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NY Giants stole player Urban Meyer coveted in NFL Draft

By Matt Lombardo

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer talks with members of the media after the team selected Clemson running back Travis Etienne with their 25th. pick in the first round of the NFL Draft late Thursday night, April 29, 2021. The Jacksonville Jaguars held a draft night party at TIAA Bank Field in anticipation of taking former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first pick of the first round of the NFL draft overseen by the Jaguars' new head coach Urban Meyer.Jki 042921 Jagsdraft 26
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer talks with members of the media after the team selected Clemson running back Travis Etienne with their 25th. pick in the first round of the NFL Draft late Thursday night, April 29, 2021. The Jacksonville Jaguars held a draft night party at TIAA Bank Field in anticipation of taking former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first pick of the first round of the NFL draft overseen by the Jaguars' new head coach Urban Meyer.Jki 042921 Jagsdraft 26 /
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Dave Gettleman and the NY Giants stole a player Urban Meyer and the Jaguars had in their sights during the NFL Draft

The NY Giants and Dave Gettleman were among the biggest winners of the 2021 NFL Draft, especially because of the haul from trades that bolstered New York’s war chest in 2022, but there was a player Urban Meyer coveted that Gettleman stole from underneath him.

“Broke his heart,” Meyer said, via ESPN, that Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney never made it to Jacksonville’s selection at No. 25 overall.

Toney, of course, was chosen by the NY Giants with the No. 20 overall pick, after dropping down eight spots in a trade with the Chicago Bears that netted Gettleman an additional first-round pick in 2022 as part of the package.

"“I’ve gotten to know him over the last couple weeks and obviously my connection with [Gators] coach [Dan] Mullen and those guys,” Meyer said. “You watch [Toney] play, he’s a human highlight reel.”"

After being selected by the NY Giants, Toney rounds out a rebuilt wide receiving corps around quarterback Daniel Jones, and should have the opportunity to push for either the starting job opposite free agent acquisition Kenny Golladay or supplant Sterling Shepard for the starting slot job.

Meyer, as the NY Giants did, clearly coveted Toney’s speed and shiftiness in the open-field, which is the best attribute of his skill-set.

“He’s tough,” an NFL executive tells GMenHQ, of Toney. “He’s super competitive, and has excellent run after the catch skills.”

It certainly would have been interesting to see all of that speed and after-the-catch playmaking ability on the receiving end of passes from Trevor Lawrence, but in the end, Jones and the NY Giants will be the biggest benefactors of Gettleman’s astute maneuvering in Round 1.

Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL

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