The New York Giants selectedCam Robinsonwith the 23rd overall pick inLouis Riddick‘s mock draft.
TheNew York Giantshave clear needs coming into the 2017 NFL Draft. They need to find an upgrade on the offensive line, specifically at tackle. A run stuffing linebacker would be a nice addition to their defense. Finding a running back to complementPaul Perkins,Shane Vereen, andShaun Draughnis also a goal.
Will the Giants accomplish any of those goals with their first round pick tonight? That is anyone’s guess. It is difficult to gauge what direction the Giants may go in because of their draft philosophy. They always go with the best player available strategy. Look back at even last season.
With the 10th overall pick, the Giants selected cornerbackEli Appleout of Ohio State. The Giants already hadDominique Rodgers-Cromartieand signedJanoris Jenkinsas a free agent, so it was a surprising pick. But that is what the Giants do; whoever sits atop their draft board is who they will select.
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That makes the Giants difficult to gauge. Even guessing which side of the ball they will go is difficult. This will beJerry Reese‘s 11th draft as general manager of the Giants and he has split his first round picks with five offensive players and five defensive players.
With the needs, the Giants have this season, which way he will go this season is unclear. If it was up to ESPN’sLouis Riddick, he would fix the offensive line. Riddick conducted a mock draft onESPN, but it is not like other mock drafts. Instead of guessing which players a team will select, he made selections based on need.
The value for some of the selections may not match up to the draft position, but every team hits on a need. For the Giants that is the offensive line. Riddick has the Giants selecting Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson. Here is what Riddick has tosayabout the selection.
"Ereck Flowers hasn’t panned out at left tackle thus far, and the Giants were terrible running the football last season, ranking 30th in the league in yards per carry. Robinson is a dominant run-blocker who has the tools to grow as a pass protector."
Flowers’ development, or lack thereof, as been a big reason for the Giants struggles the past two seasons. He was selected ninth overall in 2015 but has yet to develop into the left tackle the Giants had hoped he would. Robinson has been highly touted ever since high school and could develop into the left tackle the Giants need.
Flowers graded out well in run blocking, finishing 27th out of 79 qualifying tackles onPro Football Focus. Where he struggled was in pass protection, where he ranked 64th out of 74 qualifiers. That is what would make Robinson a risky pick; is he good enough of a pass protector for the Giants to kick Flowers over to the right side?
It is probably a risk the Giants would take. Flowers has not played well, but he could salvage his career as at right tackle, where the Giants originally planned to play him beforeWill Beattywas injured in 2015.
Next: New York Giants Full Seven-Round Mock Draft
If the Giants move Flowers to the right side, they could upgrade two positions at once. Flowers projects well on the right side based on his run blocking talent. If the Giants find a player capable of playing left tackle in this draft, as Riddick potentially finds in Robinson, their whole offensive line will be upgraded.
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