The New York Giants are in the marker for an “off-ball” linebacker to compliment their new run-stopper, Blake Martinez, in the middle of their defense.
They would like to grab one of the top three (Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, Patrick Queen of LSU or Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray), but they could miss out on those players if they opt to use their first and second round picks in next week’s NFL Draft on offensive linemen.
There are other mid-late round options at the OBL role in this draft. Matt Lombardo of NJ Advance Media reports the Giants have been exploring some of those.
As first reported on the Giants Extra text service, the Giants met privately with Wyoming linebacker Logan Wilson prior to the program’s pro day workout, according to an individual with knowledge of the meeting, and the team has been in communication with the Butkus Award finalist since.
Wilson, 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, has the potential to be the fourth off-ball linebacker chosen behind Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, LSU’s Patrick Queen, and Oklahama’s Kenneth Murray, somewhere between the second and third rounds.
Wilson had a solid combine and projects to be a starting caliber player in this league.
NFL.com compares Wilson to former Giant linebacker Kelvin Sheppard. Analyst Lance Zierlein describes Wilson as an “ultra-productive three-year team captain with instincts and cover talent to find work as an every-down linebacker. His play recognition, burst and lateral agility help him play faster than his timed speed and his fundamentals as a tackler are as good as you’ll find in this draft.”
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