2016 NFL Mock Draft: RB Ezekiel Elliott Strong Fit for New York Giants?
A recent 2016 NFL Mock Draft has the New York Giants scooping up RB Ezekiel Elliott with the 10th overall pick. Is this a likely decision that would be a wise move for the organization?
The New York Giants are a team in an interesting situation. Despite having a proven veteran quarterback, a solid defensive unit and the most talented young receiver in the NFL, new head coach Ben McAdoo has his work cut out for him. The Giants clearly have some strong pieces, but there are some obvious holes on their roster.
Related Story: Who do Giants Land in Complete 2-Round Mock Draft?
In the 2016 NFL Draft, the Giants could go in many different directions with the 10th overall pick. The offensive line clearly needs some work, as does the defensive backfield. The Giants usually have a strong array of outside pass rushers, but their options at defensive end are quickly starting to dwindle.
A pass rushing defensive end or offensive tackle probably fits as the Giants’ biggest need on the roster, but who knows what will be available for them when they choose with the 10th overall selection. In a recent 2016 NFL Mock Draft by CBS Sports’ Rob Rang, the options at those positions were extremely limited. Instead, Rang had the Giants choosing talented running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Let’s see what Rang had to say about the selection for the Giants:
"Complementing Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. with a bell cow running back might be the fastest way of getting the Giants back into playoff contention. Elliott isn’t the second-coming of Todd Gurley but he’s clearly the top running back in this class, showing the all-around game to play on all three downs immediately."
On the surface this may seem like an odd selection, but Elliott is an incredibly talented player. NFL teams typically prefer to wait on the running back position in the draft now, but Elliott has a chance to be a special player. Talent wins out over positional value.
With Rashad Jennings leading an unimpressive stock of players for the Giants at the running back position, the need at the position is obvious. I could certainly see the Giants making a move like this, but it will immediately be questioned because teams are having so much success in waiting on the position.
Sure, the Giants could wait until the middle-to-late rounds to find their running back of the future, but how reliable of an option would that guy be? I have no problem with the Giants simply stepping up and grabbing the clear top running back on the board.
Elliott is a talented runner with a great combination of power and speed. As Rang mentions, he may not have the massive upside of a guy like Gurley, but his rushing ability is obvious on the field.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
His ability in the passing game is actually better than a guy like Gurley. Elliott is a strong receiver out of the backfield and a great pass protector for a back coming out of college. Elliott has an extremely well-rounded skill-set that will allow him to be on the field for all three downs right away.
Forget that the running back position has lost value over the years. Elliott is not only one of the most talented prospects in this draft class, he is as close to a sure-thing as there is. In a class filled with question marks, there is no reason to doubt a team taking a rock-solid and talented player in the top ten.
More nfl spin zone: Defensive Free Agent Options for Giants
If someone like OT Ronnie Stanley or DE DeForest Buckner is there for the Giants to take, selecting Elliott may not be the best plan of attack. That being said, the way the dominoes fell in this 2016 NFL Mock Draft, I have no problem with New York stocking up their offensive unit with the best running back in this class.