No. 31

Pick by Big Blue View Dan Connor Linebacker Penn State

With the 31st overall selection in the 2008 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, the New England Patrio... what?  oh, right.  Spygate.  Ahem... New York Giants select Dan Connor, linebacker from Penn State.  ETVal, head blogger at Big Blue View and the man behind the selection, explains why Connor is a great fit in New York:

  I am absolutely thrilled to be able to land Connor, the next in a long line of standout linebackers from Penn State. In all honesty, though, Connor is not the guy I had been eyeing throughout this process. I really, really wanted Kenny Phillips, the Miami safety who went to San Diego with the 27th pick. Phillips, the best safety in this draft, would have shored up what I see as the Giants' weakest position.

Connor, though, is one helluva consolation prize. The focus of this draft for the defending Super Bowl champions has to be defense, where they can use help at linebacker, cornerback, safety and maybe even defensive tackle. Considering the available players, I would have been happy to select either Connor or Tennessee linebacker Jarod Mayo, but the consensus choice in the Big Blue View Nation War Room was Connor.

Connor grades out pretty much equal to his ex-teammate at Penn State, Paul Posluszny, who went 34th to Buffalo last season and was impressive before suffering a season-ending injury. He is a bruising tackler who can make plays sideline-to-sideline.

The Giants lost two linebackers to free agency  (Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor) and signed only one (Danny Clark). They may have to move Mathias Kiwanuka back to defensive end if Michael Strahan retires, so Connor could contribute right away. Also, since he can play inside or outside, he provides insurance for middle linebacker Antonio Pierce.
 
Matt Miller, host of this site as well as owner of New Era Scouting, provides his analysis below:

How do you say finally loud enough for everyone to hear it? Connor is by far the best player on the board. It's hard to imagine a scenario April 26th where he is still on the board for the Giants at the end of the first round.

Connor is an amazing football player and a damn fine person. He has experience as an inside and outside linebacker in the successful Penn State scheme. He's fast enough to cover tight ends and will also lower his helmet and stop the run. The Giants defense was very good last season, but their one weakness may have been linebacker. Connor will step in as an immediate starter.

Grade: A  ::  Dan Connor Scouting Report - New Era Scouting :: Matt Miller's Top Five Prospects Remaining: 1.  LB Jerod Mayo, 2.  QB Joe Flacco, 3.  Kentwan Balmer, 4.  LB Shawn Crable, 5. RB Jamaal Charles

That's all she wrote for the first round of the 2008 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft!  To view any of the first-round picks made, just click the name of the selection in the left sidebar.  We have some recap posts coming your way this afternoon, and Round 2 of the 2008 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft will begin tomorrow at noon.  The Miami Dolphins, represented by The Phinsider, are once again on the clock.