Whitney Mercilus of Illinois, an outside linebacker was selected 27th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft Thursday night by the Houston Texans.
NFL Draft Tracker via Sports Illustrated
Mercilus gives the Texans an edge rusher they needed for their defense.
How The Pick Impacts The Giants
Some analysts had Mercilus falling to the Giants at No. 32. With Mercilus off the board the Giants could still be looking at Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin, Stanford tight end Coby Fleener, Boise State running back Doug Martin or a myriad of other possibilities.
Giants GM Jerry Reese usually allows the draft to unfold and takes what he believes is the player who offers the most value from whatever remains. He appears to be doing that again this time.
Whitney Mercilus 2012 NFL Draft Profile (via sbnnfl)
For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit SB Nation New York's StoryStream. For a complete list of 2012 NFL Draft results as they happen, visit SBNation.com. For even more comprehensive coverage of the NFL Draft, visit Mocking The Draft.