How Pierre-Paul trade impacts New York Giants’ draft plans

The New York Giants have traded former first-round pick Jason Pierre-Paul to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The move makes plenty of sense for Big Blue from a financial standpoint. The New York Giants also receive Tampa Bay’s third-round draft selection (No. 69), and the two franchises swapped their fourth-round picks.

The G-Men now hold six draft picks for the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft.

Giants general manager Dave Gettleman has wasted no time revamping New York’s roster. JPP, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Weston Richburg, and Justin Pugh are all gone. Nate Solder, Patrick Omameh, Kareem Martin, Alec Ogletree, and Josh Mauro are some of Gettleman’s notable additions.

Pierre-Paul’s trade undoubtedly impacts Big Blue’s draft strategy. Gettleman had said prior to the new league year that he planned to let free agency set up the team’s draft strategy.

The Giants technically have their front-seven in place. JPP was the odd man out as New York transitions to James Bettcher’s 3-4 base defense.

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Martin and Olivier Vernon fill Big Blue’s outside linebacker roles. Ogletree and B.J. Goodson are projected to be New York’s starting inside linebackers. Mauro, Damon Harrison, and Dalvin Tomlinson would then fill out the defensive line.

Despite having a viable starting lineup in place, the Giants need to add more players to their front-seven. Goodson will have to prove he is worthy of a starting role and can stay healthy. But New York’s biggest question mark will be their pass rush.

Big Blue struggled to get after the quarterback with both Vernon and Pierre-Paul leading the way in 2017.

The addition of Martin and subtraction of JPP won’t improve New York’s pass rush. Bettcher is known for bringing the pressure and will surely utilize the skill sets of Vernon, Martin, Ogletree, and Landon Collins, but depth was already an issue ahead of the trade.

Bradley Chubb Moving Up?

It’s no secret that Bradley Chubb is the top edge rusher in this year’s draft class.

Over the last three seasons, the 6-foot-4, 269-pound defensive end amassed 54.5 tackles for a loss, 25 sacks, six forced fumbles, and an interception. 

Chubb was already on Big Blue’s radar ahead of the draft. JPP’s trade has likely only moved him up New York’s big board. The Giants reportedly view Chubb as one of the top three players in this year’s draft class.

The only problem is Chubb is an ideal fit for a 4-3 defense. He showed in college that he has the ability to drop in coverage and play out of a two-point stance, but he is at his best when he has his hand in the dirt.

The Giants and Bettcher could surely find a way to utilize his skill set. Versatility is the key to Bettcher’s defense. New York will switch from a 3-4 base to a 4-3 front to a nickel defense throughout the course of a game.

Chubb is clearly in play for the No. 2 overall pick after the trade, but the Giants will have other options later in the draft.

Marcus Davenport, Arden Key, Harold Landy, Lorenzo Carter, Dorance Armstrong, and Uchenna Nwosu are some other options that could fit in Bettcher’s defense as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

Whether the Giants will take Chubb with the No. 2 overall pick is unknown at this time. What is clear is that New York will need to address their pass rush at some point in the early rounds of the 2018 draft.