Colin already gave you a brief draft summary for the GIANTS 2019 effort, but there is more to say about a team with 10 Picks, 5 of them being in the top 108 selections. Whether you agree with some of GM DAVE GETTLEMAN’s picks, or his reasons behind them, it is clear that these 10 picks, plus another dozen plus URFA’s, represent a solid talent upgrade over last year’s GIANTS roster at this time.
Round 1, Pick 6
DANIEL JONES QB DUKE
6’5 221 4.78/49 PP#28
It didn’t take very long for DAVE GETTLEMAN to get GIANTS fans fired up with this selection. I doubt many GIANTS fans would argue with the team’s need for their new franchise QB, sooner rather than later, but I have heard a lot of grumbling that JONES was not worth using the 6th Pick of the Draft for. I would have been hesitant myself, but I also believe trading out would have been risky. One cannot overlook the annual feeding frenzy for potential franchise QB’s that’s fueled by overvaluing the QB position. Others have said that waiting until next year’s Draft would have been an OK gamble to take, but there are few guarantees in the QB market. Team officials, headed by GETTLEMAN, clearly fell in luv with JONES, as well as the CUTCLIFFE connection, and the MANNING connection. I think it is also safe to use some JONES/ELI comparisons. Don’t let that 4.78 40-time fool you, JONES is a good athlete and has better than average athleticism. He struggled through some nagging ailments in 2018, which caused him to miss same snaps and limited his productivity. His 2018 stats were pedestrian; 60.5% completions, 22 TD’s, and 9 INT’s, but I always point out that he had a lack of quality skill position players around him as a college QB. How many of his targets were drafted in April. The answer is zero. JONES has decent mechanics and an above average arm. Learning under ELI could be a very good thing for a year, or even two. Unless ELI gets hurt, we won’t find out much about JONES in 2019.
Round 1, Pick 17
DEXTER LAWRENCE DT CLEMSON
6’5 340 5.04/40 PP#21
I am still wondering why DAMON HARRISON was peddled last year by GETTLEMAN, but LAWRENCE may be a solid, much less expensive option to anchor their DL interior. LAWRENCE is more than just a big body. His athleticism is outstanding, given his girth. Just look at his 40-time above, at 340 lbs. Watching CLEMSON game tape, I was impressed that on some occasions DEXTER was placed outside and applied edge-rush pressure. Like most really big-bodies, LAWRENCE flashes, then needs time to catch his breath a bit, but to his credit, he played the vast majority of his team’s defensive snaps. He joins a mostly young, though not deep, DL corps.
Round 1, Pick 30
DEANDRE BAKER DC GEORGIA
5’11 193 4.58/40 PP#25
I thought BAKER was the best overall DC in this Draft, early last season. He is very physical for his size, whether in coverage or run support. Overall, I still held him in high regard at season’s end, but like many, I felt that his post-season 40-times were a bit disappointing. He can handle both press cover and zone work schemes. If you don’t think that he can stick with receivers, I would point out his 10 PBU’s and 2 INT’s in the 2018 season. BAKER should be a major piece in the seemingly perennial retooling of the GIANTS secondary. Maybe that retooling of the position group can be solved to a large degree by a half dozen newcomers led by BAKER. Good Pick, IMO. It was worth trading back up to get a 3rd First Rounder.
Round 3, Pick 95
OSHANE XIMINES ER/OB OLD DOMINION
6’4 253 4.81/40 PP#100
He may be the least known member of their Top 100 by the average fan, but his importance to the team could be termed as critical. I say that because they gave up their best edge rusher in expensive vet OLIVIER VERNON, in a trade with the BROWNS. Thus XIMINES, whose claim to fame was as a collegiate pass rush specialist at ODU, becomes critical as an early Rookie contributor. I have seen him mentioned quite a bit as an OB, but that is highly questionable, IMO, given his 4.81 40-time. Purely and simply, I believe this guy must give them double digit sacks right away. Defensive Coordinator JAMES BETTCHER has a pro resume’ as a guy who likes to use a ton of blitzing in his defensive play calling. He must find creative ways to move XIMINES around, like he did with CHANDLER JONES in ARIZONA.
Round 4, Pick 108
JULIAN LOVE DC NOTRE DAME
5’11 195 4.54/40 PP#44
After viewing 6 NOTRE DAME games in 2018, I had LOVE pegged as a second rounder on my prospect list. I was quite surprised when he was still available at the end of Day Two. He leaves NOTRE DAME after being a 3 year starter. His 40-time was a tad underwhelming, but his actual playing speed appears to be faster than that number. He’s quick to plant and respond to the ball in the air. His 2018 stats included; 63 T’s, 16 PBU’s, and 1 INT. His 31 3/4″ long arms are also a plus for his size. I see him finding multiple spots in their sub-packages right away, with starter potential. A very good value in Round 4.
Round 5, Pick 143
RYAN CONNELLY IB WISCONSIN
6’2 242 4.68/40 PP#299
I was quite high on this guy last September, but will admit to falling out of luv as he battled injuries off and on. However, I should have moved him back up in my rankings after seeing him post solid numbers at the Combine. He has decent speed for his size and frame. He will run all day, and follows the ball well, but he has to learn to control his aggressiveness to the ball a bit better. He takes good angles to the ball in pursuit. He has a high FBI and good training room habits. He should make a very solid contributor on Special Teams right away. Much of what he does, and how he does it, should bode well for a pro career.
Round 5, Pick 171
DARIUS SLAYTON WR AUBURN
6’1 190 4.37/40 PP# 112
This guy could be quite a sleeper, with more talent than he is given credit for. His 40-speed opened some eyes. Count me as one who thinks the AUBURN offensive system held him back most of the time. His 19.1 ypc on 35 receptions indicates that he could serve the role of a deep threat weapon to balance out their possession receivers. 10″ hands on 32 3/4″ arms are promising, but he will have to work on his “hands catching”. His 40.5″ vertical jump at the Combine says that he should be even more effective than he was in college at 50/50 balls, but he has a lot of work to do in improving his blocking for the pro game. His upside is huge, but unless he really responds to coaching from Receivers Coach TYKE TOLBERT, he also has bust potential. He was worth the gamble on greatness in Round 5.
Round 6, Pick 180
COREY BALLENTINE DC WASHBURN
5’11 195 4.46/40 PP#129
This could be a very difficult season for this young man. Just after the Draft, he and a teammate were victims of a shooting incident. BALLENTINE was shot, and his teammate was killed. Getting past that incident, psychologically, could be a challenge that hinders him greatly in his rookie year. He has the physical tools to play in the NFL, and can get better with reps. This was a solid value pick in Round 6, but patience with him may be a serious factor in 2019.
Round 7, Pick 232
GEORGE ASAFO-ADJEI OT KENTUCKY
6’5 305 5.05/40 PP#NR
I gotta admit, I missed completely on this guy. I never spent time watching his tape. He speaks to the overall quality upgrade of talent in the WILDCATS football program under Coach STOOPS. He is a decent athlete, and plays with energy. Taking a guess, I would expect a Practice Squad stint for him this coming season, but don’t give up on this prospect in the long run.
Round 7, Pick 245
CHRIS SLAYTON DT SYRACUSE
6’4 307 5.09/40 PP#241
This man looked even bigger and wider than his 307 lbs. at the Combine. He started the 2018 season looking like just a lumbering big guy for the early part of the season. Then in October, he seemed to catch fire. For the rest of the season, he played with energy and intelligence. He looked really solid in his work during Shrine Game week in January. He has a tendency to stand up too high, too fast. When he keeps his butt down, he can dominate on the interior. This is a really solid 7th Round value, especially on a team looking for depth in their DL corps.
After some time to look at all the Picks, I have to say, I like what GETTLEMAN and his personnel folks did here. There are quite a few players here that I feel can upgrade the roster. Unless ELI gets hurt, or seriously deteriorates in his skills, don’t expect too much out of JONES this season, but their next 5 draftees after him could all play significant roles in improving their Defensive unit.
Pigskin
