A famous rock group has a hit a song where they expound the axiom, “you can’t always get what you want…but sometimes you get what you need.”
At the 2020 NFL Draft, that axiom will describe the performance of New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman.
In Round 1, Gettleman resisted the temptation to draft the shiny new toy and chose to reinforce the team’s infrastructure instead. It’s not the sexy pick that got him brutalized over social media the past two years, but is was the right thing to do.
To steal the words of former Giant shot callers Ernie Accorsi and Tom Coughlin, big people help you compete. Georgia left tackle Andrew Thomas is as big as they come and he’s exactly what the Giants need.
Rounds 2 and 3 will take place on Friday night and the Giants are in prime position to keep adding to that infrastructure, which has been falling down and rusting for years.
Here is how our partners at Draft Wire see Friday night going for the Giants:
Round 2, Pick 36: Yetur Gross-Matos, defensive end, Penn State
YGM is a first round talent and an excellent edge rusher, a position in which the Giants are in sore need. The 6-foot-5, 266 pounder, who played under current Giant defensive line coach Sean Spencer at State College, was a first-team All-BIG10 selection as a junior leading the Nittany Lions with 15 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 40 total tackles.
Note: Keep your fingers crossed that this kid is there at 36. He is going to be a good one – a throwback to the Michael Strahan-Osi Umenyiora-Justin Tuck days.
Unfortunately, after making that splash, Giant fans will have nothing much to do for the next several hours as their next pick is near the end of the night. Big Blue Nation will watch 62 stud football players waltz by until the Giants hand in their card again. That is, unless Gettleman makes a trade, which has been talked about.
Round 3, Pick 99: Donovan Peoples-Jones, wide receiver, Michigan
DPJ is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound specimen who ran a 4.48 40 at this year’s NFL Combine. He is an all-around talent who will not only balance out the Giants’ smallish receiver group with his size, he’ll also help out on special teams as a returner. For those who don’t think the Giants need a wideout, think again. Sterling Shepard suffered two concussions last season and Golden Tate is 32. DPJ might not be the only wideout Gettleman takes in this draft.
Note: The more help they get Daniel Jones in this draft the better. In Rounds 4-7, Gettleman has seven picks and hopefully he can find a center, a safety, more O-line help and some defensive depth.
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