The 2020 NFL Draft has officially come and gone, and for the New York Giants, they now have 10 new pieces to their rebuilding puzzle. And by all accounts, the team did an excellent job addressing their most dire episodes of need.
Yes, general manager Dave Gettleman & Co. went heavy on specific positions while completing ignoring others, but that’s just how the cookie crumbled.
Here’s how experts and analysts from around the football world graded Big Blue’s haul:
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: B
Kiper Jr. wasn’t nearly as impressed as some, getting hung up on the Giants’ perceived need at wide receiver and their choice of Andrew Thomas over other offensive tackles.
Eli Manning is gone, and rookie quarterback Daniel Jones showed flashes of his potential last season, though he has to take care of the football; he fumbled a league-high 18 times and threw 12 interceptions. It’s clear that general manager Dave Gettleman and new coach Joe Judge are trying to help their quarterback and star running back Saquon Barkley, with two of their first three picks going to offensive tackles. “We want to fix this offensive line once and for all,” Gettleman said on Thursday night.
I would have gone with Jedrick Wills Jr. or Tristan Wirfs at No. 4, but Andrew Thomas fits what Gettleman wants in his hog mollies. Thomas is an experienced, athletic, smart player who doesn’t commit penalties. He played left tackle at Georgia but could play right tackle in New York with Nate Solder on the left side. Third-round pick Matt Peart (99) started 48 games for UConn and has the potential to start down the road. There’s no question the Giants’ offensive line is better now.
I loved the value of safety Xavier McKinney (36) early on Day 2. There were teams looking at him in the 20s, but he lasted until the second round. He’s a good fit next to Jabrill Peppers. Darnay Holmes (110) is a really solid slot corner. Guard Shane Lemieux (150) could be a future starter. The Giants had four seventh-round picks, and I’m intrigued by what linebacker Carter Coughlin (218) turns into after he develops more in the NFL.
With a new coach in Judge, I’m not sure what to expect from New York in 2020, but I do think this is a good start to fixing the offensive line issues that Gettleman mentioned, and McKinney has Pro Bowl potential.