Here are the columnists with their selections for the Giants at #11:
Ryan Wilson: Alijah Vera-Tucker; USC; OL
Chris Trapasso: Jaylen Waddle; Alabama; WR
Josh Edwards: Gregory Rousseau; Miami; EDGE
Pete Prisco: Jaylen Waddle; Alabama; WR
Two of the columnists have 4 QBs going before the Giants; the other two have 3 QBs going.
Notable players passed up by Giants:
Ryan Wilson
Caleb Farley #12
DaVonta Smith #14
Patrick Surtain III #16
Chris Trapasso
Rashawn Slater #13
Kwity Paye #14
Micah Parsons #17
Gregory Rousseau #22
Josh Edwards
Rashawn Slater #12
Kwity Paye #14
Jaylen Waddle #15
DeVonta Smith #17
Pete Prisco
Rashawn Slater #13
Kyle Pitts #15
Kwity Paye #28
Gregory Rousseau #31
Haven't done a deep-study, but it looks like Pete Prisco's Draft diverges the most from the other three.
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If Judge/Graham view positional value similar to the Pats, I don't think a high risk/reward edge is in play.
Plus with covid restrictions hurting the scouting process on top of it, they go with a much safer choice IMO. I think some of those mocks are crazy, but what do I know....anything can happen.
That was my thought also. If Waddle or Surtain are still there are #11, very strong likelihood it would be either of those two, unles the front office makes a strategic decision to sign a WR in free agency and only take one in a later round in the draft.
Waddle never had close to the production of Smith. His Route tree is limited. He has more injury concern than Smith. He’s known as a better special teams guy than offensive guy. Even Alabama fans and sports broadcasters say he’s predominantly a speed guy and not a WR they’d bank on early.
To me is seems like Ruggs over Jeudy 2.0.
I'll take the taller, faster, more polished and more productive player every time.
He's too boom or bust for me, and more of a project than some of the prognosticators realize.
When I watch Kwity Paye, I see a more explosive and NFL-ready talent. The only question for me and the Giants would be is if he is more of a DE, hand in the dirt type, or if he can be a solution at OLB edge rusher. I think he can from the skills I've seen him display. I think Paye has as much upside coupled with a safe floor than any of the premier pass rushers that have been taken in recent memory.
All this said, I don't know how you can pass on DeVonta Smith if he somehow were to be there at 11. To me, he's just too good to pass on. It's interesting though that so many have him outside of the top 10, but you never know on draft day.
Best case is if 4 QBs do indeed go in the top 10, which is a possibility. I definitely believe Lawrence, Wilson, and Fields will be gone. Assuming those three, there are 7 left before our pick, and I think with OL always being a premium, Sewell is off the board, and I think there's a greater than 50% chance that Slater will be gone as well (Bengals at 5?).
I believe Ja'Marr Chase is a shoe-in for top 5, to me he's the best non-QB prospect in this draft.
So now I'm grouping a set of players in the next 5 picks, depending how the chips fall, the Giants will be picking one.
DeVonta Smith
Patrick Surtain
Trey Lance
Kyle Pitts
Kwity Paye (yes, I'm definitely putting him as a top 10 talent)
Caleb Farley
Jaylen Waddle
Micah Parsons
Christian Darrisaw
Wyatt Davis
We know it won't be one of the other OL probably, or Lance, but all of these players could go top 10.
What the Giants do is just going to be dependent on what the Eagles, Lions, Broncos, and Cowboys do.
All of these teams have a lot of needs, but I think multiple teams here could prioritize corner.
This is a long way of saying that the Giants could have a choice between Smith, Paye, Waddle, & Parsons. I think Smith is gone, and in this case, like I previously pondered, if it were me picking I'd be between Paye & Parsons. And depending on the day or week you ask me, I'll pound the table for either of them.
Waddle vs Smith before injury just an FYI to educate yourself.
Waddle 25 / 557 / 4
Smith 36 / 483 / 4
I had always heard that Waddle was the fastest of the two, explaining his return duties, while Smith was better catching the ball in traffic.
In 2018, Smith had 30 catches for 524 yards for a 17.5 ypc. Waddle 41 catches for 803 yards for a 19.6 ypc. In 2019, Smith had 65 catches for 1,200 yards for an 18.5 ypc and Waddle had 32 catches for 553 yards and a 17.3 ypc.
2020
9/26 Miz Smith 8/89 Waddle 8/134
10/3. T&AM Smith 6/63 Waddle 5/142
10/10 Miss Smith 13/164. Waddle 6/120
10/17 UGA Smith 11/167. Waddle 6/161
Which do you want?
I also really like Surtain
Waddle vs Smith before injury just an FYI to educate yourself.
Waddle 25 / 557 / 4
Smith 36 / 483 / 4
Chris Trapasso CBS Sports Comps for Rondale Moore.
“NFL comparison
Floor: Curtis Samuel
Middle: D.J. Moore
Ceiling: Tyreek Hill”
247Sports Article
“Rondale Moore draws NFL comparison to Tyreek Hill“
NFL.com Article
“He’ll tempt NFL general managers looking for all-purpose electricity from the slot position -- think Tyreek Hill“
“I think he’s going to absolutely fly. Everybody knows it’s coming. He’s still going to do it. I think the second number will be a two. I don’t know what the third number will be. But he’s the closest thing to Tyreek Hill that I’ve seen, since Tyreek Hill entered the league.“
- is an absolute game changer who’s exceptional once the ball is in his hands. His instincts and feels as a runner are off the charts. He feels as if he can score whenever he gets his hands on the ball no matter the positioning on the field. [...] has little regard for his body and will lay it all out on the line in order to pick up maximum yardage. As a route-runner, he utilizes supplementary head fakes and additional arm/shoulder movements in order to sell and persuade defenders every which way.
- has eye-popping straight line speed when given clear running lanes or coverage cushion. On quick patterns or tunnel screens, he has the footspeed and acceleration in order to leave defenders in the dust in a hurry. His dynamics as a running threat are elite and he’s a big play waiting to happen if given a hint of daylight. [...] picks his feet up and puts them down at a rapid rate. He’s easily able to separate and pull away when in the clear and makes everyone else surrounding him look as if they are moving in slow motion.
Smith is listed at 6'1", 175. But he is very strong for his build. His biggest issue will likely be learning how to deal with NFL press coverage to keep from getting his routes disrupted. But he's super smooth, and crafty in his route running, and I think he'll be do fine.
I also think he's faster than some realize. Add to that his hands and ball skills, and he's really unusual. High points the ball, exceptional body control, and an uncanny awareness of what's inbounds.
The press have dubbed him, The Slim Reaper.
But I think it unlikely he makes it to 11, and about a snow ball's chance in hell the Giants draft him if he does.
Quote:
Nobody labeled those other guys as hill type athlete. From this years draft the guys who get that label are toney and waddle. The label doesn’t mean “they will be this player” it means that their game is styled or tailored that way.
Waddle vs Smith before injury just an FYI to educate yourself.
Waddle 25 / 557 / 4
Smith 36 / 483 / 4
Chris Trapasso CBS Sports Comps for Rondale Moore.
“NFL comparison
Floor: Curtis Samuel
Middle: D.J. Moore
Ceiling: Tyreek Hill”
247Sports Article
“Rondale Moore draws NFL comparison to Tyreek Hill“
NFL.com Article
“He’ll tempt NFL general managers looking for all-purpose electricity from the slot position -- think Tyreek Hill“
Agree. The Giants need playmakers, everybody knows it, DG said as much. If he's there, don't overthink it, take him. You know you have a problem, the solution falls in your lap, just do it.
I don't entirely agree with you on Slater, but who knows? Every team is going to have a different board, especially in this weird year. Would you pass on one of the big 3 receivers for Slater? Apparently some people would.
DeVonta Smith
Patrick Surtain
Trey Lance
Kyle Pitts
Kwity Paye (yes, I'm definitely putting him as a top 10 talent)
Caleb Farley
Jaylen Waddle
Micah Parsons
Christian Darrisaw
Wyatt Davis
Quote:
All this said, I don't know how you can pass on DeVonta Smith if he somehow were to be there at 11. To me, he's just too good to pass on. It's interesting though that so many have him outside of the top 10, but you never know on draft day.
Agree. The Giants need playmakers, everybody knows it, DG said as much. If he's there, don't overthink it, take him. You know you have a problem, the solution falls in your lap, just do it.
Quote:
Best case is if 4 QBs do indeed go in the top 10, which is a possibility. I definitely believe Lawrence, Wilson, and Fields will be gone. Assuming those three, there are 7 left before our pick, and I think with OL always being a premium, Sewell is off the board, and I think there's a greater than 50% chance that Slater will be gone as well (Bengals at 5?).
I don't entirely agree with you on Slater, but who knows? Every team is going to have a different board, especially in this weird year. Would you pass on one of the big 3 receivers for Slater? Apparently some people would.
Quote:
I believe Ja'Marr Chase is a shoe-in for top 5, to me he's the best non-QB prospect in this draft.
Probably, but there are no shoo-ins this year. Chase didn't play in 2020, some teams may hesitate. It is possible, though unlikely, he falls to the Giants.
Quote:
So now I'm grouping a set of players in the next 5 picks, depending how the chips fall, the Giants will be picking one.
DeVonta Smith
Patrick Surtain
Trey Lance
Kyle Pitts
Kwity Paye (yes, I'm definitely putting him as a top 10 talent)
Caleb Farley
Jaylen Waddle
Micah Parsons
Christian Darrisaw
Wyatt Davis
The question about Paye is scheme fit, not talent. Owusu-Koramoah probably also on the board at 11.
Quote:
This is a long way of saying that the Giants could have a choice between Smith, Paye, Waddle, & Parsons. I think Smith is gone, and in this case, like I previously pondered, if it were me picking I'd be between Paye & Parsons. And depending on the day or week you ask me, I'll pound the table for either of them.
I know it sounds nuts, but the Giants could very well have a choice among one of Pitts/Chase/Smith/Waddle; Surtain; Parsons, Owusu-Koramoah and Slater. But again, I think teams are going to have crazily divergent boards this year. Someone might want Bateman, Toney or Marshall ahead of Waddle, due to the ankle issue.
I like your thonking. The thing with Slayer and OL in general is that almost every team needs OL, and quality OT's are among the scarcest resources in the draft year over year.
Slater whooped Chase Young. We saw last year the run on tackles early with Thomas, Wills, Becton and Wirfs all going in the top 13 picks.
The Bengals at 5, I don't see anyway they go anything but OT. You just saw Burrow go down with the ACL, the OL still has Bobby Hart at starting RT. This is their franchise. It has to be a priority for them. I can make an argument that all teams picking in the top 10 are OT-needy. The Cowboys wpuld seem to be in the best situation on paper, with Smith and Collins, but both had their 2020 seasons ended early from neck and hip surgeries, respectively, and the former is getting a little long in the tooth.
Miami might have the feeling they have enough with Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt, but I could easily see them viewing Sewell as a big upgrade and a necessary investment for Tua.
The Eagles are in OL hell. So I definitely see 2 OTs taken before our pick, and wouldn't be surprised if 3 went off the board.
The biggest and most important investment for a team is QB, so it makes sense to use premium picks to protect that investment, and like I said, quality OT in particular is also the scarcest NFL resource. Evem the great Mahomes couldn't get amy traction without protection.
Moreover, in a copycat league, remember the Bucs used their 1st on Wirfs last season.
I'd bet -125 or so that two OL will come off the board in the top ten with confidence.