Giants continues to garner praise for draft haul
The Giants received plenty of praise for their draft haul as they walked away from the weekend with six players:
- Round 1, Pick 20: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
- Round 2, Pick 50: Azeez Ojulari, LB, Georgia
- Round 3, Pick 71: Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF
- Round 4, Pick 116: Elerson Smith, LB, Northern Iowa
- Round 6, Pick 196: Gary Brightwell, RB, Arizona
- Round 6, Pick 201: Rodarius WIlliams, CB, Oklahoma State
In addition to the six players added to the mix for the 2021 season, the Giants also stockpiled picks for the 2022 NFL Draft. In the Day 1 trade with the Chicago Bears, Big Blue acquired Chicago's first and fourth-round picks in next year's draft by moving down nine slots. Then to get things started on Day 2, the Giants moved down eight slots in the second round in exchange for the Miami Dolphins' third-round pick in 2022. When all was said and done, the Giants emerged from the weekend with an extra pick in three of the first four rounds of next year's draft.
The praise continued on Monday as more media outlets complimented the Giants' on the combination of players and future picks the team collected over the weekend.
Here are some more expert reactions to the Giants' draft haul:
Pro Football Focus' Biggest 2021 NFL Draft Steals: Azeez Ojulari
"He may not have plus size and strength, but Ojulari is the most advanced pass-rusher in this class. He's a speed rusher in its purest form, possessing arguably the best cornering ability in the class, and he is also the most technically advanced edge defender available this year. This is why he notched a 91.7 pass-rush grade in 2020, which both led the 2021 class and was the fourth-best mark we have seen from an SEC edge defender in the PFF College era."
"I really like what Dave Gettleman did. He moved down, picked up a nice receiver in Kadarius Toney, and added picks, including a first-round pick next year. Then getting Ojulari was an added bonus. Keep an eye on fourth-round edge Elerson Smith."
(*Note: Only three teams received a higher grade from Prisco than the Giants)
"After hitting a couple of home runs in free agency by signing high-quality players at the two most valuable positions in the game outside of quarterback, general manager Dave Gettleman continued his strong offseason in the 2021 NFL Draft. He traded down not just in Round 1, but also in Round 2 — marking his first time ever doing so. And he still managed to pick up two solid players in those two rounds...
It's hard to fathom how a human can move the way Toney does. His combination of balance, agility and explosiveness makes him nearly impossible to tackle. The Florida wideout touched the ball 187 times in his college career and broke a whopping 66 tackles while averaging 8.5 yards after the catch. He's going to be one of the most difficult players to tackle in the NFL from Day 1.
Ojulari was the most advanced pass-rusher in the class; PFF had a Round 1 grade on him. He is technically sound, a speed rusher through and through with elite-level cornering ability. Power is not Ojulari's game, though. He's firmly in undersized territory at 6-foot-2 and 249 pounds, but what he lacks in size and strength, he makes up for with those traits and great length.
Ojulari posted top-notch pass-rush production in 2020 while going up against stellar SEC competition. He broke out in a big way, improving his 71.4 pass-rushing grade to a 91.7 mark, second-best in the FBS. Ojulari also forced three strip-sack fumbles and generated a 24.3% pass-rush win rate, a top-five mark at his position in the FBS. He can get by at the next level despite lacking strength."
In addition, PFF highlighted first-round pick Kadarius Toney's ability to force defenders to miss over the last few years. Since 2018, Toney has forced a missed tackle on 35 percent of his touches, which ranks No. 1 among all draft-eligible wide receivers this year.
View photos of the New York Giants 2021 NFL Draft Class.
Scouting reports for every 2021 draft choice
Provided by NFL.com, below is a piece of the breakdown of what each member of the 2021 draft class will bring to the Giants.
Round 1, Pick 20: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida (6-0, 193 pounds)
- Access to early acceleration to uncover.
- Joints like rubber bands for instant change of direction.
- Has potential to run complex first- and second-level routes.
- Can run an inside-pivot whip route that is unguardable.
Round 2, Pick 50: LB Azeez Ojulari, Georgia (6-2, 249 pounds)
- Built like a superhero with a broad chest, thickly muscled arms and a tapered waist.
- Humble teammate with tremendous football character.
- First freshman in Kirby Smart era to be named a team captain.
- Aggressive play demeanor has NFL starter written all over it.
Round 3, Pick 71: CB Aaron Robinson, UCF (5-11 1/2, 186 pounds)
- Combination of size and speed as a nickel.
- Operates with effective punch when allowed to press.
- Good foot quickness and agility.
- Desired short-area burst on lateral transitions.
Round 4, Pick 116: LB Elerson Smith, Northern Iowa (6-6, 252 pounds)
- Long frame complemented by long arms.
- Added 50 pounds of quality mass since 2016.
- Flashes of his upside pop up in every game.
- Impressive snap timing and get-off quickness.
Round 6, Pick 196: RB Gary Brightwell, Arizona (5-11, 218 pounds)
- Well-built with desired, proportional frame.
- Capable of handling inside/outside running duties.
- Gets enough speed going to turn the outside corner.
- Has feet to help gather and cut quickly on outside zone carries.
Round 6, Pick 201: CB Rodarius Williams, Oklahoma State (6-0, 189 pounds)
- Length and play strength to hold up the release.
- Improved ability to stay in route phase from press in 2020.
- Adequate route recognition.
- Showed ability to wall off receivers from the football on deep throws.
📸 WR Kadarius Toney's first 24 hours
Check out the gallery below to view photos of Giants first-round pick Kadarius Toney touring the Quest Diagnostics Training Facility for the first time.
View photos of Giants first-round pick Kadarius Toney touring the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.