Positions the NY Giants should avoid in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft.

As important as they are, the Giants should address their EDGE/defensive line on Days 2 and 3 of the NFL Draft.

In this draft, there is no “blue goose” pass rusher.

This is not a top-heavy or stacked group on the EDGE or defensive line. The sweet spot for these two groups will come on Day 2 where there are several players of intrigue that better fits the Giants’ draft value at #43 and #75 as compared to #11 overall.

Players such as Gregory Rousseau, Kwity Paye, and Micah Parsons are great prospects who will all see their names selected in the first round. All three come with their own unique concerns and reasons why the Giants should avoid them in the first round.

Rousseau only played one true season of college football and that was in 2019. He opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He had 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss in his lone season. His one season will leave the scouts wondering if it was a fluke or if it’s a sign or more thing to come in the NFL.

Kwity Paye is a freak athlete with a quick-twitch first step that is rare for somebody his size. Paye was a four-year player for the Michigan Wolverines but only racked up 11.5 sacks over four seasons. Paye also played in a 4-3 scheme at Michigan which will leave some questions as to his fit and ability to adapt in a 3-4 defense.

Lastly, Parsons is another exceptional talent and the best linebacker prospect in the draft. He was a beast for Penn State but his best position in the NFL has been debated and will be much discussed until he’s drafted. Parsons comes with some character concerns as he allegedly pulled a knife on a teammate. He also opted out of the 2020 season and it’s a legitimate worry on how players will perform after a healthy season of absence from football.

This draft will have plenty of good pass rushers in the middle rounds where the Giants have historically picked multiple pass rushers and hit on some. They are better off implementing this same strategy in 2021.

Names such as Chazz Surratt, Curtis Weaver, Jaelan Phillips, Dylan Moses, and Carlos Basham should be bigger priorities for New York on Day 2. Pairing a playmaker on offense in round one with a difference-maker on defense in rounds two and three can push this Giants defense over the top from good to great.