Kiper Mock Draft: Giants nab Trufant, Moore

In Mel Kiper Jr.’s first two-round mock draft, the longtime NFL Draft prognosticator suggests the New York Giants will select a cornerback and linebacker, respectively, with their first and second-round picks.

At No. 19, Kiper projects the Giants to draft cornerback Desmond Trufant from the University of Washington. The 6-foot, 190-pound former Huskie impressed at the NFL Combine, solidifying his status as a first-round talent.

NFL.com compares Trufant to Cardinals cornerback Antoine Cason, praising him for his size, athleticism and short-area foot quickness. However, experts believe he’ll have to improve his overall strength on the professional level.

ESPN Insider rates Trufant  as an exceptional defensive back in terms of his college production, durability and instincts in the secondary. He received an above average grade in terms of his height and weight, run support, ball skills and coverage abilities.

The Giants will rely on veteran Corey Webster to have a bounce back season in ’13, and Prince Amukamara to take another step forward on the opposite site.

Jayron Hosley will fill the void at nickelback, but too many defensive backs can never ben an issue, writes Kiper.

The Giants certainly can’t assume Terrell Thomas is going to be an effective starter in 2013, and even if they could, depth at cornerback would still be a priority. In Trufant, you get a player who will make your secondary better regardless of where the needs are, because Trufant can do it all. Slot or outside, man or zone, you’re going to get an effective talent. Needs at linebacker can be addressed further down the board. Trufant makes sense here, and the value fits the slot.

With the 17th pick in the second round (No. 49 overall), Kiper projects New York to pick up Connecticut outside linebacker Sio Moore.

According to scouting reports by ESPN Insider, Moore is touted for his durability, and was rated average in terms of college production, height and weight, intangibles, instincts, range, tackling and third-down abilities.

NFL.com compared Moore to former Giants backer Michael Boley, calling the prospect disciplined and a solid tackler but lacks great closing speed.

Yesterday, USA Today Sports reported Moore visited with the Cowboys and Ravens, and is scheduled to do the same with the Jaguars and Buccaneers.

Obviously, Moore would fill the team’s desperate voids in the linebacking corps.  Mathias Kiwanuka and Jacquian Williams are penciled in as the team’s two starting outside backers, with Keith Rivers, Zak DeOssie and Spencer Paysinger as reserves.

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