Before Mike Evans blew up the NFL Combine, I was calling for the Giants to draft him with their first-round pick back in January. Nothing has changed. Evans posseses the skill-set that has meshed perfectly in the past with the type of quarterback that Eli Manning is. He used the Combine to display acceleration and straight-line speed that many were unaware of. You can find my full scouting report on Evans here.
Xavier Su-a-Filo opened eyes when he ran the second fastest forty-yard-dash among all guards.(5.04 seconds). If you watched him play at UCLA, he should have already been on your radar. Su-a-Filo excels in pass protection and is one of the better guards to come out in a while in that regard. He played some left tackle in his freshman season with UCLA, and has proven that he can be fine if moved across the formation. He presents a perfect mix of need and talent for the Giants in round two.
Watch any Florida State game and when you focus on the defense, Lamarcus Joyner will stand out immediately. On the game film, he looks like a first-round pick every time he steps on the field. His NFL Combine forty-yard dash and measurable in height and weight will likely render him a third-round pick. Joyner is a quick-twitch athlete with great hips and the ability to shut down most slot receivers. The best attribute Joyner brings is his leadership and football IQ—a strong argument can be made that he laps the field at cornerback with his intangibles.
As far as I’m concerned, C.J. Fiedorowicz is the most underrated prospect at his position and maybe in the entire draft. At 6-foot-5, 262 pounds, with a 4.76 forty-yard dash to his name, he projects as the prototypical two-way tight end who can block and also serve as a threat in the passing game . Let’s compare him to fellow tight end prospect, Jace Amaro, who many believe should be a first-round pick. Amaro, at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, with a 4.74 forty-yard-dash has almost identical measurable to Fiedorowicz. Amaro may have the college production to his credit, but he also played in a wide-open offensive scheme that featured quick-passing and an up-tempo offense—the opposite of the system Fiedorowicz played in at Iowa.
The Giants met with Jack Mewhort at the NFL Combine for a formal interview, which shows early signs of interest. The media loves to harp on one point, and many people have pointed to Mewhort’s game film against Buffalo when top prospect Khalil Mack dominated him. However, put on all of his other game film and you will see right tackle who has the size, football IQ and production to play right away in the NFL.
James White, who made my top five late-round prospects that the Giants should target, fits a perfect combination of need and value in the sixth round. The Giants need White because he is already a plus pass protector who can step in and play if injuries strike yet again. White is a great value at 171st overall because he can catch out of the backfield, pass protect, and he is great vision in addition to underrated burst and quickness.
