NFL Mock Draft 2016: The NY Giants Select Jack Conklin

Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

Unfortunately for the Giants, the last of top tier talent was taken the pick before when the Bucs made off like Madoff.  There are a couple of directions they could go with this pick.  The most glaring needs are WR, OT, G and all 3 LB positions.

The Giants spent a lot of money in free agency and signed three big names that should help shore up the defense.  Damon "Snacks" Harrison is an elite run defender that will plug up the interior of the dline (Giants gave up 121 Rush YPG), and he is also an above average pass rusher that can push the pocket. Olivier Vernon was probably overpaid.  The Giants are hoping he can have similar production this year as last where he was one of the best edge defenders in the league.  They also added Janoris Jenkins who is prone to mental errors and playing out of position, but he is a playmaker at CB.   With all of these moves, I'd say oline, WR and LB are the biggest positions of need for the Giants.

There are no 4-3 LB's worth being picked at 10 (minus Miles Jack and Jaylon Smith).  Since Smith had a horrific knee injury, he's no longer worth being picked at 10.  Some may say Ragland is worth it, but he looks like an athletically limited 2 down thumper that has to come off the field on passing downs.  In fact even Bama was taking him off on obvious passing situations towards the end of last year.  That narrowed down the pick to 3 players in my mind: Treadwell, Conklin and Staley.

The Giants will have Victor Cruz back this year after missing last year with a calf.  While he's far from a sure thing, he should help the WR corp.  It's also easier to find a WR that can be a role player later in the draft than a starting OT.  That being said, I don't think Treadwell would be a bad pick here.  He's a big red zone target and would pair well opposite of OBJ for one of the best 1 & 2 WR pairings in the league.

The reason I went with Conklin over Staley is simple.  The New York Football Giants could not run the ball effectively last year.  The overall rushing yards weren't very bad at 100.6 per game (good enough for 19^th in the league), but they only had 5 rushing TDs.  Only San Diego had less.  Conklin will immediately step in at RT forcing a competition at RG between John Jerry and Marshall Newhouse potentially upgrading 2 of the worst starters on the right side of any line.

Staley would be a good pick too.  He's projected as the better pass protector, but he doesn't have Conklin's mean streak in the run game.  Run blocking is arguably more important in a RT than pass blocking, and the Giants took care of the LT position last year with Eric Flowers.

This pick will help them be more balanced on offense, especially in the red zone, will help keep Eli upright and keep those OBJ highlights running. 

From ProFootballFocus:

Position fit:

Left or right tackle, best-suited for a gap run scheme

Stats to know:

In the top three among offensive tackles each of the last two seasons. Performance versus Iowa was highest-graded game for any tackle this season.

What he does best:

• An absolute mauler in the run game. Will take defensive ends up to the second level routinely on down blocks
  Deadening initial punch in pass protection. Edge rushers will stop in their tracks if Conklin lands the first punch
  

• Great body control for a large man. Upper and lower body play in unison

• Almost never beaten with a bull rush. Extremely strong anchor

Biggest concern:

• Plodding feet still cost him at times. Still susceptible to inside counters
  

• Slow getting up to second level at times

• Average ability to locate on the move

Bottom line:

Conklin may not always look the part, but he gets the job done as well as any tackle in this class. He's a guy that will move the line of scrimmage in the run game and has few enough deficiencies in pass protection to be a quality NFL left tackle.

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