2018 NFL Mock Draft: New York Giants 3-round mock 6.0
By Sean Dyer
2. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. WR. Oklahoma State. Marcell Ateman. 31
If/when the New York Giants release Brandon Marshall (saving just over $5M with $1M in dead cap), they will need a big-bodied receiver to give Eli Manning another red zone threat.
Odell Beckham Jr. (5’11) and Sterling Shepard (5’10) are both great receivers but neither stands taller than six feet. Marshall was brought in last offseason to be the big-bodied receiver who Eli could throw the ball up to and have win 50-50 battles. An ankle injury ended Marshall’s 2017 season after just five games but he and Manning didn’t show great chemistry even before that.
To replace Marshall, the Giants can bring in a very similar player in Marcell Ateman. When watching his film, I saw a lot of Marshall and Erik Lambert of NFL Mocks confirmed what I saw by giving Ateman a pro comparison of Brandon Marshall.
Ateman stands 6’4, 220 lb. and has a wide catch radius. When the ball is in the air, bet on Ateman to come down with it. He’s also a great blocker and, unlike most receivers, Ateman appears eager to get his hands on defensive backs and drive them out of the play. Ateman could improve his hands but runs solid routes for a receiver his size.
Lambert sees Ateman and Marshall as one in the same:
"Watch Ateman for long enough and the similarities are rather surprising. He shares the same height, build and style of play as Marshall did. He’s not quite as thick as Marshall now but that can be corrected with NFL training. Everything from the physicality to the wide catch radius, sneaky speed and inconsistent hands are there. It’s a remarkably close comparison."
Add Ateman to Beckham, Shepard, Evan Engram, and Rhett Ellison, and Manning will have plenty of quality options in the passing game.
After fixing the offensive line with the additions of Andrew Norwell, Cordy Glenn, and Orlando Brown, all that’s left to address is the Giants backfield.