2 players the New York Giants should avoid in the 1st round of the NFL Draft

New York Giants, Gregory Rousseau
Oct 26, 2019; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers tight end Grant Carrigan (84) blocks against Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Gregory Rousseau (15) at the line of scrimmage during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Miami won 16-12. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

There are a few positions in the 2021 NFL draft that are considerably week. The New York Giants simply can’t reach on a player who won’t offer a significant impact on day one with the 11th overall pick. With an expected 4-5 quarterbacks to go in the first 10 picks, the Giants will have their choice at a bevy of elite options, so there are a few players in specific positional groupings that should be avoided at all costs.

Two players the New York Giants should stay away from in the 2021 NFL Draft:

1.) EGDE Gregory Rousseau

To start, Miami pass rusher Gregory Rousseau is the number one player on the list to avoid for the Giants at 11. Former NYG vice president Marc Ross seems to think the Giants will select him with the 11th overall pick, but based on his track record and being fired by the Giants several years ago, we can make the assumption he’s not in the know.

Rousseau is an interesting prospect, nonetheless, as he posted 15.5 sacks in 2019 before opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19. He forced four fumbles and posted 19.5 tackles for a loss and 34 solo tackles. The problem with Greg is that a majority of his socks came from the zero technique as an interior pass rusher, which won’t fly at the NFL level with bigger and stronger offensive lineman.

Rousseau simply doesn’t have an established position, with a little experience on the edge and no experience at outside linebacker, which the Giants utilize in their 3-4 scheme.

Selecting him would be purely based on speculation and upside, and after a disappointing Pro Day, he is dropping like a fly on draft boards. Some even have him in the second round as an athletic upside with potential. His minimal bend around the edge and lack of size make him inadequate for the interior on the defensive line, and as an edge, he simply doesn’t have to production or experience to be worthy of the 11th pick.

2.) EDGE Kwity Paye

It is no surprise that two edge rushers are the two players the Giants should stay away from in the draft. While Kwity Paye has tons of potential and has a play style like Jadeveon Clowney, he’s not going to be an elite pass rusher on day one. While he might be a strong run defender, he is a down lineman who plays in the four-point stance, so he would only play in nickel packages for the Giants, which would already slash his snap count considerably.

As stated above, the Giants have an opportunity to select an impact player on day one and trying to find a suitable position for Paye might be difficult. While he does have a bit of experience at OLB, he’s not refined in the category, and based on his experience and potential there alone, might even be a second-round pick for the Giants. For a team that runs a 4-3 base defense, he would be a fantastic selection with upside, given his functional strength and strong hands.