Giants Draft Review

The Giants made the right -albeit no brainer -choice in trading out of the 11th spot when a Bears team desperate for a QB made a tremendous value offer that included a first round pick in next years draft. 

The Giants then took who they perceived to be the 4th best receiver in the draft at number 20 in Kadaris Toney. He certainly looks like a multi-purpose weapon. I personally liked the tape on Elijah Moore better, but they filled an important position with a talented player. The trade may have been more luck (a confluence of events that started with the Bengals taking a receiver over a blocker, and the most importantly with the two top CBs being unexpectedly gone by the time the Cowboys selected.) This led the Cowboys willingness to trade down with Philly (they are loaded at WR and didn’t need Devanta Smith).  The giants would have been happy to have taken Devonte smith but may in the long run be better with the package they got from the Bears.

I would personally not have taken Toney there. There were 3 or 4 receivers of similar value and so it’s hard to think they couldn’t trade down (for example to the Saints, who desperately wanted a CB who would soon go off the board -but that is almost nitpicking). I would have been even happier had they traded down again and take Moore who went to the Jets but it will be fun to watch Toney.

In the second round the Giants made a very smart move. Whereas in the first round they almost traded down by necessity as no player at their top three target positions warranted a pick that high (WR, edge, CB), in the second round they did what good drafting teams are supposed to do, and what Gettleman has never showed an ability to do.  They recognized a cluster of 5 players that they had similar grades on and when they had the opportunity to move down 8 spots and get a #3 next year for living with the tiny risk that all 5 players would go in the next 7 picks despite different teams having different needs. 

This understanding of relative value has been severely lacking in prior years. It’s hard to know if this is a credit to Joe Judge joining the draft room.  The Patriots were always good at this.

Either way, with the move back they got the player I would have taken up at 42. Azeez Ojulari was the prefect combination of value and need. A very solid Giants defense severely lacked one thing, a credible pass rush.  If Ojulari can produce remotely close to what he did in college the Giants defense could be excellent.  The combination of getting help at two important positions and getting extra picks in next years draft class is success. A decent pass rush combined with what should be one of the better secondaries in the league with make the Giants tough to pass on.

Most of the success of a draft is dictated by the first two rounds.  In round 3, the Giants gave up a #5 acquired a day earlier from the Bears to move up and get a player they really liked in Aaron Robinson to play slot corner. I do recognize that NFL teams are in 3 receiver sets most of the time and therefore #3 cornerbacks are essentially starters. I not ready to completely give up on Sam Beal who has not been healthy since drafted or a second year Darney Holmes or Julian Love.  If the Giants had a high value on Robinson, it’s hard to argue with the move.  Giving up a # 5 is not a big deal. It’s not likely you are giving up a future starter with that pick.

I’m intrigued by 4th round pick Elerson Smith.  Prior to sitting out 2020, he put up great numbers in 2019.  Granted it was against subpar competition, but this size and stats are at least intriguing and have the potential to produce another good pass rusher.  Fourth round is a good place to take this kind of a risk. I don’t expect much to come out of 6th rounds picks Brightwell and Williams other than potential depth.

Some are critical that the Giants did not address the offensive line. However, it would have been difficult.  The problem with the Giants line is not just one particular weak spot.  They are arguably below average at each position, and certainly not good at any.  However, none of the 5 starters are bad enough that the expectancy of a 3rd round pick would have been better than what they have.  They spent a #1 on Thomas last year and he did improve in the second half of the year. They can’t give up on him.  They draft Matt Peart in the 3rd round last year and pronounced him a project with upside.  They are high on him. I’m not sure if they will prove to be correct but he didn’t show to be a bust so what would be the point in taking another 3rd rounder who would also be unproven.  Last year’s picks are this year’s potential quality starters.

I’ve been calling for Gettlemen’s firing for years.  I still think he is among the less talented GMs in the league; but I must admit, he appears to have had a great draft. I’m not certain how much was the luck of how other things played out or how much influence Judge had in the room but I’m excited to see this team.
 
-Ari Glass