New York Giants Rumors: Ronnie Stanley Emerges As Top Pick For Giants, According To Latest NFL Mock Drafts


With the 2016 NFL draft less than a month away, rumors are heating up regarding the New York Giants and their potential selection in the first round. Since there is an abundance of talent within the first ten picks, the Giants have been linked to numerous players over the past few months. While things can change in the coming weeks, the recent mock drafts have the Giants drafting Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley with the No. 10 overall pick.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott has been a name commonly thrown around to be on the Giants’ radar. While Elliott is still a possibility for the Giants, he has been moving up in recent mock drafts. As reported by the Inquisitr, it appears as though the Giants’ NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles may be on the verge of going after Elliott.

Regardless of what the Eagles do, Stanley may be exactly what the Giants need. While Elliott is a special talent, the running back position has been devalued in recent years. At 35 years old, Giants quarterback Eli Manning still has a few solid years left. In order to maximize his potential over his remaining seasons, the Giants have to solidify their offensive line. While no player coming out of college is a sure thing, Stanley is viewed as a tackle that can anchor an offensive line for a decade.

As seen in the latest mock draft on Sports Illustrated, Stanley may not be a sexy selection for Giants’ fans, but he may very well be the correct one.

“It’s not the sexiest pick, and the Giants are probably hoping that Elliott falls to the 10 spot. But an old-school approach works for New York, especially after going on that huge defensive spending spree in free agency. Stanley is a top-10 talent and he’d help solidify one of the Giants’ weakest links in recent years. With Stanley and last year’s first-rounder Ereck Flowers on board, new head coach Ben McAdoo should have his tackle combination established for years to come, and that helps out Eli Manning’s game.”

With new Giants head coach Ben McAdoo set to begin his first season, it is important that he has a strong offensive line in place. While skill positions are important, the team will have so much more flexibility if they are able to protect Manning and create holes for the Giants’ running backs. Elliott would be exciting and add an entirely new dynamic for the Giants offense, but NFL games are won in the trenches. If the Giants are winning at the line of scrimmage, they can get by without an elite running back.

A recent mock draft at SB Nation agrees with the notion that Stanley is the best selection for the Giants.

“The best choice, though, is Stanley. The Giants have been trying for years now to complete an overhaul of their offensive line. Stanley could be the final piece, and he could be a security blanket in the event that Ereck Flowers, last year’s first-round pick, does not develop at left tackle the way the Giants think he will. Protecting Eli Manning and extending his career is a major priority for the Giants, so Stanley is the pick.”

While Stanley has been falling in recent mock drafts, there is a chance that he is taken before the Giants pick at No. 10. If Stanley is gone, Elliott could very well be on the board for the Giants to draft. While he would undoubtedly be a great player for the Giants, he may not be what McAdoo and Manning need right now.

As the NFL draft approaches, rumors will continue to link the New York Giants to Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley. While he is not the pick that is going to have Giants’ fans rushing out to buy jerseys for, he may be the piece that the team needs to once again have one of the best offensive lines in football.

[Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images]

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