NFL New York Giants

2015 NFL Draft: Pick By Pick Mock With New York Giants At No. 12

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By @rickstavig

Shilique Calhoun, NFL Draft

Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

The pick-by-pick mock of the 2015 NFL Draft continues and the top ten picks are in the books.

A quick update of the picks so far: Leonard Williams (DE/DT, Southern Cal) was picked first by the Oakland Raiders; Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon) was picked second by the New York Jets; Cedric Ogbuehi (OT, Texas A&M) was picked third by the Jacksonville Jaguars; Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama) was picked fourth by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Jameis Winston (QB, FSU) was picked fifth by the St. Louis Rams; Randy Gregory (DE/OLB, Nebraska) was picked sixth by the Tennessee Titans; Vic Beasley (OLB, Clemson) was picked seventh by the Atlanta Falcons; Shawn Oakman (DE, Baylor) was taken eighth by the Washington Redskins; the Minnesota Vikings took Andrus Peat (OT, Stanford) ninth; the Carolina Panthers took Brandon Scherff (OT, Iowa) tenth and the Chicago Bears took Shane Ray (DE/OLB, Missouri) eleventh.

Who do the New York Giants take at no. 12?

Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State.

The Giants need help on both sides of the ball, but take away all the injuries and this team would look a lot different, particularly in the back seven. While a safety like Landon Collins (S, Alabama) would make a lot of sense right here, it might just be a tad early for a DB who still has a ways to go in terms of coverage (I know, I’m the only one who thinks so).

It also would make a ton of sense to look at addressing the perennial need at LB. Jon Beason is hurt again but even before that he didn’t look so great, and fill-in Jameel McClain hasn’t been much better. OLB Jacquian Williams has been somewhat of a pleasant surprise this year but other than that it’s been flat out ugly. With that said, a guy like Shaq Thompson (OLB, Washington) or Benardrick McKinney (MLB, Mississippi State) would be a good fit as well at no. 12, but history tells us the Giants just won’t pull the trigger on a LB in the first round. They’ll instead likely continue looking for mid-round gems or free agent vets.

The Giants were at their best when they had multiple edge rushers who could get up the field consistently. With a rotation filled with athletic pass rushers, they were fresh throughout the games and chewed up opposing linemen and quarterbacks. With such consistent pressure being generated, the lack of elite, frontline talent in the back seven was made acceptable. But it’s not really the same anymore.

Osi Umenyiora is gone. Michael Strahan is gone. Justin Tuck is gone. Mathias Kiwanuka has been a shell of himself this year and has just one year left on his deal. Robert Ayers is enjoying a career season, but at 29 you can’t help but wonder if his current level of play is a flash in the pan or if after six seasons he’s finally realized his first round potential. Jason Pierre-Paul is a stud to continue building around and Damontre Moore looks like a player but more help is needed.

Calhoun reminds me a bit of JPP when he was coming into ‘The League’. Very raw but very athletic and long on explosiveness and upside. Make no mistake, Calhoun needs some time for developing his pass rush arsenal and getting bigger and stronger to compete every down with an NFL OT, but man he’s got a high ceiling. A duo of JPP and Calhoun off the edges with Moore and Ayers rotating in would create constant havoc on opposing QB’s. Another possibility is to bring in Calhoun on nickel and dime packages and move Ayers inside, at least for 2015.

Last but not least, the Giants could also look at taking a WR in the first round for the second year in a row after taking Odell Beckham in ’14, particularly if someone like 6-foot 5 Dorial Green-Beckham is still on the board. Reuben Randle hasn’t been able to put it all together despite many opportunities and a freak athlete with some size opposite Beckham (5-foot 11) and Victor Cruz (6-foot) would be a welcome addition for QB Eli Manning. Green-Beckham has had his share of off-the-field incidents but there’s no denying his immense talent.

Rick Stavig is an NFL Draft Columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @rickstavig or add him to your network on Google+.

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