In its weekly 2011 NFL Mock Draft SB Nation has again chosen Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo for the New York Giants with the 19th selection of the first round. This is hardly a bad choice, but the consistency of this pick across mock drafts is getting sort of ridiculous.
Castonzo was the choice here. And here. And here. And here again.
Anyone else see a pattern developing? Apparently, the current consensus opinion is that the Giants should take Castonzo, the talented BC left tackle prospect, when their turn comes up in the real 2011 NFL Draft this April.
SB Nation explains its current rationale:
The Giants could really use a linebacker, but after Akeem Ayers’ hugely disappointing athletic display at the Combine, they’d do better to wait to address that position. Castonzo comes from the BC pipeline and could eventually replace either David Diehl or Kareem McKenzie.
This is probably good thinking here. The only obviously preferable offensive tackle appears to be USC’s Tyron Smith, and in this mock he is off the board at No. 13 to the Detroit Lions.
As for the linebackers, Ayers’ Combine performance — running the 40-yard dash in the 4.8s — probably did hurt him. There are also any number of quality linebackers who should be available in the second or third rounds — among them Greg Jones of Michigan State, Martez Wilzon of Illinois, Bruce Carter of North Carolina, Quan Sturdivant of North Carolina, Mark Herzlich of Boston College.
The six big-time offensive tackles in this draft class, however, will all likely be gone once by the time the Giants pick at No. 52 in the second round. Thus, grabbing one at No. 19 seems like a sound idea.