Could the New York Giants bag this linebacker?
The New York Giants are preparing to decide who to select with the No. 5 overall pick of the NFL Draft, and we have heard all sorts of speculation about which player will hear his name called on April 23.
Originally, Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate looked like the favorite, but in recent weeks, Tate's college teammates, linebacker Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs, seem to have usurped him.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has also been pitched as a potential target for the Giants.
Styles, however, seems to be the most popular player linked to New York in recent mock drafts, which doesn't really make a ton of sense considering the Giants signed Tremaine Edmunds in free agency.
In a fresh mock draft published by ESPN, Big Blue was predicted to select Love at No. 5. New York then circled around to select a linebacker with its second-round pick at No. 37, with Mel Kiper Jr. connecting the Giants to Georgia's CJ Allen.
CJ Allen. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images."Allen is my No. 23 prospect, and the Giants could pop him in next to Tremaine Edmunds at off-ball linebacker," Kiper wrote. "He does a little bit of everything, from chasing down ball carriers to blitzing from the second level."
While taking a linebacker on Day 2 is certainly more palatable than selecting one in the top five, I am still not enthralled with the idea of the Giants ignoring their needs at cornerback, defensive tackle, guard and wide receiver.
Allen is definitely an impressive talent, having logged 88 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a couple of forced fumbles in 2025. But would going running back and then linebacker be the most effective way for New York to operate in this draft?
Remember: the Giants do not currently own a third-round pick, so they really need to fill key needs in the first couple of rounds. Halfback is not a pressing need for them; neither is linebacker.
It's true that there may not be any players at their positions of need worth taking at No. 5 outside of Tate, but trading down is also an option for New York.
I don't hate the idea of Allen as a player. I think he is good. But do I strongly dislike the thought of prioritizing two non-premium positions in the NFL Draft? Yes.
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