The 2020 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror. The Giants had 10 picks heading into the weekend and ended up keeping all of them. Here is the Giants' draft class:
- Georgia OT Andrew Thomas, Round 1, Pick 4
- Alabama S Xavier McKinney, Round 2, Pick 36
- UConn OT Matt Peart, Round 3, Pick 99
- UCLA CB Darnay Holmes, Round 4, Pick 110
- Oregon G Shane Lemieux, Round 5, Pick 150
- Penn State LB Cam Brown, Round 6, Pick 183
- Minnesota LB Carter Coughlin, Round 7, Pick 218
- South Carolina LB TJ Brunson, Round 7, Pick 238
- Minnesota CB Chris Williamson, Round 7, Pick 247
- Georgia LB Tae Crowder, Round 7, Pick 255
It takes a few years to truly judge a draft class. Rookies typically need some time to adjust to the NFL, and could take a couple of years before they reach their full potential. However, the media simply cannot wait. Only hours after the draft concluded, analysts began handing out grades for each team's draft class.
With that said, here is the report card for the Giants' 2020 draft class.
"Day 1: Andrew Thomas was PFF's OT1 in this class, and a large reason why he got the nod over Tristan Wirfs and Jedrick Wills was his elite production against the best of the best in the SEC. Thomas had a 92.7 overall grade in 2019 that ranked third in the FBS among tackles, and he was one of few to perform at a top-10 level in both pass protection and as a run-blocker. As a matter of fact, Thomas' overall grade tied for the best we have ever seen from an SEC tackle with La'el Collins back in 2014. Throw in his size, strength and athleticism, and the fact that he did this in an NFL-type of scheme, and he is the best tackle in the class.
Day 2: Safety wasn't a pressing need, but when you have a guy like Xavier McKinney on the board at the 36th overall pick, you throw needs out the window and steal McKinney from everyone else. McKinney was 19th on the PFF Big Board and is easily the most versatile safety in the class. There have been only five safeties to play over 450 snaps in the box, slot and at free safety over the past two years, and only one of those five produced 70.0-plus grades at all three of those alignments — Xavier McKinney. Regardless of alignment or role, McKinney performed at a high level in each of the past two seasons, producing grades above 79.0 against the run, as a pass-rusher and in coverage.
Matt Peart was a solid pickup for the Giants at pick No. 99. He's coming off a season in which he recorded an elite 90.2 overall grade that ranked seventh in the FBS — succeeding as both a pass-protector and run-blocker. He is built like an offensive tackle you'd dream up from a size and length perspective at 6-foot-7 with 36 5/8-inch arms. The big concern with Peart is his play strength. He has to add more to his frame, and if he does that, he could become a quality NFL starter.
Day 3: New York kicked off Day 3 by making a great move and taking Darnay Holmes 110th overall. He was 86th on the PFF Big Board, and while he is short with poor arm length, he has the tools teams should have taken a chance on in the second or third round. Holmes had a down year in 2019, seeing his PFF coverage grade drop from 80.3 in 2018 to 61.8, which had a negative impact on his draft stock. But the Giants were the beneficiary of it — they got great value at a valuable position."
"Thomas and McKinney alone would make this class incredibly strong, but getting another tackle, a potential top nickel back and some interior line help were shrewd moves behind the splashy ones. Thomas is a great follow to Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones and McKinney will be better than Landon Collins."
"This was a very strong draft for the Giants. Thomas and Peart figure to be bookends for years to come in New York and though Thomas was taken a little earlier than expected, getting Peart at 99 was a steal.
So was getting McKinney at 36. Nobody would've batted an eye had he gone in the top 25 picks. But the G-Men got him in the second round. Holmes, Lemieux, and Brown all have starter potential while Coughlin should be a solid rotational player.
There's a lot to like about this Giants class. This is a great class for Dave Gettleman and first-year Giants head coach and former Patriots special teams coordinator, Joe Judge."
"Dave Gettleman, head coach Joe Judge and the revamped scouting department deserve high marks for consistently pairing talent and value with positions of need. The Giants added the premier offensive tackle and arguably the premier safety in this class while fortifying depth along the interior offensive line and arguably the weakest position on the defense -- linebacker. While the Giants added Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley in the past two drafts, this might be the most talented crop of rookies from top to bottom in any of Gettleman's three drafts at the helm. It appears to also be one of the strongest draft classes in the league."
"Day 1 grade: B
Day 2 grade: A-
Day 3 grade: B+
Overall grade: B+
Draft analysis: "Most people expected the Giants to hit the offensive line early on -- and picking Thomas and Peart in Rounds 1 and 3 met that expectation. Safety McKinney (Round 2) bolsters the team's secondary, as does cornerback Holmes (Round 4), who will work in the slot quite well for the Giants. Lemieux provides depth on the interior offensive line. Brown displays the athleticism to become a nice pick-up as a reserve edge rusher. Brunson was a good pick who finds the football despite not having any elite physical traits. Williamson is a versatile corner/nickel/safety who will contribute soon, and Crowder was an absolutely underappreciated part of the 2019 Georgia defense. Look for general manager Dave Gettleman to seek out hidden receiver gems after the draft."
View photos of the entire 10-member New York Giants 2020 Draft Class
GEORGIA OT ANDREW THOMAS
ALABAMA SAFETY XAVIER MCKINNEY
UCONN OT MATT PEART
UCLA CB Darnay Holmes
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Oregon Guard Shane Lemieux
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
Penn State LB Cam Brown
(AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Minnesota LB Carter Coughlin
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
South Carolina LB T.J. Brunson
(AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Minnesota CB Chris Williamson
(AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Georgia LB Tae Crowder
(AP Photo/John Amis)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) plays against Missouri during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) is shown in action against South Carolina in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Athensw. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) is shown in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Murray State Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) plays against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Nashville, Tenn. Thomas was selected to The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference football team, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) pursues against the Vanderbilt Commodores during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brett Carlsen)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) plays against Vanderbilt in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Georgia won 30-6. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) prepares for action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Murray State, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) lines up against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
S Xavier McKinney
(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) knocks the football loose from Auburn running back JaTarvious Whitlow (28) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2019, file photo, Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) calls a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M, in College Station, Texas. McKinney was selected to The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference football team, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Sam Craft, File)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney heads to the bench during the first half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Miss, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Marvin Gentry)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) reacts to the refs during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart (65) sets up to block at the line of scrimmage in front of Central Florida defensive lineman Landon Woodson (93) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart (65) sets up to block at the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Central Florida Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart (65) runs on to the field during senior day festivities before the start of an NCAA college football game against East Carolina Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Stephen Dunn)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Connecticut offensive lineman Matt Peart runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UCLA's Darnay Holmes (1) returns a kick against Memphis in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
UCLA Bruins defensive back Darnay Holmes (1) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
UCLA defensive back Darnay Holmes returns a kick while Texas A&M linebackers Braden White and Buddy Johnson tackle him during an NCAA college football game, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017, in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA won 45-44. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
UCLA defensive back Darnay Holmes walks off the field after an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
UCLA defensive back Darnay Holmes (1) during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
UCLA defensive back Darnay Holmes (1) in the second half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona defeated UCLA 20-17. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
UCLA defensive back Darnay Holmes (1) during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
UCLA defensive back Darnay Holmes runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux (68) in between drills before the start of an NCAA college football game against Stanford on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux (68) blocks against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Stanford, Calif. Oregon won 21-6. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux (68) in the first half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon offensive lineman Shane Lemieux runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Rutgers' Gus Edwards (13) gets knocked out of bounds before crossing the goal line by Penn State's Cam Brown (6) and Parker Cothren (41) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)
Penn State linebacker Cam Brown (6) hits Indiana running back Ricky Brookins (33) to break up a pass play during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) gets off a pass under pressure by Penn State linebacker Cam Brown (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) plays against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Minnesota defeated Purdue 38-31. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia Southern quarterback Justin Tomlin (17) passes while under the pressure of Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) plays against Purdue during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) on field against Penn State during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) plays against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Minnesota defeated Purdue 38-31. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) plays against Purdue tight end Garrett Miller (88) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Minnesota defeated Purdue 38-31. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) plays against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Minnesota defeated Purdue 38-31. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) plays against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Minnesota defeated Purdue 38-31. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin (45) during an NCAA college football game against New Mexico State,Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Missouri wide receiver Emanuel Hall, right, runs past South Carolina's T.J. Brunson, left, during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, file photo, Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant (2) scrambles from the pocket against South Carolina linebacker T.J. Brunson (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Columbia, S.C. Clemson's Kelly Bryant and Miami's Malik Rosier are longtime backups blossoming as starters. One of them will celebrate an ACC championship when the top-ranked Tigers faced No. 7 Hurricanes on Saturday night. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford, File)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) scores a two-point conversion against South Carolina linebacker T.J. Brunson, left, and defensive lineman Jabari Ellis in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019. North Carolina won 24-20. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks (13) looks for a receiver as he is rushed by South Carolina linebacker T.J. Brunson (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
South Carolina linebacker T.J. Brunson (6) celebrates an interception during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Minnesota's defensive back Chris Williamson (6) during the first half of a college football game Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota's defensive back Chris Williamson (6) sacks Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Minneapolis. Northwestern won 24-14. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Chris Williamson (6) tips the ball in the end zone away from the arms of Penn State wide receiver KJ Hamler (1) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 31-26. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Iowa wide receiver Nico Ragaini, left, dives into the end zone for a touchdown as Minnesota defensive back Chris Williamson trails during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Baylor running back Trestan Ebner (25) loses the ball on a pass play while being hit by Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder (30) which Georgia intercepted in the first half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Left is Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean (17). (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder (30) moves near Notre Dame offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer (78) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder (30) comes up celebrating after Missouri wide receiver C.J. Boone (10) is brought down during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis)
"Georgia's Andrew Thomas is the most polished, pro-ready tackle in a loaded class, and Alabama safety Xavier McKinney could have easily been a top-25 pick.
UConn's Matt Peart has tons of upside at offensive tackle, and the value got better for the Giants on Day 3. UCLA's Darnay Holmes is a starting-caliber corner with big-play ability, Oregon's Shane Lemieux is a mauler of a guard, and the rest of their Day 3 selections all have special teams ability with potential for more."
"Eli Manning is gone, and rookie quarterback Daniel Jones showed flashes of his potential last season. It's clear that general manager Dave Gettleman and new coach Joe Judge are trying to help their quarterback and star running back Saquon Barkley, with two of their first three picks going to offensive tackles. "We want to fix this offensive line once and for all," Gettleman said on Thursday night.
Andrew Thomas is an experienced, athletic, smart player who doesn't commit penalties. He played left tackle at Georgia but could play right tackle in New York with Nate Solder on the left side. Third-round pick Matt Peart (99) started 48 games for UConn and has the potential to start down the road. There's no question the Giants' offensive line is better now.
I loved the value of safety Xavier McKinney (36) early on Day 2. There were teams looking at him in the 20s, but he lasted until the second round. He's a good fit next to Jabrill Peppers. Darnay Holmes (110) is a really solid slot corner. Guard Shane Lemieux (150) could be a future starter. The Giants had four seventh-round picks, and I'm intrigued by what linebacker Carter Coughlin (218) turns into after he develops more in the NFL.
With a new coach in Judge, I'm not sure what to expect from New York in 2020, but I do think this is a good start to fixing the offensive line issues that Gettleman mentioned, and McKinney has Pro Bowl potential."
"What's to admire about Andrew Thomas: 36-inch arms, standout competitiveness, sound pass-blocking mechanics and overall composure. It will be interesting to see if the Giants view Thomas as a right tackle (his likely position for 2020) or a left tackle. Wherever Thomas plays, the hope is that late third-round pick Matt Peart can play the other side.
Defensively, consider Xavier McKinney a catch-all solution for a Giants secondary that is quietly better inside than people realize. Or, potentially better, since they're counting on last year's fourth-round free safety, Julian Love, to build on his intriguing rookie season, and on former Browns first-round strong safety Jabrill Peppers to perform at a star level. In today's NFL you need three quality safeties, and it really helps if one of those safeties can play the slot, as that provides answers inside against both three-receiver and two-tight end personnel. McKinney offers diverse value."
"This draft had to be mostly about fixing the offensive line, and it was. Gettleman not only found his anchor tackle in Round 1 (Thomas), but he may have found future starters at tackle and guard in Rounds 3 and 5 (Peart and Lemieux). Gettleman seems to think his line problems are now fixed, and he might be right. If he is, this draft will look a lot better in a few years. Of course, he still didn't find the "Blue Goose" pass rusher he knows he needs on defense (None of the developmental linebackers and edge rushers late in the draft will fill that role). He did get two players who should help immediately -- a highly-rated safety (McKinney) and a player who should win the nickel corner job (Holmes). Whether that's enough largely depends on how his free-agent spending spree and his draft class from the last two years pans out. For now, though, it feels like he found some key pieces for a team ready to turn the corner and start to win again."
"The Giants surprised some in the first round by taking Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas. But if you think about it, he's the most pro-ready true left tackle in the draft. On a team with a young quarterback, that's what the Giants need.
In the second round, they were able to snare Alabama safety Xavier McKinney. Many thought he could come off the board in the middle of the first round. McKinney gives the Giants a safety who excels at coming down into the box and making tackles. He's good enough in coverage too.
The Giants doubled up on offensive tackles, with developmental right tackle Matt Peart of Connecticut in the third round and Oregon guard Shane Lemieux two rounds later."
"Key Picks: Andrew Thomas (OT, Georgia), S Xavier McKinney (S, Alabama), Matt Peart (OT, Connecticut), Darnay Holmes (CB, UCLA)
Analysis: Started out on fire with their No. 1 offensive tackle — a recurring theme — and a major second-round steal in immediate starter McKinney."
Check out other miscellaneous notes from analysts on the Giants' draft.
ESPN's Matt Bowen on entire 2020 NFL Draft
Immediate Impact Players: Giants S Xavier McKinney, Round 2, Pick 36, Alabama
"McKinney is a multidimensional defensive back, with the physical play style and versatile traits to fit in the Giants' new defensive scheme. Similar to the role Patrick Chung plays in New England, McKinney will cover down in the slot, play in the box and spin to the post. I thought he would be a first-round pick, and he should compete for a starting job immediately in New York for Joe Judge's squad."
CBS Sports' Josh Edwards on draft's winners and losers
Winner: Giants
"New York potentially added its left and right tackles of the future with Andrew Thomas and Matt Peart, respectively. Sandwiched between those two players was Xavier McKinney, who is regarded as the draft's best safety. He offers a lot of ability and versatility. Cornerback Darnay Holmes and interior offensive lineman Shane Lemieux should be solid contributors. Cam Brown, Carter Coughlin, TJ Brunson and Tae Crowder are all intriguing linebacker selections. Finally, cornerback Chris Williamson was a consistent producer as well. General manager Dave Gettleman told reporters his goal was to fix the offensive line once and for all and he took a big step in that direction."
NFL.com's Cynthia Frelund on best value picks from Day 2
1) S Xavier McKinney, Round 2, Pick 36
"He's listed as a safety, but McKinney also played nickel linebacker and was an effective blitzer while at Alabama. One of my favorite notes on him: When defending slot pass catchers, he prevented completions at the second-best rate (24.4 percent, per my computer vision) among safeties in this draft class. As far as his fit with the Giants goes, McKinney represents exceptional value for New York because his versatility will help improve a defense that ranked 27th in computer-vision-measured pressures and tied for the third-most big plays allowed (122)."
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