Who should the NY Giants target in the 2nd round of the NFL draft?

Antoine Winfield Jr:  S, Minnesota

Why would he be a good value for the Giants in the 2nd round? Winfield excels at playing the deep half safety position. His special knack for attacking the ball in the air and being in the right place in coverage would make him a great value for the NY Giants at #36. Winfield’s ability to play coverage in the deep half of the field is something teams are clamoring for throughout the NFL.

The best deep half safeties didn’t have the chance to hit the market in free agency. Devin Mccourty was extended by the Patriots for big money, even at his advanced age. Justin Simmons and Anthony Harris were both were tagged before they could hit the open market the start of free agency.

What does he excel at? Winfield is an instinctive defender that sees the field exceptionally well. This allows him to quickly diagnose what an offense is doing and get in the right position to make a play. For Minnesota, Winfield was a true playmaker, totaling 7 interceptions and 85 tackles in 2019.

Winfield is the son of former NFL Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield Sr. Like his father, he is an aggressive tackler that is eager to fill the gap and stop incoming ball carriers. His ability the quickly process plays allows him to consistently be in the right place when stopping the run.

Why the Giants might hesitate: Winfield lacks ideal size and athleticism for an NFL safety. He isn’t slow by any means (his 4.45 40 yard dash is proof of that), but he lacks the second gear to chase ball carriers from behind. Standing at just 5 feet 9 inches, he might have trouble versus tight ends over the middle.

Personal excitement level if drafted: (9/10) Winfield would fill a glaring hole at free safety for the NY Giants. The Golden Gopher has tremendous football pedigree, football instincts, and the mindset of a playmaker. If he was chosen by Big Blue in the second round, I would be ecstatic.

Likelihood he will fall to #36: (6/10)

Denzel Mims-WR, Baylor

Why would he be a good value for the Giants in the 2nd round? Denzel Mims has legitimate superstar potential. In a typical draft, Mims would be a surefire first round pick. In a historically good 2020 wide receiver draft class, there is a chance someone like Mims could slip into the second round.

I wrote about Mims’ elite speed, agility, and route running in my column about the athletic freaks the Giants should target in the draft.  His elite size (6 foot 3, 207 pounds) and atleticism (4.3 40-yard dash and a 6.6 3-cone drill), would add a different dimension to the Giants offense. Daniel Jones would have another burner on the outside, which would open up room for Saquon Barkley in the run game.

What does he excel at? Mims has plucky hands and a very large catch radius. He has able to easily win contested catch battles against defensive backs and he uses his size to his advantage. Additionally, Mims displays excellent awareness of the sideline, making him very quarterback friendly.

The Baylor Bear is the type of receiver that you can feel comfortable just throwing it up to. His ability to focus and make the catch with bodies around him is special. The Giants have lacked a player with his skill set since Hakeem Nicks was in his prime.

Why the Giants might hesitate: The Giants don’t have a glaring need at wide receiver. They have needs all over their defense, and still need solutions at center and offensive tackle. Despite Mims’ elite athleticism, his route running and RAC ability in college was not the best.

Personal excitement level if drafted: (6/10) The Giants defense and offensive line were dreadful in 2019. The wide receivers, including the rookie 5th round pick Darius Slayton, were not the reason they went 4-12. Mims could end up being a great player, but he would not fill a need for the Giants.

Likelihood he will fall to #36: (5/10)