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2018 NFL Mock Draft: Final projection on draft day

By Cody Williams

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: Roger Goodell announces a draft pick during the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theater on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: Roger Goodell announces a draft pick during the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theater on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – OCTOBER 21: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys looks to pass in the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – OCTOBER 21: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys looks to pass in the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

31. New York Giants (via Patriots): Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State

TRADE: New York trades No. 34 and 139 to New England for No. 31

So here’s the situation. The Giants took Bradley Chubb at No. 2 overall, which is probably the right move as they aren’t necessarily desperate at quarterback. With that being said, they could use a successor to groom behind Eli Manning, who’s entering the twilight of his career. The most likely trade candidate in a vacuum would be the Eagles at No. 32, but that’s not happening — you know, because of that whole NFC East thing.

Thus, that leaves the G-Men to trade with the New England Patriots, which we know Bill Belichick is prone to doing. As a result, the Giants are then able to tab the sixth quarterback taken in the first round, Mason Rudolph.

Rudolph’s stock has been a rollercoaster throughout the draft process, but he has the tools to succeed in the NFL. The biggest thing he needs are simply picking up the nuances of the NFL game and an NFL offense. In New York, he’ll be afforded the opportunity to do so and, if all goes well, make post-Eli life a smooth transition in the Big Apple.

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

This is quite the fall for Derrius Guice, who is the consensus second-best running back in this draft class. However, other pressing needs in the first round see him slide to the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles at the end of the first round. And you might be saying to yourself, aren’t the Eagles likely to trade out of the first round?

Next: NFL Draft: Ideal fits for top 30 prospects

Indeed, I could see Philly trading out. However, they aren’t going to trade with the Giants, who I have moving ahead of them. Meanwhile, Rudolph coming off the board lessens the value of No. 32. And unless a team is insanely desperate to take Guice (unlikely in a deep running back class), that leaves them making a selection here. With LeGarrette Blount leaving in free agency, they could use a workhorse for their running back stable and Guice is that. If healthy, he could be a bell cow back in this league.

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