NFL Mock Draft 2013: Jets and Giants picks both hard to pin down

Pundits have a hard time disagreeing on who the New York teams will grab in the NFL Draft.

By Craig Powers@TheCraigPowers Apr 18, 2013, 8:00am EDT

The NFL Draft is fast approaching, and teams are narrowing their big boards in hopes of getting their top selection. The Jets and Giants both have needs to fill, but prognosticators don't agree on how they will do that.

More: Jets blog Gang Green Nation Giants blog Big Blue View

Jets

The New York Jets have plenty of needs to fill, so it's natural for pundits to disagree on how they would use the ninth pick. Many see them addressing the defensive line, while there is an argument to be made for the other side of the ball.

SB Nation's Matthew Fairburn believes the Jets will be looking for a playmaker to help their struggling quarterbacks. He has them grabbing speedy wide receiver Tavon Austin out of West Virginia:

The Jets are sure to be interested in a quarterback at some point on draft weekend, but with Geno Smith off the board, the Jets go another direction but still add an impact offensive player. Tavon Austin would give the Jets some much needed speed on offense provide a weapon for whoever they choose to start at quarterback.

The panel at NFL.com unanimously believes New York will use the No. 9 pick on a defensive end. Both Daniel Jeremiah and Akbar Gbajabiamila both project the Jets to grab BYU's Ziggy Ansah. Charles Davis has them grabbing LSU's Barkevious Mingo, while Bucky Brooks believes the pick will be Oregon's Dion Jordan.

Giants

The Giants lost Osi Umenyiora this offseason, and Fairburn has them filling that void with the No. 19 pick. He projects the team to grab defensive end Tank Carradine. Fairburn believes If Carradine returns to form after rehabbing from injury, New York would be getting a steal:

Carradine will run for scouts before the draft. Provided everything goes smoothly, he should be a first-round pick. If not for his torn ACL in November, he may have been the first defensive end off the board and a top-10 pick.

Just as with the Jets, there is plenty of mystery surrounding who the Giants will select. NFL.com's Davis and Jeremiah project the team to grab tackle D.J. Fluker. The rest of the panel has different ideas. Brooks has the Giants picking Georgia linebacker Alec Ogletree, and Gbajabiamila believes it will be Florida State safety Matt Elam.