Open Rants by kkunert327

With the draft in the books time to go back and do a wrap up of how teams made out. I might be a bit of a harsh critic to the top 3 round picks, but that is where you need to hit in the draft to be successful. Sure most of the league is 4th rounders and later, but any that turn into Pro Bowlers or All-Pro players is mostly out of luck. So without further adieu, here we go with the number 4 pick the New York Football Giants!

1 (4) - Andrew Thomas OT Georgia - A+

2 (4) - Xavier McKinney S Alabama - A+

3 (35) - Matt Peart OT UConn - C+

Let me just get it out there and say it, wow Dave Gettleman actually had a really good draft for once. Actually, I will chalk it up to two in row since I have higher hopes for Daniel Jones than most. I hated him taking Saquon Barkley so high two years ago, but so far his drafts have been solid since then. I loved the Thomas pick despite many in the media having him as the 4th best tackle on the board. In my opinion, he is the safest one out of the four and had the highest floor. It would not shock me one bit if he reasserts himself as the best one after coming into the season as the best tackle prospect. I think he has just been on the radar too long being a multi year stud at Georgia and people start wanting the mysterious upside guy instead. He will certainly replace Solder at some point, they could keep him for a few more games due to his contract at left tackle. In the meantime, Thomas will be a stud right tackle and replace Solder in due time. McKinney was also a big steal and certainly deserved to go much higher in this draft. I do not understand the aversion to drafting safeties high. Most teams in the playoffs like the Chiefs, Titans, Patriots, Ravens, Eagles, and Packers valued the position and made out really well with having top defenders back there. McKinney paired with an improving Jabrill Peppers should give the Giants one of the more dynamic one-two punches at safety and both can do a lot of the same things allowing them to disguise blitzes further. Peart was not a bad pick late in the 3rd round with the tackle pool drying up quick, but I would have preferred them to address the edge rusher situation. They are in talks with Jadeveon Clowney since the draft ended, but it was still more needed than a project right tackle. Peart has the upside and size, but is a big big project to even getting to become a swing tackle. 

4 (4) - Darnay Holmes DB UCLA - B

5 (4) - Shane Lemieux OG Oregon - A 

6 (4) - Cam Brown LB Penn St - D

7 (4) - Carter Coughlin OLB/Edge Minnesota - C+

7 (24) - T.J. Brunson LB South Carolina - C

7 (33) - Chris Williamson CB Minnesota - C

7 (41) - Tae Crowder LB Georgia - C

I am just going to start off by saying all the Giants 7th round picks are special teamers who will have trouble sticking to roster. Which, is the case for most 7th rounders, but I generally prefer trying for guys who have a shot to make the roster and develop over just special team prospects. Especially, in a league where most kicks end up being touchbacks and more teams put starting DBs in punt coverage. I really liked the Holmes pick and adding him to go along with McKinney, last year's first rounder DeAndre Baker, Jabrill Peppers, and free agent pick up James Bradberry gives them one of the better young secondaries in the league. Maybe even in their division with the Redskins, Eagles, and Cowboys being pretty shaky there. I understood it too going heavy secondary and skipping edge rushers with how weak this class was there. Lemieux is a great steal and should start right away for them at a pretty steady level. Brown seems like a throw away that should be clumped in with the 7th rounders. All in all a pretty solid class for Gettleman who got immediate starters in Thomas, McKinney, Holmes, and Lemieux. Of course, the team's success all hinges on Daniel Jones' development so bringing in two starting blockers was great in my opinion. Overall, this class deserves a solid A-/B+ grade and the only issue I had was them not really having any picks before the 7th round to really bring in more talent on a roster that is still really young and developing.