2011 NFL Draft: SB Nation Mock Draft Updates For Giants, Jets

Our friends at the mothership, SBNation.com, wasted no time this morning churning out their first post-Super Bowl XLV Mock Draft. It is an interesting one, since it includes a huge change of direction for the New York Giants, and has the New York Jets taking a player often connected to the Giants. Let’s take a look.

Giants (No. 19)

SB Nation switches things up this week and has the Giants selecting Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph in the first round. Here is the explanation:

Curveball! The Giants are incredibly inconsistent offensively, and turnovers are a huge problem for them. As good as Kevin Boss (an impending free agent) has been, he’s not the elite safety valve Jeremy Shockey was. Rudolph is very similar to Rob Gronkowski as a prospect, even down to a worrisome injury.

To be honest, I like this. I love Boss, but I don’t ever think he is going to be the force in the middle of the field the Giants would like him to be. The NFL is now more than ever a pass-happy league, and quality offenses need play-making tight ends.

Jets (No. 30)

SB Nation has the Jets grabbing UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers with this pick. Ayers is often connected to the Giants by analysts and mock drafters, which makes sense. The Giants need linebackers, Ayers is a first-round talent, and he comes from a 4-3 system. He is athletic enough to play in a 3-4, however, so I would think he would be a possibility for the Jets if he is available 30th.

Here is SB Nation’s explanation:

It’s not inconceivable that Ayers falls this far; he’s not great at any one thing, and linebackers slide down draft boards as a rule in April. 3-4 teams will like Ayers’ versatility and upside as a pass rusher, and a talented team like the Jets can afford to take the time to coach him up a bit.

If you have been following the chatter about the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft, and playing along with many of the mock drafts that are out on the Inter-Google currently, the pick for the New York Giants and New York Jets in the latest SB Nation Mock Draft won’t surprise you.

SB Nation has the Giants, selecting 19th overall, taking Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo. The Jets, selecting 30th, nab Pittsburgh wide receiver Jon Baldwin in this newest SB Nation mock.

Both picks make a lot of sense.

For the Giants, offensive line is unquestionable a need area. Castonzo is one of several potential first-round offensive tackles, and right now it is impossible to know which ones will be available to the Giants and how General Manager Jerry Reese and the Giants scouting department rank them. Taking an offensive tackle with this pick is, however, a strong possibility. Castonzo’s reputation of being able to handle speed rushers off the edge, and his connection to Boston College — where Giants coach Tom Coughlin was once the head man — make him a logical choice.

Baldwin is an immensely talented 6-foot-5, 225-pound receiver. With the Jets potentially losing both Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes to free agency snagging a play-making wide receiver for quarterback Mark Sanchez might be a need.

Let’s take a look at some of the updated 2011 NFL Mock Drafts and see if the trends have changed at all for the New York Giants and New York Jets.

Giants (19th)

NFL Draft 101 — Tyron Smith, OT, USC
CBS Sports (Rang) — Tyron Smith
CBS Sports (Reuter) — Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
SI.com (Banks) — Tyron Smith
Draft Tek — Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
New Era Scouting — Tyron Smith

Pretty strong consensus here. Offensive line all the way, and most likely Smith, a USC junior. Here is a little bit on Smith from SB Nation’s Mocking The Draft:

Smith is starting to gain a lot of attention as an offensive tackle prospect. He’s an easy player to fall in love with. He has a long, lean frame and is athletic. Smith gets out on the move as well as any offensive tackle you’ll see and is loaded with potential.

However, Smith is only in his second year as a starter. He’s only been a reserve as a left tackle and spent more time on the right side. He’s up to about 280 pounds and came out of high school at 265. His power and weight gain has been impressive, but he’ll need to add at least 10 more pounds.

Jets (30th)

NFL Draft 101 — Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
CBS Sports (Rang) — Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
CBS Sports (Reuter) — Jon Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
SI.com (Banks) — Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
Draft Tek — Aldon Smith, OLB, Missouri
New Era Scouting — Jon Baldwin

No consensus here at all. Wide receivers, defensive line, offensive line and outside linebacker are all touched upon. Sitting at No. 30, the Jets will likely have to let the first round unfold and see who is still available.

Now that we know exactly where the New York Jets will select in the 2011 NFL Draft this April (30th overall) we can begin the serious endeavor of trying to figure out who they will draft.

Our friends at SBNation.com have taken a stab at that today, releasing their latest Mock Draft. It includes changes from a week ago in the selections for both the Jets and the New York Giants (selecting 19th).

Let’s take a look at the picks.

At No. 19, SB Nation has the Giants selecting Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College. Castonzo is a popular pick for the Giants in mock drafts all across the Inter-Google. Most scouting reports indicate that Castonzo could play either side at the NFL level, and he is undoubtedly a mid first-round selection. I doubt there would be complaints amongst Giants fans if this were the pick.

At No. 30, SB Nation has the Jets taking Miami (Fl.) defensive end Allen Bailey. SB Nation says Baily would be a “jack of all trades” in Rex Ryan’s scheme. Seems like many of the mock drafts think the Jets will go defensive end or linebacker with this pick, and with the Jets being built on defense it makes sense.

Here are this week’s non-ESPN Mock Draft updates for the New York Giants and New York Jets.

Giants (19th)

Mocking The Draft – Akeem Ayers (OLB, UCLA)
Walter Football – Tyson Smith, OT, USC
Draft Tek – Mikel LeShoure, RB, Illinois
Draft Headquarters – Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State
Footballs Future – Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

No real surprise that most of the focus is on outside linebacker and offensive line. The names of the players may change between now and the April draft, but the focus on those two positions is unlikely to change.

Jets (30th)

Mocking The Draft – Allen Bailey (DT, Miami, Fla.)
Walter Football – Muhammad Wilkerson (DE/DT, Temple)
Draft Tek – Aldon Smith (OLB, MIssouri)
Draft Headquarters – Justin Houston (OLB, Georgia)
Footballs Future – JJ Watt, DT, Wisconsin

It seems like most people think the Jets will go defense in the first round, trying to upgrade a front seven that could use a young nose tackle for its 3-4 and some young blood at outside linebacker.

It must really be the 2011 NFL Mock Draft season now. ESPN guru Mel Kiper is out with his first 2011 NFL Mock Draft, and fellow ESPN draft expert Todd McShay is out with his second mock today, right alongside Kiper’s. Let’s look at how the two ESPN heavyweights have the draft playing out for the New York Giants and New York Jets.

Giants (19th)

Kiper has the Giants taking Florida guard/center Mike Pouncey at No. 19, and says this:

His brother went to Pittsburgh at No. 18 overall last year, looked like a Pro Bowl player early and became one late in his rookie season. The other Pouncey has similar attributes. He’s durable, smart and versatile along the interior. By far the best player at his position in this draft, he should pay immediate dividends for the Giants and be effective as both a run- and pass-blocker.

McShay has the Giants taking Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget, and says this:

The Giants have spent a lot of money on ends and pass-rushers in recent years, and Liuget would help provide a strong presence in the middle as an every-down defensive tackle.

Winner: Kiper. As a Giants fan I would love the Pouncey selection. The Giants absolutely need to revamp the offensive line, and both guard and center are question marks right now. Pouncey could find himself starting from Day 1. As for Liuget, I don’t like to draft based purely on need, but defensive tackle should be way, way down the Giants priority list.

Jets (29th)

Kiper has the Jets selecting Temple defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. Here is why:

The other option here might be to take UCLA free safety Rahim Moore, but I like Wilkerson with the Jets. He offers great value as a defensive lineman to develop, because if he came back, he’d be a likely top-15 pick in 2012. At over 6-4 and 306 pounds, he slots in with the Jets’ 3-4 as a defensive end, but was a penetrating defensive tackle. The only guy who’s had more sacks than Wilkerson over the last two years from that position is Nebraska’s Jared Crick, another big-time prospect. Scheme-versatile, Wilkerson is a great growth-piece for Rex Ryan.

McShay has the Jets going with Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor. Here is why:

Veteran NT Kris Jenkins has played only seven games during the past two seasons and the Jets cannot count rely on him to be a constant presence in the middle of their defense. Taylor has the size to anchor in the middle and good feet for a 350-pounder.

Winner: McShay. Admittedly, I don’t know much about these two players. A 3-4 defense requires a dominant nose-tackle, though, and if Taylor can be one he is a great choice.

Our friends at the mothership, SBNation.com, have released their newest 2011 NFL Mock Draft. For New York Giants fans, this looks like previous mocks. For New York Jets fans, SB Nation provides a new name to think about.

The Giants select 19th, and SB Nation once again has the Giants selecting UCLA outside linebacker Akeem Ayers in that spot.

The Giants could use a developmental prospect at left tackle, where David Diehl is fading and William Beatty has been disappointing in limited appearances. There are options at that position here, Derek Sherrod chief among them, but Ayers is too valuable to pass on – he’d offer versatility and coverage ability to a Giants linebacker corps that lacks both.

The Jets are listed with the 30th pick currently, and could wind up anywhere from 29-32 depending on the outcome of the remaining playoff games. SB Nation’s current choice for the Jets is Kyle Rudolph, a tight end from Notre Dame.

There are other positions that the Jets could address here, and other players that would pique the team’s interests. None would do more for Mark Sanchez and the Jets’ conservative offensive attack than Rudolph. A well-rounded talent capable of blocking and receiving, Rudolph – paired with Dustin Keller – would give the Jets a pair of tight ends to rival New England’s dynamic duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

Thoughts, Giants and Jets fans?

Each Friday leading up to the 2011 NFL Draft SB Nation New York will look around at some of the most reputable mock drafts to see what is being said about the New York Giants and New York Jets. Here is this week’s look at the mocks.

New York Giants (19th)

Draft Tek — Mikel LeShoure (RB, Illinois)
Great Blue North — Nate Solder (OT, Colorado)
NE Patriots Draft — Anthony Castonzo (OT, Boston College)
CBS Sports (Rang) — Tyron Smith (OT, USC)
CBS Sports (Reuter) — Anthony Castonzo (OT, Boston College)

New York Jets (27th)

Draft Tek — Aldon Smith (OLB, Missouri)
Great Blue North — Justin Houston (LB, Georgia)
NE Patriots Draft — Akeem Ayers (LB, UCLA)
CBS Sports (Rang) — Phil Taylor (DT, Baylor)
CBS Sports (Reuter) — Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma State)

So, there you have it. Offensive line looks like the current position of choice for the Giants, and some help for the defensive front seven looks like the anticipated path for the Jets.

Our friends at the mothership, SBNation.com, have released their latest 2011 NFL Mock Draft. As far as we are concerned here at SB Nation New York everything is irrelevant until pick 19 of the first round, where the New York Giants will be selecting.

SB Nation has the Giants taking Akeem Ayers, a junior outside linebacker from UCLA, with the selection.

With what we know today this pick makes a ton of sense. The Giants have a glaring need at outside linebacker, Ayers (6-foot-4, 255 pounds) played in a true 4-3 at UCLA and many think he might be a top 15 selection. If the draft was today, and Ayers was there, the Giants would be hard-pressed to pass him up.

Here is a quick scouting report from FF Toolbox:

Ayers is big and fast and smart. He can line up at an end spot just to mix things up or attack the quarterback from his usual outside linebacker position. With his speed and instincts, Ayers is even versatile enough to play in the middle of the linebacker corps.

SB Nation has the Jets taking Von Miller, a pass-rushing 3-4 outside linebacker from Texas A&M. I like this pick for the Jets, giving them an edge playmaker who can get after the quarterback. A pick you would have to think coach Rex Ryan would love.

Here is a quick scouting report from FF Toolbox:

At 6-3 and 240 pounds, Miller needs to find the right system in the NFL. He played in a 3-4 defense at Texas A&M and NFL teams that play a 3-4 will like the fact that he has experience in that system, especially since few teams in college football play a 3-4. That should make him a solid first or second round selection.

Our friends at the mothership, SBNation.com, have released their latest 2011 NFL Mock Draft. As far as we are concerned here at SB Nation New York everything is irrelevant until pick 19 of the first round, where the New York Giants will be selecting.

SB Nation has the Giants taking Akeem Ayers, a junior outside linebacker from UCLA, with the selection.

With what we know today this pick makes a ton of sense. The Giants have a glaring need at outside linebacker, Ayers (6-foot-4, 255 pounds) played in a true 4-3 at UCLA and many think he might be a top 15 selection. If the draft was today, and Ayers was there, the Giants would be hard-pressed to pass him up.

Here is a quick scouting report from FF Toolbox:

Ayers is big and fast and smart. He can line up at an end spot just to mix things up or attack the quarterback from his usual outside linebacker position. With his speed and instincts, Ayers is even versatile enough to play in the middle of the linebacker corps.

SB Nation has the Jets taking Von Miller, a pass-rushing 3-4 outside linebacker from Texas A&M. I like this pick for the Jets, giving them an edge playmaker who can get after the quarterback. A pick you would have to think coach Rex Ryan would love.

Here is a quick scouting report from FF Toolbox:

At 6-3 and 240 pounds, Miller needs to find the right system in the NFL. He played in a 3-4 defense at Texas A&M and NFL teams that play a 3-4 will like the fact that he has experience in that system, especially since few teams in college football play a 3-4. That should make him a solid first or second round selection.