NFL Draft Mock 5.0: Two-round mock, post-free agency

In case you haven’t heard, the Giants are in need of a new No. 1 wide receiver. Historically, Dave Gettleman hasn’t been very keen on investing too much in his receiving core. But the last time his receiving core was this bare, that’s exactly what he did: He drafted Kelvin Benjamin with the No. 28 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Gettleman has also displayed a preference for big-bodied receivers. In his four years at Carolina, Gettleman only drafted two receivers: Benjamin and Devin Funchess. Both were at least 6-foot-4, and known for their jump ball abilities and their use of natural size as a mismatch for defensive backs.

With Odell Beckham Jr. gone, the stage is set for Gettleman to draft his third career wide receiver, and no one in the 2019 NFL Draft fits his preferences better than Ole Miss’ D.K. Metcalf.

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Every NFL Draft season, some players are prematurely labeled as busts. Last year, current Bills quarterback Josh Allen was a common victim of such a wave, and this year, with his underdeveloped route tree, injury history, and his poor agility numbers at the Combine, D.K. Metcalf is the next polarizing prospect to prey on.

Yes, Metcalf’s game needs some refinement. But he’s far from a lock to be a bust. In fact, he has the tools to light the NFL on fire, as I wrote in a recent scouting report on the Ole Miss receiver.

"Metcalf has an innate understanding of how to gain leverage at the line of scrimmage, and create separation. He knows when he’s attained that leverage, and he has the flexibility to bend around cornerbacks and peel off into open space from there. Metcalf dishes out physicality to cornerbacks of similar fire, but he’s not all strength; he’s very coordinated with his movements, and the tape does not show the stiff athlete that many convinced themselves to see at the combine. Metcalf’s physical traits, including his 4.33 speed, show up on tape, and it’s good to see. His long arms allow him to extend for balls outside the preferred catch radius. His strong hands can win in contested catch situations, even if his consistency wanes when he’s off-balance. He has the ability to high point the ball in tight situations, and he’s very fluid when navigating loose coverage and finding seams in his area. This fluidness bodes well for his NFL career, as does his ball tracking ability. He rarely loses sight of the ball, even in congested situations. And after he catch, Metcalf is tough and explosive, with the traits to develop more skills."

By pairing Metcalf with No. 6 overall pick Dwayne Haskins, Pat Shurmur’s Giants can gear themselves for eventual success, with an offense that once again boasts top-end positional talent and a keen distributor in Haskins to get his weapons the ball.