Coming in between last month's NFL Scouting Combine and the March 10 start of free agency, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest mock draft on Thursday.
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The third edition projected the Giants to take Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat at No. 9 in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, which begins April 30 in Chicago.
"The Giants could go shopping at right tackle in free agency, but given the needs around the NFL, they could opt to pass and look for a starter there from the draft," Kiper said. "Andrus Peat has the potential to be the best offensive tackle drafted in 2015 because even as he's an unfinished product, he's already shown he can keep a QB clean for long stretches and he's capable of dealing with pass-rushing speed on the edge. I think he has the chance to come in right away and compete for the starting job at right tackle and he offers the profile of a future blindside tackle. You can do worse here."
The 6-foot-6, 313-pound former Cardinal was a change from Kiper's first two mock drafts, which both had Big Blue going with Iowa offensive tackle Brandon Scherff (Kiper moved him to No. 13 for the New Orleans Saints).
In order, the top five picks overall, according to Kiper, are Florida State QB Jameis Winston (Buccaneers), USC DE Leonard Williams (Titans), Florida DE Dante Fowler Jr. (Jaguars), West Virginia WR Kevin White (Raiders), and Missouri DE Shane Ray (Redskins).
As for the rest of the NFC East, Kiper projected LSU CB Jalen Collins to the Eagles at No. 20 and Wake Forest CB Kevin Johnson to the Cowboys at No. 27.
Check out photos of OT Andrus Peat from Stanford University
