New York Giants: 3-Round 2019 mock draft in late December
Round 1: Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson
In 2018, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman drafted Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 overall pick, adding him to an offense that already had Sterling Shepard, Odell Beckham Jr. and Evan Engram. Now, the Giants have a solid young core on offense.
Additionally, Eli Manning showed he still has something left in the tank. It’s a sentiment a number of fans don’t share, but the Giants don’t need to draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The 2019 quarterback class doesn’t have first-round depth, so there’s no need to reach. Instead, the Giants can add a premier cornerback with their pick.
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For starters, the Giants are handicapped at cornerback. There’s also the history that accompanies Gettleman. His drafts historically favor the defensive side of the ball. And the Giants desperately need help on defense, especially at cornerback.
Before becoming the defensive coordinator of the Giants, James Bettcher coached arguably the greatest corner in the league during his tenure with the Cardinals, Patrick Peterson. He made Bettcher’s defense click because of his ability to press. Clemson cornerback Trayvon Mullen can do the same.
While Mullen doesn’t have the same build or otherworldly athleticism as Peterson, he does share some other traits. Mullen is 6-1 with long arms and doesn’t shy away from contact. In fact, physicality in press coverage is his greatest strength. Mullen understands how to use his hands inside the legal window.
Playing the run is also another one of Mullen’s strengths. There are some concerns with his short area quickness, but he’s quick enough. Mullen’s athleticism and coverage skills are something the Giants don’t have on the roster.
Right now, in the is very early process, LSU’s Greedy Williams and Washington’s Byronn Murphy have garnered the hype. When it’s all said and done, Murphy will hear his name mentioned with the elite corners in the 2019 NFL Draft.