NFL Draft - Who to Pick?

This Saturday, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden is the NFL Draft, where several tall and heavy former college players will be selected to join the ranks of the NFL. The Giants "earned" the 4th pick in this year's draft with a 4-12 record, netting them their highest pick since 1984 when they selected Carl Banks. The Jets, who had a 6-10 record, have the 12th pick. Gothamist loves waking up on a lazy Saturday and watching the draft for 10 straight hours on ESPN and ESPN2 and waking up on a lazy Sunday and watching the draft for 7 straight hours. We'll be sure to have the Visine at the ready.

There is much talk about who the Giants might take with their pick. While the fourth pick is great, they are in a position where players that would really fit a need will no longer be there, or can be drafted later in the round. Everybody is talking about Eli Manning and Robert Gallery. Eli Manning, the younger brother of Colts QB Peyton Manning and son of Archie Manning, starred at Ole Miss. His father wants him to join the Giants, and he could be a great replacement for Kerry Collins who is in the final year of his contract. Robert Gallery is a huge (6'7", 320 pounds) offensive tackle from Iowa. One of his negatives, according to NFL.com reads, "because of his height and girth, he does not always sink his pads properly." Despite his height and girth, franchise tackles like Gallery are hard to come by, which is why there is also tremendous interest in Gallery, who is apparently awe inspiring to those that see him. Should the Giants trade up to the first pick to take Manning or Gallery? Or do they take Ben Roethlisberger with the 4th pick?

The Jets, with the 12th pick, are in a good position to pick up a player that will make an impact. Their needs include a shutdown cornerback and an outside linebacker. Names floating around include DeAngelo Hall, Dunta Robinson, and Chris Gamble at corner and D.J. Williams and Karlos Dansby at outside LB. Hopefully, the Jets won't be too distracted by all that stadium talk.

Mock drafts are all over the place - Black Table makes their draft predictions, Gregg Easterbrook mocks the mock drafts and tries to predict the 7th round, and the NYC sports commission has a mock draft.