New York Giants: 7-Round 2018 mock draft post-free agency

RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 25: Bradley Chubb #9 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack reacts after a win against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Carter Finley Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Raleigh, North Carolina. North Carolina State won 33-21. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 01: Auburn offensive lineman Braden Smith speaks to the media during NFL Combine press conferences at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Braden Smith is a powerful guard who’s already got his NFL body. He’s strong and good at hand fighting. Smith can handle power players with ease. In a situation where it’s necessary, he can move to the outside.

There’s one issue in his game that negatively effects all of his other attributes and may cause some of the negative dings on his resume that you see. In sports, you hear (at certain positions) don’t think too much. His actions seem like he’s thinking too much about fundamentals rather than reacting to what’s in front of him and letting his ability speak for itself.

For Smith, it’s more mental than physical. He has all the physical attributes you want in an interior lineman. He just has to clear the hurdle of thinking too much when he’s on the field. He wants to be perfect fundamentally, and it shows.

He has the power to open up holes in the running game and protect the passer from interior defensive linemen. He’s not as quick as some other guards, but Smith is more than capable of being a good NFL lineman. The Giants need an offensive lineman, and if he can clear the mental hurdle, he’s their guy.

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