In its final 2011 NFL Mock Draft prior to the NFL Scouting Combine, which begins this week, SB Nation has chosen Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo for the New York Giants with the 19th pick of the first round.
Castonzo [full profile] is one of the half-dozen offensive tackles expected to be taken in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft this April. As such, he is often connected to the Giants as potential help for their aging offensive line.
A week ago, SB Nation had UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers going to the Giants in the first round. In the second round, the choice was Villanova offensive tackle Ben Ijalana. There was no second round to the SB Nation draft this week.
SB Nation’s Mocking The Draft says Castonzo is a player who needs to gain strength, but “it’s impossible to coach up Castonzo’s natural abilities.”
Several offensive tackles in this class, including Castonzo, Nate Solder of Colorado and Tyron Smith of USC, are at this point considered strong possibilities to wind up with the Giants.