NFL.com Offers Surprising Choice for Giants at No. 25 in Latest Mock Draft

The NFL Draft is just under three weeks away, and the mock drafts continue to keep media and fans interested. And this week, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein mocked a player to New York at No. 25 that has not been mocked much, if any, to them all offseason long: Alabama defensive back Brian Branch.

Why Branch? Zierlein explained, "The smart, tough, and consistent Branch can play nickel or step right into the safety spot that opened up with the free agency departure of Julian Love.”

Interestingly, Zierlein passed on receivers Quentin Johnston and Jordan Addison, who didn't even appear in the first-round mock. Others whom Zierlein passed over for the Giants include linebacker Drew Sanders, defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, and center John Michael-Schmitz.

Branch was listed as a cornerback on NFL.com but has earned the title of an all-around defensive back. The former Alabama product is the definition of versatile, playing virtually everywhere in the secondary. This could fit what the Giants and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale are trying to do.

Branch is 6’0, 190 pounds, and ran a 4.58 40-time at the Combine. Good size and speed for a rangy player. He can play deep safety, down in the box as a hybrid linebacker, line up in the slot, and sometimes even on the outside.

Branch is also a force to be reckoned with when sent on blitzes, something Martindale is known for doing. He had 90 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions, and nine passes defensed last season.

Here’s what the Draft Network had to say about the versatile defensive back.

Brian Branch is a true junior prospect that has been a key contributor to the Alabama secondary since his freshman year. Over the years, Branch has proven his value as a player through his versatility. Branch has transitioned to playing multiple positions across the defense, aligning at deep safety, strong safety, nickel, and linebacker, and has been the end man on the line of scrimmage in certain blitz packages. Branch is an instinctual defender who appears to always be around the football through his short-area quickness, acceleration, and high motor. Of all the positional alignments Branch has played over his career at Alabama, he looks most comfortable. He has been most productive closer to the line of scrimmage, playing the nickel/hybrid LB role.

This is where drafting for needs versus taking the best player available argument comes in. Zierlein’s scenario was outside the box, especially with the receivers still on the board.

With how this board played out, we think there were a few players worth taking over Branch for the Giants. TCU receiver Quentin Johnston, who went to Dallas with the next pick, is certainly one of those players, considering the Giants have given a notable amount of interest to the top pass catchers in the class based on their Top 30 visits.

Still, we can see the logic behind Zierlein's choice. The Giants secondary barely made it through last season, when star safety Xavier McKinney and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson missed time due to injuries. The Giants could somehow make it work and still make a playoff push. Adding Branch to a secondary with McKinney and Jackson, along with Dane Belton and Cor’Dale Flott, who were both selected last year, could turn the group into one of the best young groups in the league.

If the Giants somehow were to end up with Branch, they’d be adding an athletic, versatile, and very talented defender to their secondary. With the loss of Love, Branch would likely come in and fill that role immediately, with Belton, Bobby McCain, and Jason Pinnock being subbed in.

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