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The New York Giants just missed the postseason in 2012 and will pick at No. 19 in the 2013 NFL Draft. The New York Jets missed the postseason by plenty and will pick in the top ten at No. 9. Both teams need help.
The Jets need help everywhere, especially on offense. But at No. 9, they likely won't be able to draft a top quarterback or find value with selections of running back or wide receiver. Rob Rang of CBS Sports writes in his latest mock draft that the Jets are stuck in the best player available mentality. And with that mentality, he projects the J-E-T-S to select defensive tackle Star Lotulelei out of Utah.
The Jets are the wildcard of the 2013 NFL draft. Clearly they -- like virtually every other team picking in the top 10 -- need more consistency out of their quarterback and pass rush. With three quarterbacks projected ahead of them and the top edge rushers off the board, the Jets could be forced into the best player available strategy, which would make Lotulelei an obvious contender. The Utah standout could combine with recent first round picks Muhammad Wilkerson and Quinton Coples to give the Jets the fearsome three-man front head coach Rex Ryan prefers.
Lotulelei is ranked by Rang as the top defensive tackle in the draft and the seventh best prospect overall. He measures in at 6'3 and 320 lbs. He is a two-time first-team All-Pac 12 selection.
SB Nation's Dan Kadar also believes the Jets will address the defensive side of the football, but sees a different player heading to New York -- LSU defensive end/linebacker Barkevious Mingo.
Just think about what Ryan could do with a talent like Barkevious Mingo. Many will look at the stat sheet and say Mingo had a down year, but he wasn't used enough in space and actually put tons of pressure on the quarterback this season. He belongs in the top 10.
Rang also believes that Mingo belongs in the top 10, but even higher than No. 9. In his latest mock draft, the Detroit Lions selected Mingo at No. 5
For the New York Giants, Rob Rang mocks tight end Zach Ertz out of Stanford.
On paper the Giants appear to have filled the hole at tight end with veteran Martellus Bennett and young developmental types in the wings. But Bennett is a free agent. Ertz, 6-6, 252, has the size and speed to challenge defenses down the middle, forcing defenses to think twice about providing help on the outside to cornerbacks attempting to stop Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz.
Ertz is an interesting selection. Most mock drafts leave him out of the first round altogether, or at least rate him behind Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert. But Rang pulls the opposite trick, leaving Eifert out and plugging Ertz in as his top-rated tight end.
Dan Kadar sees bigger needs for the Giants and in his latest mock draft, selects middle linebacker Arthur Brown from Kansas State.
Arthur Brown is considered by some to be undersized, but there isn't a linebacker in this class who plays the run as well as he does. He gets off blocks with ease and is just as effective in coverage. New York would be lucky to have him.