The Giants have drafted a UCLA player in the middle rounds of the last two NFL Drafts.
Would they grab a third Bruin with their opening pick of this year’s draft?
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ESPN’s Todd McShay thinks it’s possible. In his second mock draft of the year (ESPN Insider subscription required), McShay is projecting UCLA defensive end/outside linebacker Takkarist McKinley to follow Owa Odighizuwa and Paul Perkins to the Giants with the No. 23-overall pick.
Says McShay:
Tight end would also be a strong possibility if either (Alabama’s O.J.) Howard or (Miami’s David) Njoku were still on the board. With both gone and Jason Pierre-Paul slated to become a free agent, the Giants could be in the market for another pass-rusher. McKinley has versatility, and I love his motor. He’s a natural pass-rusher with elite speed off the edge, recording 18 TFLs and 10 sacks in 2016.
Tight end is perhaps the most obvious position need for the Giants – McShay has Howard going 19th to the Buccaneers and Njoku 22nd to the Dolphins – but pass rusher is also a strong possibility, whether Pierre-Paul walks in free agency or not.
The Giants had 35 sacks as a team in 2016 (tied for 14th in the NFL), but Olivier Vernon and Pierre-Paul combined for 15.5 of those sacks, and the Giants’ defensive backs had over four times more combined sacks (eight) than reserve defensive ends Romeo Okwara, Kerry Wynn and Odighizuwa, who had 1.5 together.
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Even if the Giants bring Pierre-Paul back, they need to add more pass rush depth. Okwara flashed as an undrafted rookie, but he does not project as an explosive, double-digit sack player, and the Giants don’t really know what they have in Odighizuwa yet after two injury-plagued seasons to start his career. Wynn, who is scheduled to be a restricted free agent, is a run-stopper with minimal pass rush impact. The Giants also have veteran Stansly Maponga under contract after he spent last season on the practice squad.
McKinley (6-2, 265) would likely play at defensive end in the Giants’ 4-3 scheme, and he could be an interior pass rusher in nickel packages.
James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.
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