For the first and final time, we all enjoyed a virtual NFL Draft. And likely for the final time, we all watched it the same way - from home, on our televisions, laptops, or tablets. It was smooth, fun, and pandemic-proof, a salute to the human spirit when we are on the same side.
But no draft is complete unless it's replete with remarks and grades. Not even a coronavirus can keep carnivorous New Yorkers from chewing on the picks made by the Giants and Jets. So here's a look at the three-day haul from Big Blue and Gang Green.
Giants
We've suffered Dave Gettleman fatigue because he talks big but the improvements are microscopic. He landed on the Meadowlands with a robust 51-28 record as GM of the Panthers, but is a paltry 9-23 as boss of Big Blue. Adding to the collective rancor from Giants fans is the fact that they are the only team in the NFC that didn't send a single player to the Pro Bowl.
But Gettleman got it right with Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones over the last two years. And his first-round pick this year, Georgia tackle Andrew Thomas, is certainly the safe pick, if not the right one. Thomas had better turn out to be the best of the four surefire tackles coming out of college. And he also better pray that Isaiah Simmons - the Clemson linebacker he passed on - doesn't turn into a mini-LT.
The G-Men nailed it in Round 2, snagging Alabama safety Xavier McKinney, whom many considered a first-round talent - ranked 15th on Mel Kiper Jr's board - but posted a porous 40 time at the combine. McKinney, who never got a chance to prove he's faster once COVID-19 shut down the nation, promises the 4.63 seconds came as a result of cramps. He swears he runs a 4.52, and it's easy to believe him. Plus he got the Louis Riddick seal of approval, which is big for defensive backs. McKinney is too good to pass up at pick No. 36.
The Giants used their third round pick (compensation for losing Landon Collins) by doubling down on tackles, taking UConn's Matt Peart at No. 99. Peart started all four years in college, is from the Bronx, and at 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, he's still growing into his NFL body. The G-Men needed a center more, but the brass swears Peart, who may not start right away as a rookie, will soon slide in at right tackle.
In the fourth round the Giants grabbed UCLA CB Darnay Holmes. The Giants' defense was just offensive last year, so any good player they pick will help, even if they just signed free agent CB James Bradberry and still have hope for last year's first-round pick DeAndre Baker.
In Round 5, the G-Men drafted Oregon guard Shane Lemieux, a second-team AP All-American. Dave Gettleman is in Hog Molly Heaven.
In Round 6, with pick No. 183, Big Blue took a flier on Penn State linebacker Cam Brown, an honorable mention All-Big Ten (for what that's worth), Brown notched 199 tackles 15 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks for the Nittany Lions.
Big Blue had four picks in Round 7, the implicit line between making the real roster and practice squad. They started with slot No. 218, which they spent on Minnesota OLB Carter Coughlin. Pick No. 238 was used on TJ Brunson, a linebacker from South Carolina, No. 247 CB Chris Williamson from Minnesota, and finally pick No. 255 on LB Tae Crowder from Georgia.
The Giants spent seven picks on defense last year, and seven on defense this year, including four linebackers. And their defense has to improve from the unit that hemorrhaged 28.2 points per game last year, 30th out of 32 teams. If not, they won't be much better than the four or five-win team they've been lately. The G-Men did quite well with the first four picks, then sort of reached over the next six. Doesn't help to have four picks in the final round.
Grade: B
Jets
They may not own Revis Island anymore, but the Jets landed on Temptation Island when the 11th pick came around and the holy trinity of wideouts - Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, and CeeDee Lamb - were sprawled across their couches, clutching their smartphones, waiting for a call. But the Jets resisted the very real seduction and did the right thing (repeat, they did the right thing) by bagging the hulking tackle from Louisville, Mekhi Becton. He has the potential to be a Pro Bowl pillar for years, and a reminder that Santana Moss, Keyshawn Johnson, and Johnny Lam Jones - all first-round wideouts - led them to zero Super Bowls.
In Round 2, the Jets were still able to replace Robby Anderson by snagging WR Denzel Mims from Baylor. At 6-foot-3, 207 pounds, Mims is the perfect size for the modern receiver. He also ran a lightning-fast 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine (4.38 seconds). Baylor was a surprise power in 2019, clobbering Oklahoma 28-3 at halftime during the regular season before gagging the game, 34-31. Mims caught 66 passes for 1,020 yards and 12 touchdowns in the pass-happy Big 12. Once the Jets pair Mims with free-agent signee Breshad Perriman, they will have two lethally fast receivers to open the defense to draw plays, passes in the flat, and (god forbid) a few balls tossed to TE Chris Herndon.
Round 3 was a scalp-scratcher. You have to love to talent and temerity of California safety Ashtyn Davis, who was a track star and walk-on as a football player. The Pro Football Hall of Fame would have way more members if half the NFL's players had Davis's oversized heart. Peter King, dean of NFL insiders, called Davis the mystery player of the 2020 NFL Draft. The pick would make more sense if the Jets didn't already have the best safety in the league, Jamal Adams. If this pick signals the Jets have quit on contract talks with Adams, then Davis may only be a reminder of what they miss.
The Jets used their other third-round pick on Florida defensive end Jabari Zuniga. Jets fans may recall last-year's third-round bust, another edge rusher from Florida, Jachai Polite. No chance Zuniga is that bad. He was wildly productive at Florida, with health being the main issue entering his NFL career. As a Gator he notched 18.5 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss. Even more impressive is the fact that the 6-foot-3, 264-pound Zuniga ran a 4.64-second 40 yard dash, the second fastest for any defensive lineman at the combine.
Gang Green had a trio of fourth-round picks, plucking RB Lamical Perine out of Florida, QB James Morgan out of FIU, and tackle Cameron Clark out of Charlotte. They addressed depth at halfback, competition for Sam Darnold's backup, and are still tossing talent at their offensive line.
In the fifth round the Jets selected Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall, getting good value at slot No. 158 while addressing their weak pass defense. For their final pick, in Round 6, the J-E-T-S tagged Braden Mann, a punter from Texas A&M, Ray Guy Award winner and 2018 unanimous first-team All-American. They had such serious issues with kickers last year that a 30-year-old man named Josh Henshaw, armed with a YouTube video and a dream, took a redeye flight from Utah, a taxi to Florham Park, and held up a homemade sign, pining for a tryout. (The Jets demurred). But if you're going to waste time on punting, perhaps pick No. 191 is the place.
The Jets have produced four straight losing seasons for the first time since Joe Namath was playing...at Alabama (1962-1965). Like Big Blue, Gang Green started the draft well, bagging a beast in Becton, a stud wideout in Mims, and a fascinating variable in Davis. Then a bunch of less interesting variables.
Grade: B-
Overview
Forbes studied the 2014 NFL season and determined that 29.9% of starting players were drafted in the first round. Second round picks comprise 17.5% of starters. Third rounders makes up 12.6%. And 10.8% of NFL starters were drafted in the fourth round. But that's not to say third-day picks are pointless. Consider that 65% of today's overall NFL rosters are players picked from Round 4 onward, plus undrafted players. Indeed, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Antonio Brown, Terrell Davis, and Tom Brady were all drafted in the fifth round or later. Phillip Lindsay, who made the 2018 All-Rookie team and was a Pro Bowl selection, wasn't even drafted by the Broncos even though he was born in Denver and played college ball for Colorado. So we can't fail our two local teams before their picks play a snap. But most better pan out of expect the natives' short fuse to fizzle quickly, and two NFL seasons to end early.
Twitter: @JasonKeidel