NY Giants: How free agency impacts NFL Draft decisions
The NY Giants have knocked it out of the park during the 2021 free agency period and now the next step is the NFL draft
The NY Giants given themselves some flexibility in the draft. They signed Kenny Golladay to a four-year deal to be the wide receiver one. They re-signed Leonard Williams to keep the pass rush strong and keep one their defensive leaders. They also added Adoree Jackson to give them a true cornerback two. Kyle Rudolph was also signed to help bolster the tight end room.
The only major additions the NY Giants didn’t address was the offensive line. In fact they lost an offensive lineman when they released Kevin Zietler arguably their best player in the group. Nate Solder will return after sitting out in 2020 for Covid concerns.
The NY Giants are a much more complete team then they were before free agency but the work is not done. The NY Giants have a few ways they can go about the 11th pick. They can go offensive line, pass rush or pass catcher. The most talked about picks for the NY Giants have been Rashawn Slater an offensive tackle, Jaylen Waddle a wide receiver and Gregory Rousseau an edge rusher. It’s also possible a a projected top 5 pick falls and something unexpected happens. The NY Giants will certainly also consider Penei Sewell, Kyle Pitts or Devonta Smith if they were to fall. Smith has recently gained attention as a Giant target.
The NY Giants have spent the offseason helping out Daniel Jones.
It’s a big year for Jones, he still has a lot to prove going into year 3. GM Dave Gettleman and head coach Joe Judge have showed support for Daniel Jones. The NY Giants should continue making moves to help Jones. The one unit lacking is the offensive line. The Giants were 31st in offensive points scored in 2020 and 9th In defensive points allowed. The 11th pick should be an offensive pick.
This scenario makes a lot of sense to me:
— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) March 23, 2021
11th over: Jaylen Waddle/DeVonta Smith
42: RG Wyatt Davis
I think Gettleman feels good rolling with Peart and Solder at RT.
Davis is a day-1 starter at RG. Various OG options at 42 they can pick from.
If one of the Alabama star receivers are available it will be hard for the NY Giants to pass up. It would give them one of the best wide receiver cores in football.. Throw out the defensive picks and take an offensive lineman or one of the elite pass catchers. If it doesn’t play out that way Devonta Smith won the Heisman Trophy after posting a 117 catch, 1856 yards and 23 touchdown season. Smith is only 170 lbs but he is an elite route runner and an explosive down field threat. They don’t call him the “Slim Reaper” for nothing. His teammate Jaylen Waddle is equally as explosive. Waddle battled injuries in 2020 but still had 591 yards receiving in 6 games.
When it comes to building great teams the most sensible thing the NY Giants can do would be drafting an offensive lineman. Keep working towards fixing this offensive line if possible. That doesn’t mean it has to be done in the first round. If the NY Giants miss on the top 2 offensive lineman it means a star wide receiver likely fell.
This needs to be an offensive draft for the NY Giants early. The names that they should consider are Penei Sewell or Kyle Pitts if either fell although unexpected. Devonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle and Rashawn Slater are also must picks depending on who is available. It’s an offensive draft, don’t reach for one of the pass rushers. If the NY Giants go receiver in round 1 double up on offensive lineman in rounds 2-3. It’s time to fix this broken offense.