospel, and not to say that I give a crap about Gholston.

 

But here's what I do know... outside of Carradine, there are accomplished, productive pass rushers that haven't had an ACL surgery on a knee, that didn't miss their 2012 season, that are first round picks. And that is going to push Carradine down the draft board. I think the Giants are going to draft Warmack if he's there, btw, and if he's not, maybe DJ Fluker, unless Bjoern Werner or Sheldon Richardson unexpectedly slips down draft boards. Desmond Trufant or Xavier Rhodes are other possibilities. I do think that DE is a good possibility, though, and who knows, maybe it will be Carradine, just saying I'd be very surprised only because knee has already been under the knife for major surgery.

 

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.

As for the 3rd, I don't think we'd make Safety the priority. We have Will Hill, Stevie Brown, Antrel Rolle, Ryan Mundy, and even Tyler Sash all on the roster. We can debate how good/bad these guys are, but at least 3 of them have shown flashes of being a starter in this league. I'd be much more interesed in a CB in the 3rd or even a LB. I've looked at the stats of a Robert Alford out of Southeastern Louisiana. Haven't had the chance to look at game tape yet on him, but plan to do so here soon.

 

In the 4th, I'd agree with LBer as the way to go. Nico Johnson out of Alabama is one of the guys who piqued my interest, if for no other reason, that he was the middle of one of the better college defenses in what's recognized as being a pro-style or pro-run program. I don't know whether he was the one making the defensive calls/adjustments or not, but no doubt he needed to have the knowledge of where everyone else needed to be on a given play.

 

A Guard in the 5th or 6th is on my list too. Another name to throw out there is Hugh Thornton out of Illinois. But I've got him in the 6th. I did my mock weeks ago, and haven't adjusted much since free agency began or the combine ended. So my mock is dated to say the least.

 

All in all, I like your mock, especially the positions presented, again, except maybe the 3rd rounder. A WR at some point might be in consideration too, simply to provide insurance (by insurance, I mean leverage) in the Cruz/Nicks contract negotiations.

 

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.

 

Nice Pdub. I don't know how much time I'll have this year to do a spreadsheet and all of that draft analysis I did last year. I'm paying attention, but I just haven't had as much time for looking at player videos, combine results, and statistics.

 

I'd love to do a 5 up, 5 down again, as that was something that was really cool, I thought, and introduced players that I, and one would assume, you guys, hadn't really heard of. If you didn't see it last year, or don't remember, I took the Giants draft position in each round, posted the ranked player at that spot from CBS Sports, and then did the 5 players ahead of him and the 5 below him on the ranking. And a few of those players were actually drafted by the Giants in that round. I re-call that was a lot of work.

 

On to Killa Kyle's mock. I applaud your effort and it's a nicely thought out mock. I think you wanted a bold prediction at 19 that was a little against the grain in Carradine. As an FSU fan, I love Carradine. But if he goes in the first, it won't be until around pick 27 or later. He could be as good as you are saying, but the injury matters, and he didn't play hardly at all last season. If this draft was hurting for pass rushers, he could be the guy at 19 for us. But that's just too high in this draft. Mayock has Carradine as the fifth best 4-3 DE prospect in this draft, as he has it broken down into 4-3 DE's and 3-4 DE's. Which I think is a bit odd, because some players can do either. Example, he has William Gholston as the fifth best 3-4 DE, but he played 4-3 DE at Mich St, and could probably do either one in the NFL... although he projects to be a better run defender than pass rusher at the next level, IMO, to Mayock's point. But my point is that there is certainly some bleed over in his rankings. Anyhow, he has Carradine behind Bjoern Werner, Ziggy Ansah, Damontre Moore and Sam Montgomery. I saw on the bottom line on NFL Network last night he also has Alex Okafor tied with Carradine, but not shown on his rankings as posted on NFL.com - http://www.nfl.com/d...-2013-nfl-draft

 

 

Not to say that Carradine isn't a great talent, and I think he very well good move up draft boards. But I just don't see him at 19 as very likely.

 

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:

 

Florida State DE Cornellius "Tank" Carradine will work out for NFL evaluators on April 20.

Carradine plans on working out in full' date=' meaning he will complete every drill. If the pass rusher's knee shows no instability, the workout could really change teams' draft boards five days before the event. We would go as far to call Carradine one of the top three edge rushers in this class. Mar 19 - 1:40 PM[/quote']

- Rotoworld

 

FSU DE Cornellius "Tank" Carradine completed 32 bench press reps at the school's pro day.

This is four better than Carradine posted at the Combine. Expect the stud pass rusher to workout just before the NFL Draft in late April' date=' and if cleared medically, expect a top-20 selection. Mar 19 - 11:45 AM[/quote']

- Rotoworld

 

National Football Post's Russ Lande mocked FSU DL Cornellius "Tank" Carradine to the Tennessee Titans in mock draft 8.0.

"While Carradine is still recovering from surgery to repair an ACL injury to his right knee; the Titans are willing to gamble on him because of his potential. If he had not been injured' date=' I believe he would have received serious consideration by the Jaguars with the second overall pick," Lande writes. This is a bit of a surprise as Carradine has yet to work out after suffering an ACL injury late in his senior season. Mar 18 - 5:51 PM[/quote']

- Rotoworld

 

Doesn't answer knee questions' date=' but helps. Top 15 talent when healthy RT[b'] [/b]@TomahawkNation Tank Carradine just benched 225 32 times

- @SC_DougFarrar

 

Tank Carradine solidifying his early grade. The #1 4-3 DE' date=' IMO. If he falls out of the 1st it has everything to do w/the health of his knee.[/quote']

- @ryanlownes

 

This guy is getting plenty of hype right now. If he impresses at that April 20th workout, he may not make it to 19...

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.

"Teams that gain and lose the same number of players but lose higher-valued players than they gain also can be awarded a pick, but only in the seventh round, after the other compensatory picks. "

 

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.

LOVE that draft.

 

Hate your 3rd round pick though.

 

But Love every other pick.

 

I would be thrilled if we drafted these guys. I'd take Marcus Lattimore or A different DB in the 3rd.

 

I hate safety's under 6-0

Excellent mock though!!

 

Thanks for posting I'm watching highlights of the 3rd round S and he's opening my mind about him.

Lol Jim and BB25 gotta step there game up.

 

KillaKyle with the Killa mock!

 

Highlight videos, pictures!!

 

This is exceptionally done! Bravo!

 

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 Highlights

Comments: 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?

Did I read someone post that vet minimum deals don't count toward the salary cap?

 

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.