Big Blue Draft Review Day One

Well, two of my three predictions from my Big Blue Draft Preview did come true: The Giants did end up drafting someone no one thought they would and as has become my unfortunate reaction the last several years, I got angry. But before we got there, some crazy poop went down last night.

We need to go back even further though. You see, there were events earlier that would shape the Giant’s first night of the 2021 Draft. Specifically, I saw stories about Mara making comments about the offense stinking (which we all knew) and that the Giants needed to add another weapon. Hmmmm. I wonder what that could be interpreted by other teams to mean? I don’t know, maybe drafting a WR or something? With Ja’Marr and Waddle off of the board, that left ALA WR DaVonta Smith as the sole remainder of big 3 WRs. With a pair of CBs going 7th and 8th and Dallas not really needing a WR at #9, I figured, ‘well if Mara wants a weapon, Smith would be a fantastic add.’ Not so fast. Because here came the much hated, friggin game-tanking, P.O.S. Eagles. With a surprising assist from the also much hated Cowboys, the Eagles traded up to the 10th spot and guess who they took? Thanks Mara. Good work letting the opposition know exactly who the Giants wanted at 11. Smith was gone. Should be fun playing him twice a year now.

Now here is where the world stopped revolving for a second or two. The Giants and fleecing-wary David Gettleman, actually traded down with the Bears. What’s more shocking is that Giants actually got haul for the trade: Chicago’s 2021 #20, a 2021 5th, and next year’s 1st and 4th round picks. Fantastic work. However, the Giants passed on drafting ILB Micah Parsons (who went 12th to the aforementioned Cowboys) or a much needed OT in Rashawn Slater (who went #13 to the Chargers). But hey, they got future assets. And this team is about the future, not this season.

As I watched the picks from 12-19 tick off, I kept saying, “please don’t let anybody take Kwity Paye”. The only real concern was Miami at 18 because they really needed an Edge rusher. But they kept it close to home they went with Jaelen Phillips from Miami U. At #19, the WFT certainly didn’t need an Edge, and went with ILB Jamin Davis. Speaking to the TV, I then declared: “Ok, guys, we are up. Let’s get our Edge! Kwity is waiting. Heck, why not even get WF’s OT Christian Darrisaw. We definitely could use him to help with the league’s second lowest ranked o-line last season. Let’s do this!”. You’d think I would know better by now. The Giants selected Kadarius Toney, WR from Florida. After cursing at the TV, I quickly scanned the various Best Available lists I was watching. He was there, one list had him about 8 slots down, another had him 22 slots down. The Giants just signed speedy slot WR John Ross. This is considered a strong WR class with plenty of options at WR in later rounds. I know Toney is a dangerous skilled WR, but did the pick fill a glaring need for the Giants? No. No. And no. Will Danny Dimes have the time to throw Toney the ball behind that line? Maybe, if Toney is fast enough. It’s like Gettleman said, “well, we are getting a WR in the 1st round tonight. Got it? I don’t care who is available at #20 and what our bigger needs are. We are getting a WR. Those sneaky Eagles can steal our 1st choice, but dang it if I’m going to let them keep us from drafting a WR tonight. I’ll show them.” You sure did.

Kwity Paye went next of course. A gift for the Colts. Darrisaw went 23rd.

Those glaring needs remain. Let’s see if they fill two of them tonight… They better.