Perfect Picks: New York Giants
With the NFL Draft approaching we will be looking at each team and evaluating where they need to improve. In this particular series we will run a seven round mock using the Draft Network Mock machine and find the ‘Perfect Picks’ for each franchise.
We will highlight four players that could help each team. This will feature picks 1 and 2, a mid round gem and a late round sleeper.
The Giants believe they have their franchise quarterback in Daniel Jones. They now need to build around him and did so during free agency. By adding Kenny Golladay and John Ross they hope to give Jones weapons while re-signing Nate Solder helps protect the young signal caller.
General manager David Gettleman often gets criticised for moving in different ways than some of his contemporaries. However, he is steadfast in building the team from the trenches out and he needs to add some further pieces to make the Giants a competitor in a wide open NFC East.
Round 1 - Pick 11 - Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan
Gettleman gets his wish with this pick as the Giants bolster their defensive line further. While Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams provide the bulk up front on that side of the ball the Giants lack a legitimate threat from the edge. On paper the Giants are a 3-4 defense, but the base formation is never the most used in the modern game meaning a pick like Kwity Paye won’t be off the table.
Paye played all across the defensive line for Michigan and that was part of the problem. The Wolverines never let Paye fully utilise his physical gifts. Despite his 6’2, 261lb frame he is an athletic freak. That was proven with a 4.54 40-yard dash. Paye is crying out for a team to allow him to pin his ears back and attack offensive tackles. If the Giants allow him to do so they will likely see a boost in his production.
Round 2 - Pick 42 - Trey Smith, iOL, Tennessee
The Giants have made protecting Daniel Jones a priority. They gave him a highly rated offensive tackle in Andrew Thomas, a physical guard in Will Hernandez and experience in the shape of Nate Solder. Nick Gates is a prospect they are excited about at center but question marks remain at the other guard spot.
Tennessee’s Trey Smith is a player who could come in and immediately compete for the spot. A five star recruit who chose the Vols over the likes of Georgia and Alabama never fully realised his potential in Knoxville. That’s in part due to the slump the program has been through and also Smith’s medical issues. An issue with blood clots in his lungs will need further investigation but if it checks out, his raw ability will garner plenty of attention. It just feels like the type of player Gettleman would see the value in.
Mid Round Gem - Pick 76 - Pete Werner, LB, Ohio State
While brute strength has been a theme throughout, it isn’t purely what the modern NFL is built around. This Giants defense needs to add speed at all levels. They did so in the secondary by adding Adoree Jackson but their linebacker group could do with additional talent. Lorenzo Carter, Reggie Ragland and Blake Martinez are all a similar mould of ‘backer, adding a more dynamic, coverage savvy LB would help.
Ohio State’s Pete Werner is exactly that. While you wouldn’t expect Werner to step straight in as an every down player he would be particularly useful on passing downs. At 6’3, 242lbs he appears slim on film and speeds around the play, almost safety like. That isn’t to say he lacks any punch in the tackle. Developed properly he can be the type of modern linebacker the Giants desire.
Late Round Sleeper - Pick 201 - Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford
The Giants made the wide receiver position a focus this offseason but that doesn’t mean that adding to the area in the draft is off limits. Golladay and Darius Slayton should command most of the action with Sterling Shepard in the slot. John Ross seeks redemption and adds a different wrinkle but depth at outside receiver would help.
Stanford quarterback Davis Mills has caught some late draft buzz in recent weeks and if you’ve watched his tape you no doubt will be familiar with Simi Fehoko. He became the Cardinal’s primary target in 2020 and utilised his 6’4 frame to good use. Fehoko was strong in contested catch situations. However, a nasty drop problem and lack of reps had meant he was a forgotten name. That was until he landed a 4.42 second forty yard dash. That speed combined with his size mean his stock could rise ahead of draft day.
Draft In Full:
11. Kwity Paye, Michigan (Edge)
42. Trey Smith, Tennessee (iOL)
77. Pete Werner, Ohio State (LB)
116. James Hudson, Cincinnati (OT)
196. Jason Pinnock, Pittsbugh (CB)
201. Simi Fehoko, Stanford (WR)
