The 2021 NFL Draft was unlike any before in NY Giants GM Dave Gettleman’s career, featuring multiple trade backs, and New York added several players capable of making an impact
NY Giants general manager Dave Gettleman sought out to add to quarterback Daniel Jones’ supporting cast of skill-players on offense, and bolster New York’s draft capital in 2022, and accomplished both and then some during the 2021 NFL Draft.
From adding a pair of immediate starters on both sides of the football with the NY Giants’ first two picks of the 2021 NFL Draft, and adding multiple selections in a draft that many believe is deeper and more talented than the one that just ended, this was a success for Gettleman.
Here are grades for each NY Giants pick during the 2021 NFL Draft:
Round 1, pick No. 20: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
Gettleman and the NY Giants deserve high marks for acquiring an additional first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft from the Chicago Bears, in the first trade back ever executed by the veteran general manager.
However, the NY Giants’ trade was a bit more impressive than the player the No. 20 pick was used on.
Kadarius Toney is a nice piece and offers plenty of speed and explosiveness from the slot, after averaging 19.6 yards after the catch per reception in 2019 and 7.3 in 2020 while catching 12 career touchdowns. But, it is fair to wonder if he has more upside than the likes of Rashod Bateman, chosen seven picks later by the Baltimore Ravens or Elijah Moore who went to the Jets with the second-pick in the second-round.
Good for the NY Giants to add yet another dynamic weapon to quarterback Daniel Jones’ arsenal, but time will tell if Toney was the best available player at the position.