Empire Writes Back
Fansided

NFL Mock Draft: New York Giants Select Andrus Peat Ninth Overall

By Kenneth Teape

facebooktwitterreddit

NFL Mock Draft: Mel Kiper Jr. Has Giants Stay Offensive Line, Select Andrus Peat From Stanford

As the NFL offseason roles on, so does the mock drafts of draft analysts and fans alike. One of the most popular mock drafts to follow is the one of Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN. Kiper Jr.’s mock draft is one of the most anticipated things of the NFL offseason and he just released his most recent one Wednesday. For the New York Giants, Kiper Jr. has them targeting the same unit, the offensive line, but with a new player.

After having Iowa offensive tackle Brandon Scherff going to the Giants in the first two versions of his mock draft, Kiper Jr. now has the Giants selecting another offensive tackle, this time it being Andrus Peat of Stanford. The Giants have a gaping need along the offensive line, and adding someone anywhere but center would be a smart move as a youth and talent infusion is sorely needed.

Peat and Scherff are ranked right next to each other in plenty of player raters heading into the NFL draft, and either would be a great addition for the Giants. The Giants could go the free agent route to try and fix their problems along the offensive line, but that could cost them quite a bit of money as seemingly every team is in need of offensive line services. If they want to guarantee themselves an upgrade, selecting Peat with the ninth overall pick would fulfill that.

Peat has a chance to be the best right tackle in this draft class as he possess everything you would look for in an NFL tackle. He has above average height coupled with above average top end speed. His length, power and athleticism help him excel in pass blocking, while the same traits make him a strong run blocker as well because he is a good athlete that moves well in space.

Most importantly, at least for a team such as the Giants that have been riddled in recent season by injuries, Peat is extremely durable. He appeared in 40 of a possible 41 games while at Stanford, with his only missed game coming in 2012. He also started the last 28 games consecutively his final two seasons with the Cardinal.

More from New York Giants

He also has good pedigree, as Peat’s father, Todd, played in the NFL for six seasons with the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals and Los Angeles Raiders. He also has no off-field concerns, which is a positive given the Giants proximity to New York City, the city that never sleeps. A no-nonsense player who comes to work and handles their business fits perfectly into what the Giants represent led by Tom Coughlin.

With 56 days until the NFL Draft begins, this is something that could drastically change for the Giants. As mentioned before, the Giants could delve into the free agent market to fix their problems along the offensive line, which would make the selection of Peat at No. 9 make little sense. If that is the case, expect the Giants to turn their attention to the other unit of lineman, as pass rushers on the defensive side of the ball are still near the top of the Giants needs list. Nothing will be set in stone though until signatures are on contracts and cards are put in for selection April 30th, but until then, we can continue taking in mock drafts and analyzing what our favorite teams may do.

Next: Who are 10 possible RB for the Giants in 2015?

More from Empire Writes Back

Home/New York Giants