At a glance: General manager Dave Gettleman caused plenty of frustration in the Big Apple this off-season after letting safety Landon Collins walk in free agency, and trading away pass rusher Olivier Vernon and wide receiver Odell Beckham to the Browns. While Gettleman certainly went about replacing his defensive stars, his offensive choices are going to be scrutinised heavily until Giants fans see some Ws.
It's a case of damned if you do, damned if you don't in New York after Dave Gettleman's attempts to plan for life without quarterback Eli Manning got shot down by the same fans that were seeking such an insurance policy. Sure, fans are going to be skeptical after the Odell Beckham trade, but taking quarterback Daniel Jones over Dwane Haskins with the sixth overall pick seems reminiscent of the Browns taking Baker Mayfield instead of Sam Darnold in last year's draft: Mayfield is not the guy fans thought they wanted, but proved sometimes front offices do know a bit more than the rest of us. It's understandable that fans thought the selection wasn't a value pick, but the move tells the locker room: "HE'S. OUR. GUY."
The Giants opted - strangely, in places - to address the defensive holes left by the off-season roster churning. Defensive Tackle Dexter Jones was a surprise because the Giants already had two good young defensive tackles in B.J. Hill and Dalvin Tomlinson, but the move could come as a result of Damon Harrison being sent to to the Lions last season. The acquisitions of safeties Jabrill Peppers and Antoine Bethea mask Landon Collins departure to the NFC East rival Redskins, so shoring up the cornerback position with a bevy of picks made sense.
Crucially the Giants neglected the wide receiver position - save for a late fifth round comp pick - after the Odell Beckham earlier this Spring. There's little depth behind Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate, with troublesome receiver Corey Coleman - who started just one game last year - pegged as the number three guy.
DRAFT PICKS (per ESPN)
1.06 Daniel Jones QB
1.17 Dexter Lawrence DT
1.30 Deandre Baker CB
3.31 Oshane Ximines DE
4.06 Julian Love CB
5.05 Ryan Connelly ILB
5.33 Darius Slayton WR
6.07 Corey Ballentine CB
7.18 George Asafo-Adjei OG
7.31 Chris Slayton DT
ORIGINAL COVER PHOTO: NBC Sports
