Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Dave Gettlemen, the GM of the New York Giants, has been under heavy criticism as of late and has made some questionable decisions since he has taken the role of General Manager for the Giants 3 years ago (See Odell Beckham Trade, Daniel Jones selection). He has been under constant duress, pressure, and uncertainty about his future, all things that come with taking a position in New York. For him, this draft was of extreme importance. For him it was make-or-break. All or nothing. Put up or shut up. Luckily for the New York Giants, he not only delivered, but shined.
Before we get any further, credit must also be given to Joe Judge who certainly was heavily involved in the draft process and has been quite Bill Belicheck - esque as of late. Given this it was still down to Gettlemen to have the final say in the drafting process. To truly understand how the Giants not only made strong selections, but flat out won the draft, we must delve into each pick, starting with the tackle out of Georgia, Andrew Thomas.
Georgia OT Andrew Thomas, Round 1, Pick 4
This pick, while not quite as flashy as Isaiah Simmons, the linebacker out of Clemson many fans hoped the Giants would select, was definitely smarter and a more impactful selection. With this pick, the Giants fill a huge hole at LT that they have been trying to fill for years. Behind quarterback, left tackle is arguably the most important position in football and Andrew Thomas, a 6 foot 5 inches 320 pound monster will definitely fare well against top pass rushers. Andrew Thomas, the most pro ready out of the four top tackles (Jedrick Willis Jr., Meckhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs) will make a huge impact for the Giants. Daniel Jones will be receiving a top pass-blocker who can hopefully help reduce the hits he is taking, while Saquon will be getting a Giant to open up gaping holes in the run-game for him. The only issue I have with this pick, is that I wish the Giants could have traded down to select Thomas, however according to multiple executives, The Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers had Thomas as the top tackle on their draft boards, so this could have been a mistake. Luckily for the Giants, they will not have to find out. Instead, Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkely get the Tackle of their dreams.
Grade: A
Alabama S Xavier McKinney, Round 2, Pick 36
This selection was not only an absolute steal, but it was my favorite pick of the entire draft. The Giants got an absolute stud with Xavier McKinney. Although Xavier McKinney was ranked as the #1 safety and #19th overall prospect, he surprisingly fell out of the first round and right into the Giants welcoming arms. A first-round talent that had all the skills to be a top safety in the league is exactly what the Giants are receiving with Xavier McKinney. He will slide right into the role of the safety opposing Jabrill Peppers and will address a huge need for the Giants. There have been only five safeties to play over 450 snaps in the box, slot and at free safety over the past two years, and only one of those five produced 70.0-plus grades at all three of those alignments — Xavier McKinney. He is easily the best and most versatile safety in the draft, someone that can produce wherever he is needed, something the Giants desperately need.
Grade: A+
UConn OT Matt Peart, Round 3, Pick 99
This was a strong pick, with Giants receiving their right tackle of the future to oppose Andrew Thomas on the opposite side. His size and length is something that I'm sure the Giants took into large consideration when making this pick, at 6-foot-7 with 36 5/8 inch arms. He has all the tools and potential to be a quality starter, and it's definitely a bonus that he is a die-hard Giants fan. However, he will need to add more to his frame to become the quality NFL-level starter he has the potential to be. However, the Giants got a steal with Peart at no. 99 and I fully expect Peart to reach and likely even exceed his expectations.
Grade: A-
UCLA CB Darnay Holmes, Round 4, Pick 110
I like this pick. A lot. Holmes was ranked 86th on the PFF Big Board and was expected to go much earlier, possibly even to some teams eyeing him in the second round. The Giants definitely capitalized on the opportunity to snag the Bruins corner. While Darnay Holmes does lack arm length that is quite important at the cornerback position, he makes up for it with his undeniable quickness. Something that will help him make plays at the next level. Not only this, but he may just be the smartest defensive player in the draft as he graduated UCLA in just 2.5 years. He also adds value on special teams with kickoff return ability. Strong pick for the Giants, tremendous value at a valuable position.
Grade: A
Oregon G/C Shane Lemieux, Round 5, Pick 150
Another offensive linemen. No surprise here as Gettlemen loves his "hog mollies" (The name he gives to his offensive linemen). The Giants are expected to train Lemieux at center and eventually hope he will become their quality center for the future. Lemieux is a durable, All-American linemen who is expected to take over for Jon Halapio one day. Good value for a 5th round pick.
Grade: B+
Penn State LB Cam Brown, Round 6, Pick 183
Brown's 6-foot-5 233 pound frame along with his strong closing speed gives him huge upside and great potential. Right now, he will likely play a prominent role in special teams, however with his physical attributes, with some time put in, I would not be surprised to see him worked into the rotation sometime this season.
Grade: B+
Minnesota LB Carter Coughlin, Round 7, Pick 218
The first of the Giants four first-round picks has already become a fan-favorite due to his last name. However, sadly he is not related to Tom Coughlin, but he still does provide a lot of intrigue. Out of all the linebackers the Giants drafted, Coughlin seems to have the most upside and although there have been flashes of excellence in college, it is tough to say how well he will fare in the NFL. He is an intriguing player that can develop into something more than just a role player.
Grade: A
South Carolina LB TJ Brunson, Round 7, Pick 238
This TJ Brunson pick is one that seems to be a selection that will contribute to the culture Joe Judge is building in the locker room. Brunson is a solidified leader who is a two-year team captain and two-time winner of Leadership Award for Gamecocks defense. He has solid pass-rushing skills and is versatile, however his tackling ability is his biggest concern, something that will be exploited by shifty players in the NFL. His most valuable attribute is likely his leadership and that is what the Giants are getting with this pick, a decent linebacker who will be a strong presence in the locker room.
Grade: B+
Minnesota CB Chris Williamson, Round 7, Pick 247
The secondary was a huge area of focus heading into this draft, especially with the liability the unit was last year, especially in close game situation. Great pick to add depth to an area that must be improved drastically from last year.
Grade: A-
Georgia LB Tae Crowder, Round 7, Pick 255
Mr. Irrelevant. The Giants had the honors of selecting Mr. Irrelevant in this draft. A former RB, Tae Crowder with strong PFF grades has potential, but will likely be competing for a roster spot heading into this season.
Grade: B