I am as tired of mock drafts as you likely are, but here is one final look at what mock drafters think the New York Giants will do in the 2011 NFL Draft when it begins Thursday night. The Giants have the 19th selection in the first round.
For months, most analysts have had the Giants as pegged as taking the best lineman -- most likely and offensive one -- available. That is still the majority opinion, but there were some interesting developments when scouring the mock drafts of the top analysts on Thursday morning.
Two highly-regarded analysts (Mike Mayock and Todd McShay) came to the conclusion that the Giants will draft Alabama running back Mark Ingram in the first round. Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News, the most accurate of all mock drafters the past five years, has the Giants taking offensive lineman Nate Solder of Colorado. That is a name that has not surfaced in connection with the Giants' top pick for a while.
Round 1: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Note: Amazingly, this is the first time Mayock has ever put together an official mock draft. His mock is filled with surprises. Considering Mayock's reputation in the draft community, now I'm questioning everything I thought I knew about what could happen in the first round.
Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News)
Round 1 -- Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
Wes Bunting (National Football Post)
Round 1 (19th overall ) -- Gabe Carimi (OT) Wisconsin
Round 2 (52nd overall) -- Mason Foster (LB) Washington
Round 3 (84th overall) -- Jurrell Casey (DT) USC
Mocking The Draft (Dove)
Round 1 -- Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
Round 1 -- Mike Pouncey, G/C, Florida
Round 2 -- Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
Round 1 -- Castonzo
Round 2 -- Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
Round 3 -- Luke Stocker, TE, Tennessee
(This is a seven-rounder).
Round 1 -- Castonzo
Round 1 -- Ingram
Round 2 -- Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana
Round 3 -- Casey
(This is a seven-rounder).
Round 1 -- Castonzo
Round 2 -- Mikel LeShoure, RB, Illinois
Round 3 -- K.J. Wright, OLB, Mississippi State
Round 1 -- Castonzo