Tag: tyler nubin

See it: Tyler Nubin’s raw, emotional reaction to being drafted by Giants

The reaction from safety Tyler Nubin when learning the New York Giants would draft him is raw and emotional — a true must-watch.

When a player has dedicated their entire life to the pursuit of professional football, hearing their name called on draft day elicits an emotional reaction.

That’s true whether or not they expect to be drafted.

For some, the reaction is elation and excitement. For others, more raw emotions come pouring out.

On Friday night during Round 2 of the 2024 NFL draft, Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin had his moment when the New York Giants came calling.

When informed that East Rutherford would be his new home, Nubin could not contain himself. What transpired was one of the most real and raw reactions the NFL world has ever seen on draft day.

“I doing great, man,” Nubin told general manager Joe Schoen with his voice beginning to crack. “I’m ready, man. Come get me.”

“Oh my God. Oh my God. Bro, thank you so much,” he continued.

As the reality began to set in, Nubin became even more emotional. And when he was handed over to head coach Brian Daboll, the tears began to flow. His appreciation of the moment — and for the Giants — quickly followed.

“You’re gonna get it all,” Nubin said. “Y’all just made the best decision of this whole draft.”

Even when the phone was hung up, the gravity of the moment overwhelmed Nubin. And when his name was officially called at the podium, everything came flooding out.

“Oh, man, I’ve been crying the last 35 minutes,” Nubin told reporters during his Zoom call. “No, for real.”

What made Nubin so emotional? His answer, much like the man himself, was selfless.

“Honestly, not even thinking about the work that I put in,” Nubin said. “The work everybody around me put in, my parents have been working so hard for me all my life, being able to set me up in a good situation. You know, teach me the right things. All of my family and friends around me, on top of the work that I put in, there’s just so many people and so many sacrifices that were made over a long period of time leading up to this moment, it just all came out. Honestly, that’s what it was.”

That is the marking of a true team player and it’s easy to see why the Giants targeted Nubin the person; Nubin the leader.

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Giants GM Joe Schoen ‘excited’ about young core on defense

After Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft, New York Giants GM Joe Schoen expressed excitement over the team’s young core on defense.

The New York Giants selected Kentucky defensive back Andru Phillips with the 70th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft on Friday night in Detroit.

The Giants were getting thin at the corner position after choosing not to re-sign Adoree’ Jackson (so far) and needed to bring in some new faces to position coach Jerome Henderson’s group.

Phillips came in for a top-30 visit with the Giants and apparently made enough of an impression on general manager Joe Schoen to take him on Day 2 of the draft.

“He’s sticky. In terms of coverage, he’s around the football a lot. And watching him down in the senior Bowl on one-on-ones, he has a lot of traits and those are things we are going to work on. He’s in position, but he just has to finish a little bit better. But I really like the athlete, like the kid, look forward to him getting here,” Schoen told reporters.

“He’s got the versatility to play inside, and outside. But we have options because (Cor’Dale) Flott can play inside, and outside as well. If he goes inside, Flott can go outside or vice-versa. The versatility is also attractive for all these guys with the new defense.”

Combined with the addition of Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin, Phillips will join an exciting young defensive core Schoen has been building over the past three drafts.

“I’m excited about the young core that we have together and the guys that are under contract for multiple years and even guys that may only have a year left that potentially we can extend down the road. But I do think we have pieces in place that I like that are going to be together for a couple of years here,” Schoen said.

Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is undoubtedly excited as well.

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Giants plan to rely on Tyler Nubin’s elite leadership, football smarts

New York Giants GM Joe Schoen views safety Tyler Nubin as an “elite” leader with an impressive football IQ and unique awareness.

The New York Giants lost star safety Xavier McKinney in free agency to the Green Bay Packers last month which meant general manager Joe Schoen had a huge hole to fill in their secondary.

Schoen addressed that by signing Jalen Mills in free agency this offseason and selecting Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin with the 47th overall pick in Round 2 of the 2024 NFL draft on Friday night.

They wanted to not only fill McKinney’s role on the defense but also wanted to continue to re-mold the team’s culture.

“Just a good football player. Culture changer at the University of Minnesota and he’s going to bring that type of mentality here,” Schoen told reporters. “Just a really special kid that’s a good football player.”

Nubin was a four-time All-Big Ten Academic selection and played in 55 games for the Gophers.

“I would say that he takes the ball away. 13 career interceptions. He’s a ball hawk. To me, the leadership, the character, the smarts, safety, the ability to communicate out there. To get guys to line up I think is very important, and this kid is elite at those types of things,” Schoen said.

The one knock against Nubin was his poor RAS score but Schoen attributed that to playing six games last season on a torn meniscus and recovering from reparative surgery during the 2024 NFL Combine.

“These guys are all playing through nics and dings and whatever it may be. So it’s a testament to the kid’s character and toughness to play through that stuff because it’s going to happen here. It wasn’t a light injury. He was in some pain. So just the fact that he wanted to be out there his last year at Minnesota and not let his teammates down, I think that’s a testament to who the kid is,” Schoen said.

Nubin will join a safety group that consists of Jason Pinnock, Jalen Mills, Dane Belton, and Gervarrius Owens.

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Giants NFL Draft grade: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota

Giants NFL Draft grade for selecting Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin in the second round

The New York Giants add to what is already a top tier defense by helping out on the deep end of the field with the selection of Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin with the 47th overall selection.

Nubin projects to be locked in a camp battle with veteran safety Jalen Mills for the safety spot opposite Jason Pinnock. Nubin should help out a lacking secondary and provide some extra time for an absolutely loaded defensive line.

With excellent size, length, aggressiveness, and instincts, Nubin should be productive as an in-box safety should he see the field early on. Expect Nubin to snag a couple of balls early in his career as an aggressive ball hawk.

Grade: B

2024 NFL draft: Giants select safety Tyler Nubin in Round 2

With the No. 47 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the New York Giants select Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin.

With the 47th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, the New York Giants have selected Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin.

Entering Round 2, the Giants were in search of defensive tackles and help in the secondary. But with a run on the former and then a run on cornerbacks, they pivoted and landed the talented Nubin, who will replace the departed Xavier McKinney (Green Bay Packers).

Before the start of Day 2, Giants Wire identified Nubin as a potential target for Big Blue. That was s sentiment shared by ESPN’s Steve Muench.

“The Giants did well to land wide receiver Malik Nabers in the first round, and now they address another hole by adding Nubin, my second-ranked safety,” he said.

The 22-year-old Nubin finished his Minnesota career with a school record 13 interceptions to go along with 207 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 11 passes defensed.

At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Nubin has good size that’s matched with good strength. He’s a versatile safety who can play in the box and stop the run or drop back into centerfield, which is likely where defensive coordinator Shane Bowen will use him.

NFL Network draft insider Lance Zierlein gave Nubin a pro comparison of Marcus Williams.

Talented safety prospect with the size, length and instincts that teams are looking for to shore up the back end. Nubin has the ability to play as an interchangeable safety but will make his money as a ball thief. He’s rangy over the top in two-high safety looks and plays chess in the middle of the field, using instincts to think along with the quarterback and pounce on throws from an angle. He’s average in man coverage and might lack ideal top-end speed, but his anticipation and discipline help make up for that. He’s capable in run support, but his pursuit angles get him beat outside. Nubin’s traits, instincts and ball skills give him an opportunity to become a successful long-term starter.

Although Nubin’s top-end speed may be a bit of a concern, he is likely to start for the Giants on Day 1.

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Texans add 3 defensive pieces in latest Mel Kiper Jr. three-round mock draft

In the latest three-round mock draft from ESPN, the Houston Texans revamp their secondary and defensive line.

Even after an expensive offseason in acquiring talent, the Houston Texans still have several defensive holes entering draft weekend. Defensive tackle, cornerback, linebacker and safety depth all remain weak points heading into the regular season.

A trio of those positions were recently addressed in ESPN’s latest three-round mock draft.

In a combined effort from Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates, the Texans bolstered their defensive line with the addition of LSU’s Maason Smith at pick No. 42.  Seventeen picks later, Houston adds another SEC star on the boundary to play opposite Derek Stingley Jr. in Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter.

At pick No. 86, the Texans walk away with one of the steals of the draft in Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin. All three players have at least two years of starting experience and have played in what many consider the more aggressive conference in college football.

Smith, a 6-foot-5 defensive tackle, likely would have garnered first-round buzz if not for a torn ACL suffered in the season-opener against Florida State in 2022. He possesses all the traits Texans coach DeMeco Ryans covets in a pass-rushing three-tech up the middle to create havoc in the interior.

“The Texans must continue to bulk up on the inside,” Yates wrote. “Smith is an upside swing for Houston; he has the raw tools to become a disruptor as both a pass-rusher and run-defender.”

Lassiter, a fan favorite at pick No. 42, should compete for starting reps alongside Desmond King in the nickel and Jeff Okudah on the edge. At 6-foot, most would consider him undersized, but the two-year starter loves contact and isn’t afraid to get physical when asked to play in man coverage.

“Lassiter doesn’t have the elite speed, but he’s a really solid corner,” wrote Kiper.  “The Texans ranked 29th in the league in yards per pass attempt allowed (7.7) last season.”

Nubin, who recorded 13 interceptions in five seasons with the Golden Gophers, is a ball-hawking machine that baits quarterbacks into throwing his way. Since 2021, the 6-foot-2 200-pounder has recorded at least three picks and two pass breakups.

“Perhaps no safety in the class has better ball skills than Nubin, who finds his way to the football constantly,” wrote Yates. “He had 13 interceptions in college, including five in 2023.”

The Texans own nine picks in the upcoming draft, several of which should be dedicated to drafting defense. Houston bolstered its front seven with the additions of Denico Autry, Azeez Al-Shaair and four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter, but still could use another interior tackle beyond Smith following the departures of Maliek Collins and Sheldon Rankins.

Could the Bucs throw a curveball in the 1st round?

Chaos reigns in the NFL draft every year, but could that include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first-round pick this year?

If you look at most mock projections for the 2024 NFL draft, you’ll see the same usual suspects landing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the No. 26 overall pick.

It’s usually an edge rusher, an interior offensive lineman, or a cornerback. Every now and then, you’ll even find a projection that has the Bucs taking advantage of this year’s loaded wide receiver class with their top selection.

But what if they throw a curveball, and make a selection that comes out of left field?

That’s the scenario that was recently broken down by the Bucs’ in-house team of Scott Smith and Casey Phillips, who broke down a trio of prospects Tampa Bay could grab late in the first round:

While Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin might be a solid fit for the Bucs’ safety depth on Day 2, his poor athletic testing will likely keep him out of the first round. Oregon’s Bo Nix is far more likely to land with a QB-needy team like the Denver Broncos in the first round than as Tampa Bay’s replacement for Kyle Trask, and spending their top pick on a quarterback after signing Baker Mayfield to a big extension makes little sense.

Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton is an intriguing tackle prospect, but Luke Goedeke made huge strides last season after being moved back to his natural position on the right side opposite Tristan Wirfs. The Bucs are set at both tackle spots for the time being.

It’s always fun to consider off-the-wall scenarios for a process like the draft, which always delivers some measure of chaos. But it seems extremely far-fetched that any of these three prospects will be selected by the Bucs in the first round.

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ESPN list All-American safety as “perfect fit” for Texans

The Houston Texans need to upgrade their safety room and ESPN believes Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin is the ideal fit for DeMeco Ryans’ defense.

Even after spending over $142 million this offseason, the Houston Texans still could use an upgrade to their secondary. More specifically, Houston could be in the market for another safety.

Barring a last-second swing at one of the remaining free agents, pivoting toward the draft might be general manager Nick Caserio’s best plan of adding competition to the back end. With two picks in the second round, one could be used to add a more nuanced defender who can be a constant in coverage downfield.

Everything for the Texans is about fit. After splurging to land talents like Danielle Hunter, Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs, Houston is swinging for a shot at the Super Bowl in 2024, so adding a prospect with upside does little to the immediate plans.

One prospect to monitor? Minnesota All-American Tyler Nubin. According to ESPN’s Matt Bowen, the three-year starter is a “perfect fit” for DeMeco Ryans’ defensive formation.

Nubin is an easy fit for DeMeco Ryans’ defense given his coverage awareness, demeanor, and ability to create production on the ball. In Houston, Nubin could run the alleys and play top down from split-field alignments, and he has the post instincts to patrol the middle third of the field as a center fielder. Nubin, who had 13 career interceptions for the Gophers, also has special teams upside on coverage units. – ESPN
Nubin was a human highlight reel during his time with the Golden Gophers. A physical tackler with a knack for playing the run, the 6-foot-2 defensive back flew to the football and was a constant for P.J. Fleck’s secondary.
Turnovers, however, are where Nubin shined. His 13 interceptions were a Big Ten record over three seasons, but he also was credited with 11 pass breakups.
Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward played well against the run, though Pitre was credited with 14 missed tackles. Both struggled at times playing deep in man coverage, often leading to explosive plays and a fresh set of downs for the offense.
Adding Nubin shouldn’t remove either player from the field. Pitre, a former second-round pick, won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year during his final season at Baylor while lining up as the ‘STAR’ or nickel defender.
Ward, who joined Ryans following his stint with the San Francisco 49ers, began his career in the Bay Area as a nickel-only defensive back before transitioning to safety in 2018. He also moved back down to the nickel spot in 2022 as the 49ers pushed their way to another NFC championship appearance following the emergence of Talanoa Hufanga.
The Texans, who finished 23rd in pass coverage, only recorded 14 interceptions, nine of which came from Derek Stingley Jr. and Steven Nelson. Stingley is locked up at least through the 2025 season and is viewed as the long-term No. 1 corner. Nelson remains a free agent, but a reunion feels unlikely after the Texans signed former first-rounders Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson.
Nubin could be the missing piece that transcends the Texans from playoff contender to Super Bowl front-runner. Safety should be addressed at some point during the draft, and the Texans’ first pick in Round 2 might be Nubin’s floor after a bountiful free agency.

Graham Barton, Tyler Nubin are most popular picks for Packers on PFF’s mock simulator

The two most popular picks for the Packers in PFF’s mock draft simulator? Duke OL Graham Barton and Minnesota S Tyler Nubin.

A versatile offensive lineman and a playmaking safety are the two most popular selections for the Green Bay Packers when users simulate mock drafts at Pro Football Focus, according to the site.

Per PFF, Duke’s Graham Barton is the most popular pick for the Packers with the No. 25 overall pick in the first round. Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin is a close second behind Barton, and he’s also the most popular pick for the Packers with each of their two second-round picks (No. 41, No. 58).

Both picks make a lot of sense, both within the simulator and reality. Barton, a left tackle for Duke, is an elite athlete who could move inside and be an immediate starter at guard or center. He is PFF’s No. 25 overall player in the class, so Barton not only fills a need but is also typically available and one of the top players available for the Packers within the simulator. Nubin, who set the Minnesota record with 13 career interceptions, could provide the Packers with another playmaker at safety alongside Xavier McKinney. He is PFF’s No. 26 overall player, so, like Barton, he’s a good fit need-wise and usually available for the Packers at No. 25 in the simulator.

Nubin, one of only two safeties in PFF’s top 50 players, is the most popular pick within the simulator for four different teams in the second round: Cardinals, Colts, Rams and Packers (at No. 41 and 58).

The mock draft simulator at PFF is available here.

2024 NFL Draft: Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin scouting report

Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin has just about every attribute required for NFL success… if he can just clean up a few rogue elements.

After Antoine Winfield Jr. left Minnesota and became a star safety with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2020 NFL draft, it was eventually up to Nubin to be the tone-setter in the back of the Golden Gophers’ defense. Nubin really started to live up to that in the 2021 season when, in 341 coverage snaps, he allowed eight catches on 26 targets for 128 yards, 35 yards after the catch, one touchdown, three interceptions, three pass breakups, and an absurd opponent passer rating of 21.5.

In the two seasons since, the 6-foot-1, 191-pound Nubin has been one of the NCAA’s most efficient coverage safeties. In 2023, he gave up six catches on 20 targets for 90 yards, 38 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, five interceptions, four pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 39.6.

There are a few things about Nubin’s NFL transition that cause a bit of concern that don’t show up in the metrics, but are obvious on tape. He’s got the capacity to be a top-tier deep-third safety at the next level if he works those things out. He’s not at Winfield’s level when Winfield came out of college, but the tools are impressive, and the development curve could be highly rewarding.

PLUSES
 
— Smart, aggressive defender in coverage when he’s got the target in front of him and can use his smooth backpedal to match and cover.
 
— Very quick to hide in the weeds and jump routes for pass breakups and interceptions; Nubin has a great sense for that.
 
— Will use that sense of timing to break to receivers and prevent receptions with hits.
 
— Has the open-field speed and lateral agility to credibly cover sideline-to-sideline when he’s in single-high, or half the field when in two-high.
 
— Comes down like a shot from the box and deep third to tackle at the line of scrimmage; when it works, it’s great. When it doesn’t, well…
 
MINUSES
 
— Recovery speed at the turn of the route is inconsistent; there are times when he’s on his target, and other times, he’ll be a step behind.
 
— Needs to work over the receiver too often and can run into trouble in tight spaces.
 
— Can be waylaid from the box to the deep third by receivers running quicker, more angular routes.
 
— Needs to process run fits more accurately; reads can be predetermined and he’ll hit the wrong gap.

— Similarly, he’s not always accurate with his tackling angles, and it shows up pretty clearly on tape. He had 35 missed tackles through his career at Minnesota.

Nubin has a ton of talent, and I’d love him in a quarters-heavy defense, but his NFL team will have work to do with run fits, tackling, and decisiveness in coverage. He’s not a project per se, but I’d struggle a lot with a first-round grade. I’d also like to see him in the box more often so he’s not trying to get to running backs from 20 yards upfield all the time.