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In a 2021 NFL mock draft from Pro Football Network earlier this month, the New York Giants selected Florida tight end Kyle Pitts at No. 11 overall. However, with Pitts’ stock rising, he wasn’t an option for Big Blue in PFN’s most recent mock draft.
With Pitts going to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 5 overall, the Giants had to regroup and go in a different direction this time around. And despite Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith still there for the taking, New York went with Michigan edge rusher Kwity Paye instead.
11. New York Giants: Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
One can’t help but wonder if the New York Giants are already doomed to eventually part ways with Daniel Jones. An upgrade at quarterback might be what they need most.
However, the Giants have already reaffirmed their confidence in Jones. Likewise, picking at No. 11, behind several other quarterback-needy teams, doesn’t do them any favors. For now, the most realistic move is to support Jones on offense and keep building a strong defense.
Here at No. 11 in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, defense is a better fit on the board, and Kwity Paye is the pick. Paye is 6-foot-4, 272 pounds, but he has explosive burst, incredible change-of-direction capacity, and a red-hot motor. He has the potential to be a terror off the edge for New York, and he also has enough size and power to shift inside as far as the three-technique on a situational basis.
The Giants aren’t doomed to part ways with Daniel Jones, but that’s a talking point they just can’t seem to shake. Of course, that’s a long-winded debate for another day.
PFN does have one thing right, however. The Giants are in desperate need of playmakers to help support not only Jones, but the defense as well. That unit performed at a much higher level than the offense in 2020 and should be a strength again next season. It’s for that reason general manager Dave Gettleman can’t — and shouldn’t — pass on talent like Smith at No. 11.
If the Giants did pick Paye here and failed to secure playmakers by other means, Jones would again find himself doomed to the same sort of issues Eli Manning faced at the end of his career. At some point or another, New York must buck the trend of neglecting their offense and then using the quarterback as the scapegoat.
In Round 2, PFN again has the Giants passing on offensive playmakers, instead adding a center, which is essentially a depth addition with Nick Gates likely to man that position for the foreseeable future (and rightfully so).
42. New York Giants: Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
The only reason Creed Humphrey isn’t the first center off the board in this mock draft is that Dickerson provides Atlanta with more positional versatility. In my opinion, Humphrey is still comfortably the best center in this class.
The Oklahoma standout has great play strength and leverage, and he was clearly a cut above most of the other options at the Senior Bowl this year. For the Giants, he can provide stability for Daniel Jones and help the quarterback seek out improvement in Year 3.
This pick does literally nothing for the Giants unless they intend on releasing Kevin Zeitler (which they shouldn’t) and then moving Gates back to guard after investing an entire year on his center conversion.
In Round 3, PFN finally addresses the Giants’ need at wide receiver with the addition of a 5-foot-9 developmental slot receiver.
76. New York Giants: D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan
Eventually, we had to address wide receiver for the Giants. Aside from Darius Slayton, they seriously lack in terms of established, dynamic talent. D’Wayne Eskridge will have to do the establishing once he reaches the NFL, but the explosiveness is already there in spades with him.
Eskridge is built in the mold of a smaller slot receiver, but he plays with searing speed and engaging competitive toughness. After his Senior Bowl showing, he’s a near-lock to go somewhere on Day 2. In this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, the Giants are the beneficiaries.
If the first three round of the draft were to play out this way for the Giants, Gettleman should start packing his bags.
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