The Giants improved in this 2021 NFL Draft.
But how much better?
Enough to win the NFL’s most mediocre win, which was decided through a pillow fight in 2020?
Possibly … with an asterisk, as there are asterisks associated with every NFL draft.
This was Dave Gatelman’s fourth draft as Giants general manager. At the age of 70, with a 15-33 record in his first three years and a standing mandate from the legendary owners with a better “batting average,” ‘it is possible that this could be his last as a GM, 2021 result. Pending.
In honor of Gaeltman’s four veteran drafts, here are four on it:
Take one: The Giants strengthened their strength.
With two of their first three picks, the Giants have added two positions that will already improve through free agency – wide receiver and cornerback – with receiver Kadri Toney in the first round and corner Aaron Robinson in the third.
Prior to the draft, the Giants spent $ 112 million in free agency on receiver Kenny Golladay and cornerback Adoree Jackson.
Take two: Eventually the Giants addressed the nearby crowd outside.
It was the team’s biggest need, and the Giants hope they get a productive edge pick in the second round with Aziz Ojulari of Georgia, who scored 8.5 sacks last season, 6.5 in the final six games.
The Giants cannot count on another 11.5 sacks out of Leonard Williams, an inner lineman who has ranked his career high in 2020. In fact, to reduce the double teams would be better with him outside threat.
In the fourth round on Saturday, the Giants added Northern Iowa outside linebacker Allerson Smith, a 6-foot-6, 252-pounder who had 14 sacks in 2019 and did not play in 2020 because his conference season was canceled due to COIDID It was done 19.
Take three: The Giants may have dropped their questionable offensive line by not addressing it with any of their six picks in this draft.
Will the Giants pay for that?
Possible answer “Yes.”
In fairness, not every team can address every issue in a draft as many people need it. The Giants made it their priority to find quarterback Daniel Jones a player with a more explosive skill-position and he hopes he did so with Tony.
However, they now hope that their offensive line can save Jones well enough to get the ball under the likes of Goloday, Tony, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton before he either gets sacked or hits the ball. Turn it over
“We have a lot more faith in our offensive line players than you guys [reporters] Do, ” Getman said. “We are happy with the people we have. We are not going to pick just one player. ‘
Have four The NFC East got a lot more interesting thanks to this draft.
The Giants may have done enough to beat the “champion” Washington of the NFC East, who went 7-9 last year and would count 38-year-old passer Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback. They could be better than the Eagles, who are only relying on unsecured quarterback Jalan Hurts after trading from Carson Wentz to the Colts.
There will be some attractive subplots from this draft within the NFC East, scenarios that may well shape the outcome of the division.
The Eagles leapfrog the Giants in the first round, trading their No. 12 pick with Dallas, who was ranked No. 10, ready to beat Giants to take over Heiman Trophy winner DeVanta Smith, receiver Gaeltman at No. 11.
After being named as the Eagles by the Giants, the Giants traded out of No. 11, the Cowboys drafted Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, another player the Giants had an eye on.
A pick after the Giants took Ojulari to the 50th overall, Washington selected Texas over Sam Cosmie. Veteran fans will be watching carefully how good he is.
“Each pick in this draft is a projection,” Giants coach Joe Judge said. “There is not a single player who is NFL ready.”
The Giants, of course, expect their NFL to be ready faster than those selected by the Eagles, Cowboys, and Washington.
“We think we’ve added a lot of talent to our roster,” Getman said. “We added some playmakers, we added a few pass mobs and corners. We will know in three years whether we have got this right or not. ”
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