With elite defensive linemen like Nick Bose, Josh Allen, Quinnen Williams, and Ed Oliver clouding the vision in the top 10 picks, unknown but quality players can often slip to the second round but still offer great value. The New York Giants are in a good position to grab a darkhorse option after the first round.
The New York Giants should consider this great value pick:
One underrated player is Louisiana Tech edge rusher, Jaylon Ferguson. Earning 17.5 sacks in 2018, Ferguson is a fantastic player that has had negative narratives meddle with his draft stock. His potential is high and selecting him in the second round would be an absolute steal.
In addition to his impressive sack totals, he racked up 64 tackles with 26 for a loss, two forced fumbles and four passes defended. Charges for simple battery disallowed him from attending the NFL Combine, which surely hurt his draft value and has seen him plummeting in the draft ranks. The filings were from three years ago when he was a freshman and are now just arising.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared him to Marcus Davenport and further stated:
Extremely productive edge defender with an NFL-caliber frame that continues to take shape. Ferguson plays with good toughness at the point of attack and became a much more disruptive run defender as the season progressed. He appears to have average athletic traits but benefits from an instinctive pass-rush approach. His pro day was somewhat disappointing and he’ll need to maintain better lean muscle mass. He’ll likely be targeted as an even-front defensive end with potential to become a good NFL starter.
The cons:
Ferguson has shown drops in effort in the past, which is not ideal for a team looking to add high-intensity players that will contribute to the positive locker room ideology the Giants have adopted since the start of the new regime.
He also lacks ideal muscle mass which will need to be corrected at the next level. His playing weight needs to be centered around his muscle and maintaining his speed.
The bottom line:
If Gettleman decides to spend the 6th overall pick on a quarterback, selecting a player like Ferguson in the second round would be a great idea. He’s an impact player with the potential to be an adequate NFL starter.