2013 NFL Draft: Later Round Draft Prospects New York Giants Should Take a Look At

Jan 23, 2013; Mobile AL, USA; Senior Bowl South Squad fullback Tommy Bohanon of Wake Forest (42) carries against defensive back Robert Lester of Alabama (37) and linebacker Chase Thomas of Stanford (44) during the Senior Bowl south squad practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Giants finished the 2012 NFL season with a unimpressive 9-7 record. Some were surprised, some were disappointed. A year after winning the Super Bowl, what went wrong? They still had the majority of their roster intact, just a year older.

The Giants organization are still in search for answers. They need to add some key players to their personnel.

Exactly two weeks away is the 2013 NFL draft, and this is where Tom Coughlin and staff will look to to add players and make some improvements.

Now, drafting is not exactly a perfected science—in any sport. Team scouts can study player films and go over their stats again and again, but that doesn’t mean they won’t whiff on certain choices. It’s hit or miss with these drafts; whether it be in the early rounds or late rounds, it doesn’t matter. Any team can find a dud or a stud in any round of a draft—no way of avoiding it. Teams just have to do their homework and hope they don’t get a dud. The Giants have had good luck, so far, when it comes to drafting. With that being said, let’s take a look at some late-round prospects who would be a perfect match for Big Blue.

William Gholston, defensive end, Michigan State:

The Giants are no doubt in need of a pass-rusher. I’m sure the team will address those concerns in the early rounds, but why not pick up some insurance just in case, right?

William Gholston, the defensive end from Michigan State, would be a nice pickup for New York. The defensive end is a giant, standing at 6’7″, 275 pounds. For a guy his size, he is agile and has the speed to keep up with tight ends and running backs in the flat. Of course he still has a lot to learn, but he also does have room to grow. There is an upside to the defensive end. With his size and raw talent, he can do some damage as a defensive end.

Chase Thomas, linebacker, Stanford:

It’s a known fact that the 2012 Giants defense had a huge drop in production compared to the year before. There’s proof in the books.

Enter Chase Thomas, the linebacker from Stanford. Thomas has a motor in him, and an aggressive but smart style of play. He can be all over the place and make plays. He flies to the ball and can be tough to block. He is an instinctive player and has good reaction skills. In 53 games played with Stanford, Thomas racked up 229 tackles, 27.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles. He can make plays at either the linebacker position or at defensive end.

T.J. McDonald, safety, USC:

After last year’s showing from the secondary, or lack thereof, the Giants need all the help they can get in the secondary.

If the Giants draft the USC safety, T.J. McDonald, he could immediately compete for a starting position.

At 6’3″, 219 lbs., McDonald definitely has the size. He is a good all-around defender: He is aggressive and can attack the line of scrimmage on run plays, making the monster hits. He possesses good straight-line speed that helps him in keeping up with speedier receivers. McDonald also has good ball-skills and can make the big plays with jump balls because of his size. McDonald enjoyed a good career with USC, tallying 275 tackles, eight interceptions, two sacks and 17 pass deflections.

Dion Sims, tight end, Michigan State:

The tight end out of Michigan State is a big guy at 6’6″, 262 pounds and can be an intriguing pick for the New York Giants.

Dion Sims would be a good pickup. Sims has good open-field speed, is a good blocker and has good hands. When he has the ball, he can make plays due to his size.

The biggest concern, outside of his off-field issues, is his injury history. Is he durable? He had a broken wrist in 2011 and suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for a few games in 2012. What Sims brings to the table, though, is his athleticism and ability to make plays after the catch. As I mentioned before, he’s also a good pass-blocker and run-blocker.