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With a week left until the 2021 NFL draft officially gets underway, the New York Giants remain in need of edge rushers and offensive linemen, as well as depth at cornerback, wide receiver and running back.
But are the edge rushers truly three-down players? Are any of them worthy of the No. 11 overall pick?
Giants director of college scouting, Chris Pettit, certainly thinks so.
“Edge rushers [are] how you win,” Pettit told reporters during a Thursday Zoom conference. “You win with guys that rush the passer. I wouldn’t say there aren’t guys [worthy at that pick].”
Unless the Giants view any of the available edge rushers as three-down players, Pettit’s pants are on fire. But perhaps they see more in the prospect pool than fans, media and draft experts do.
Pettit doesn’t believe the 11th pick is “too rich” for an edge rusher so long as they fit what the Giants are doing on defense under coordinator Patrick Graham.
Pettit said the edge rusher is a good group. Said there are guys in that group that fit what they do.
— Patricia Traina (@Patricia_Traina) April 22, 2021
Chris Pettit likes the edge rusher group, which includes a lot of different sizes and styles that could fit their scheme.
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 22, 2021
Who fits that mold? Take a guess because Pettit and general manager Dave Gettleman aren’t tipping their hand.
There are several players — such as Michigan’s Kwity Pate, Penn State’s Jayson Oweh, Miami’s Jaelan Phillips and Gregory Rousseau, and Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari — who could be available to the Giants at No. 11, but there’s no telling who they view as the “right guy.”
Although Pettit and Gettleman are both open to trading down and drafting another position, they also appear ready to select an edge rusher despite public opinion. So if one of the above names are called next Thursday, don’t be surprised…