The New York Giants have been expected to try and upgrade their offensive line early in the draft, but without any really dominant tackle prospects in the first round, they could look elsewhere.
ESPN's Jordan Raanan expects them to do that, reporting that they are expected to draft Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis with the No. 23 overall pick if he's available.
The Giants -- and likely several other teams -- are high on Davis with his off-the-charts athletic ability (see his Pro Day numbers) and what are considered incredible intangibles. The only concern was with his medicals, but two sources from other teams didn't think it would be a problem. The bigger question might be whether Davis makes it to 23. There seems to be lots of buzz around the league about him as a mid-first-round pick. The Lions are a possibility at 21. Davis could either be a sideline-to-sideline weakside linebacker or middle linebacker with the Giants.
The 6-foot-2, 227-pound Davis had 60 tackles with six tackles for loss and two sacks in nine games last season while being limited with ankle and knee injuries that ultimately cut his year short. However, he had 94 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in all 14 games for Florida as a junior in 2015.
“That’s the guy I am. This year, I was plagued with the (ankle) injury,” he said. “I kind of had a slow start. I got in my groove around the time of the Vanderbilt game. I definitely feel like 2015, that was my year.
“A lot of teams, they’re telling me I built a good resume for myself on film. I played hard. I did a lot to make myself a standout player. The injuries are the injuries. I got to make sure I’m healthy. And I can come back and show them I’m the same guy they see watching that tape.”
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