GM Dave Gettleman of the New York Giants set off the alarm in some corners of the fan base a few days ago when he said the case could be not only to drop from 11th place in the NFL’s 2021 Draft, but also to climb.
“Can you argue to negotiate back because of this thing [the COVID-19 pandemic]. There are guys in this draft who, when they put pillows in August, it will be the first time in 20 months that they will put pillows, so you have to think about that part and some of these guys are very, very well rated, so you have to think about it ” , said Gettleman, adding that it is “very valid” to defend the market downturn. “So you can make that argument for that, you can make that argument to negotiate back, to accumulate choices for the next year. You can argue that you don’t care. You can argue that, knowing that your best information will be in the top guys, you might make a switch. So who knows? “
Would Gettleman really trade? Perhaps, but I believe it is highly unlikely. To me, this sounds more like a game outline. Could Gettleman, for example, be trying to give the Philadelphia Eagles the idea that he could try to get ahead of them in position number 6 to select Kyle Pitts, Florida’s tight end / wide receiver? Perhaps that will convince the Eagles to rise, perhaps wasting some usable draft resources.
Regardless, it’s time for another one of my weekly sketch simulation scenarios. This is a mock mock of four rounds using the Pro Football Network draft mock simulator.
With Gettleman’s swap comment in mind, I started this simulation draft trying to swap with LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase or Pitts as my targets. I started trying to engineer negotiations at No. 3 with the Miami Dolphins, and I didn’t stop until my commercial offers were rejected by the Dolphins, Falcons at No. 4, Bengals at No. 5, Lions at No. 7 and Panthers at No. 8 These offers generally included choice 76 or 116 in 2021, and an initial choice in the 2022 draft. I was even rejected including the choice of the Giants 2022 in the first round in a package for Atlanta for the fourth choice.
When the simulator declined my offer to Carolina for choice # 8, I stopped trying. That’s because when I got there, with only the Denver Broncos at No. 9 and the Dallas Cowboys at No. 10, I realized that I didn’t have to move. Pitts, Jaylen Waddle, Caleb Farley, Patrick Surtain II and Micah Parsons were still there, so I would end up with a desired player, no matter what.
Here’s how the draft unfolded.
Round 1 (No. 11) – Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
I rejected a couple of exchange offers here. The Las Vegas Raiders offered choices 17 and 48 and the Washington Football Team placed 19 and 51 on the table. Considering how it happened, I decided to keep the 11th choice.
Why? Pitts was still on the board. Now, let’s be serious for a second. In the real draft, this would be a complete stun. Remember what NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said.
“I think you can argue that he is the best player in the draft.”
If I am Gettleman, I can break a hip that would move so fast to achieve this. Whether you think he’s a tight end Darren Waller or a wide receiver Plaxico Burress, I think he can be a perfect piece creator for Jason Garrett and Daniel Jones.
If Pitts is available at No. 11, he won’t be passing me. Unless, miraculously, Chase is also there.
Other players considered: Jaylen Waddle, Micah Parsons
Round 2 (No. 42) – Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
After trying to climb up and down in 11th position, I approached this choice with an absolute desire to descend. My price, however, was another selection in Round 3 or Round 4 of this draft. I was unable to generate this offer. I received pick # 63 and second and seventh round picks in 2022 from Kansas City Chiefs and pick # 71 and Denver Broncos second and third round picks for No. 42 and 116. I wasn’t ‘I’m interested in them.
I was interested in Zaven Collins, who probably shouldn’t be on the board at number 42. I was really tempted by Newsome, who probably presents himself as an early cornerback. Dickerson could enter the right guard place that opened with the launch of Kevin Zeitler. Javonte Williams? I put him here because he is worthy to leave the board at this point, but I cannot pull the trigger on a running back in Round 2 with Saquon Barkley in the squad.
The position value can say that the edge rusher or cornerback should be the choice here if all things are the same. Collins is mostly an off-the-ball linebacker, but that’s not all I see. In my view, he has the potential to be a defensive three-down defender who can play the race, be a terrorist like a middle blitzer, handle responsibility for zone coverage, and be effective as a race defender or cross the ledge when solicited. The only question I have is whether he can handle men’s coverage responsibilities. It’s just something that Tulsa didn’t ask him to do.
Other players considered: Landon Dickerson, Asante Samuel Jr., Greg Newsome, Javonte Williams
Round 3 (No. 76) – TRADE !!!
Las Vegas # 80 and 162 accepted choices in exchange for # 76 and 2022 in the seventh round. I really didn’t think twice about this one. There are any number of players on the board that I would be happy to select, and choosing number 162 takes me to Round 5, where the Giants do not have a selection entering the draft.
Round 3 (No. 80) – Jackson Carman, OL, Clemson
It was not an easy choice. I could easily have been happy to choose any of the players from the list of “other players considered”.
I opted for a 1.80 meter, 330 pound Carman because I feel this is the right part of the draft for him, and I think it is important to keep adding young talent to the offensive line.
Carman may or may not have the footwork to challenge Matt Peart on the right tackle. He does, however, have the power and the malice to block the race to be a good NFL guard. The Giants should add to the offensive line mix at some point, and that’s what I did here.
Other players considered: Quincy Roche, Edge, Miami; Joe Tryon, Edge, Washington, Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State, Nico Collins, WR, Michigan, Walker Little, OT, Stanford; Trill Williams, CB, Syracuse; D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Central Michigan; Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina
Round 4 (No. 116) – Keith Taylor, CB, Washington
I was hoping to find a cornerback to increase competition for CB2, alongside James Bradberry. This seemed like a good place for that. Taylor was very good at the Senior Bowl and seems to fit the physical profile and skill set that defensive coordinator Patrick Graham likes.
From the Pro Football Network:
Positives: Two-year holder coming out of an incredible senior campaign. Aggressive, moody and battle receptors. Set the field on fire defending the race. Instinctive, he keeps the action in front of him and shows a remarkable recognition of the route in front of the action. It presents a good shot of the ball out of its plant, physically defeats the receivers to defend the throw and plays through the whistle. Defeat blocks with tight ends to win the field and make plays against the race.
Negatives: You should improve and clean your backpedal. He gave the recipients a big pillow last season. Fights tracking the pass on the man-to-man cover.
Analyze: Taylor was a solid but unspectacular singer in Washington, who continued and had a fantastic week of practice during the Senior Bowl. He has the size and ability to be the No. 2 cornerback in the NFL, but he must improve his techniques and make consistent plays with his back to the ball.
Other players considered: Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan; Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford; Osa Odighizuwa, DT, UCLA