When asked at the conclusion of the NFL Draft why none of the Giants’ picks were offensive linemen, Giants GM Dave Gettleman and head coach Joe Judge basically both said that they were comfortable with the group as assembled.
Someone who isn’t? Audacy Sports NFL insider Brian Baldinger, who joined Zach Gelb on Sunday night on WFAN to express concern over that choice.
“It surprised me a whole lot, because I thought they lost their best lineman in Kevin Zeitler. I know Nate Solder is coming back, but he’s never played right tackle, and they’re asking him to play there after missing a whole year, and he wasn’t very good there at left tackle,” Baldinger said. “When I look at the roster, I like what I saw out of Shane Lemieux, but Will Hernandez looks like a guy who hasn’t improved since he was a second-round pick in 2018. Zach Fulton looks like he might come in and win a job, and Matt Peart showed flashes, but I would’ve thought they’d have tried to upgrade and create more competition. Maybe they think because they drafted and played three guys last year, and then they got Fulton and Solder in the building, that they had enough to work with.”
So no “Hog Mollies” in this draft, but Baldinger was a big fan of the Giants’ move in the first round.
“The Eagles jumped in front of the Giants to take DeVonta Smith, and that’s who I think they were targeting, so they traded back and got the quickest guy in the draft,” Baldinger said. “Kadarius Toney’s foot quickness, ability to stop and start in any facet, change of direction...there’s nobody else like him. He’s a dynamic player with the ball in his hands, and a tough son of a gun. If you watched the game against Alabama, they had no answer for him, on a defense full of NFL prospects.”
And as for Day 2 and 3? The Giants got some steals, in Baldy’s mind.
“They traded up to get Aaron Robinson, who I thought was the best slot corner in the draft. The first time I put the tape on, I wondered which team was going to what team would scoop this guy up early to get a starting slot corner in this league,” Baldinger said. “They need edge rushers, and have for a while, and Azeez Ojulare and Ellison Smith are very talented players who will come in and help out the pass rush. I thought Patrick Graham did a great job moving guys around last year to create a pass rush, but they need guys to win one-on-ones. They grabbed two guys who did it in college, and will now be expected to do it at the next level.”
And, Baldinger said, with a strong defense on the other side, an offensive line they’re comfortable with, and more weapons than ever, Daniel Jones will be on an even hotter seat as he enters year three.
“Daniel should have his best year, because it’s the best team he has had around him and they have stability,” Baldinger said. “I think Joe Judge did a great job and they really came on later in the season, but Daniel has to take care of the football. You can talk about the offensive line or the weapons, but at the end of the day, you have to stop turning it over – not for a week, but for long stretches. He just has to keep the turnovers to a reasonable margin, a lot less than it is now.”
So, how will they know if Daniel Jones is the franchise QB?
“I liked Jones when they drafted him, but the only way you know someone is a franchise QB is if they make others around them better, take care of the ball, win on third down, and, ultimately, find a way to win in the fourth quarter when the ball is in their hands and the game is in the balance,” Baldinger said. “That’s the measure; he hasn’t done that yet, but that’s not to say that with a better team around him, that he can’t become that guy this year.”
And if Jones maybe isn’t the guy, the Giants did a good job on Draft Days acquiring future assets they could use to go get someone who is.
“It has been two years of instability, but we’ll have to wait and see until they play this season out and we see where the Giants end up,” Baldinger said. “If they win 10 games and make the playoffs, he’ll probably be offered the fifth year and they’ll keep building around him. If not…it’s always good to have ammo, and they acquired three picks for next year, which can help them should Daniel Jones not be the guy.”
Check out Baldy’s entire breakdown of the Giants, Jets, and overall NFL Draft with Zach Gelb below!
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