In the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, the New York Giants bolstered their defense with their selection of cornerback Prince Amukamara with the 19th pick. NFL mock drafts from SB Nation and Mel Kiper expect the Giants to continue emphasizing that side of the ball when the draft resumes Friday night, while Todd McShay expects they’ll go in a different direction. New York owns the 52nd overall pick.
Brian Galliford of SB Nation believes the Giants will select Akeem Ayers, an outside linebacker from UCLA. He says he thought the Giants would take him with their first-round selection, meaning Ayers represents an “outstanding value” in the second round. In three seasons with the Bruins, Ayers tallied 183 tackles, six interceptions, and three touchdowns.
Kiper also has the Giants taking a linebacker, but not Ayers. Instead, he believes Quan Sturdivant, from UNC, will be their pick. “The Giants are desperate for help at linebacker,” he writes. “Sturdivant should have an immediate impact.”
McShay, Kiper’s ESPN colleague, has a different idea. He says the Giants should draft Will Rackley, an offensive guard from Lehigh, and provides no further analysis beyond listing linebacker and tight end as other needs for the G-Men.