2020 will go down as the richest wide receiver class of all-time with a total of 37 wide receivers selected. The New York Giants, who were in need of a bigger wideout to match the trio of Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate and Darius Slayton, chose not to select one with any of their 10 picks.
The draft saw 37 wide receivers selected over the seven round process — a record-setting 13 in the first two rounds, eclipsing the previous high of 12 set back in 2015.
The New York Giants could have pulled the trigger several times on a receiver, but chose to take players at other positions. Instead, they took four linebackers, three offensive linemen, two cornerbacks and a safety.
Not that they can’t use players at any of those other positions, but considering the amount of talent at the wide receiver position, surely could have taken a shot at one of them.
General manager Dave Gettleman did go a long way to “fixing” the offensive line with two tackles and a possible center as well as fill up the roster with linebackers and secondary reinforcements, but was remiss in not dipping his beak in what could be the most talented wide receiver pool ever.
There was also no bonafide pass rusher in the mix, but that’s a conversation for another day.
Wide receiver was an important piece for Gettleman to add because Shepard suffered two concussions last season and Tate will be 32 by the time the season begins. Not to mention that the Giants’ receiving corps is physically a smallish one and in need of a bigger body to help in the red zone and with the run game and blocking in general.
Judge said after the draft the Giants were far from done adding players.
“There’s going to be a lot of roster movements throughout the league, this next week, the coming weeks, throughout the remainder of spring and then when we get into training camp they’ll continue to roll and turn again,” Judge said.
“We’re always looking to see who’s available and compete within our own roster. A lot these questions may be met later on, but right now we’re going to let the guys on our roster compete full speed. And look, right now our scouts and personnel (people) are working together with the coaches of identifying undrafted guys and getting on the phones with them right now and talking with their agents and working with getting them added as well.”
After the draft, it was learned the Giants are bringing in two Ohio State wideouts, Austin Mack (6’1″, 208) and Binjimin Victor (6’4″, 198), LSU’s Derrick Dillon (5’11”, 185) and some kid from British Columbia named Rysen John (6’7″, 240).
The strategy in this draft was to increase the team’s speed, especially on defense. Last season, the Giants were 25th in the league in total defense.
“The theme of the day for defense was speed,” Gettleman said. “We really feel like we improved our team’s speed and that was what we were trying to do.”
“Dave hit this off the bat, the theme of the day was speed,” coach Joe Judge said.
There was plenty of speed at wide receiver, too, guys.
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