Address the offensive line. Address the secondary. Look for a sleeper as a pass rusher, and draft accordingly.
Those were the two cries from the Giants’ and Jets’ camps for the NFL Draft. Yet, Giants’ GM Dave Gettleman is on a shorter leash than new Jets’ GM Joe Douglas.
Gettleman must improve his “batting average”, while Douglas must show the worth of his convictions.
Through the first two days, the Giants have followed suit and the Jets’ path was a bit skewered. Both teams took the offensive tackle they needed with their first overall picks. Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and Louisville’s Mekhi Becton both will be anchors for Big Blue and Gang Green respectively.
The Giants resisted the temptation to take Clemson’s all-everything defensive phenom Isaiah Simmons, who would have instantly turned their defense a click higher.
Gettleman stuck to his promise of a few years ago of the “hog mollie” mentality and took the 6-foot-five, 320-pound behemoth.
He then took another step to secure the secondary in the second round by drafting Alabama safety/cornerback Xavier McKinney, who was believed to be a late first round pick.
McKinney joins a crowded secondary and will have a great shot to be a starter on opening day. They later tapped UCLA cornerback Darnay who also can be penciled in as an immediate impact player. Minnesota cornerback Chris Williamson was a seventh-round pick.
Gettleman also added 6-6, 313-pound Matt Peart from UConn, but he is regarded as a project. Oregon guard 6-4, 310-pound Shane Lemieux, who supposedly can make a move to center. Both Peart and Lemieux both received high pre-draft grades.
Over the final three rounds, the Giants went the linebacker route, likely in search of a possible edge rusher. With three adequate picks, they added to a crowded corral at the position.
Big Blue had the distinction of having the last overall pick, at 255, and took Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder.
As for Douglas and Gang Green, he swung his first draft trade in the second round when he dealt the 48th pick to Seattle for picks 59 and 110.
Douglas added a much-anticipated wide receiver with Baylor’s Derrick Mims. The wideout was an anticipated first-round pick due to his breakaway speed.
The Jets then drafted UCLA safety Ashtyn Davis, who will also help with his return ability. Douglas grabbed Florida defensive end Jabari Zuniga, whose production as a pass rusher slipped due to injuries last season.
With Bilal Powell remaining unsigned, 5-10, 216-pound running back La’Mical Perine brings welcomed depth to the backfield.
Douglas showed some moxie by trading the 101st pick to New England for two fourth-round picks and a sixth-round pick in 2021.
Drafting Florida International quarterback James Morgan was a head-scratching move. Morgan, a 23-year-old Green Bay native who began at Bowling Green, has raw skills which could help make him NFL-ready sooner than later.
They also went an obscure road by taking UNC-Charlotte tackle 6-5, 308-pound Cameron Clark, who will bring another body up front. Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall could be a real sleeper in the fifth round.
Their last pick was Texas A&M punter Braden Mann, but the Jets still need the answer at kicker.
Through the first two days, Gettleman stuck to the script adding bulk at offensive line, linebacker and secondary. He took some flyers with the pass rush.
It’s not too late to give free-agent Markus Golden a call and work out a deal to get him back.
Douglas, meanwhile, filled some basic needs, and he spread his hand a little wider. He’ll need to reshuffle his free-agent files.
Grades? Both teams were in the “B” category pushing toward an “A”. They didn’t address all their respective needs, and they’ll have to get creative.
Now with OTAs and min-camps likely out of the question, due to the country’s current state, the waiting games begins.
One to see whose draft picks can flourish in training camp and another to either loosen or tighten their general managers’ leashes.
