The New York Giants have already landed their franchise quarterback for the future in Daniel Jones, which gives them the confidence they need to begin piecing together a defense that ranked towards the bottom of the NFL in 2019.
The 2020 NFL Draft represents an opportunity for Big Blue to secure either a top tackle to hold down the offensive line or a defensive talent to re-shape a unit in need of assistance.
In ESPN’s Todd McShay’s latest mock draft, he has the Giants looking no further than Clemson stud linebacker, Isaiah Simmons, with their first-round pick.
I’d love to get second-year quarterback Daniel Jones a weapon on the outside here, but wide receiver is a deep group and offers plenty of midround options. And quite frankly, defense as a whole is a more serious problem for the Giants. Let’s get them a do-it-all linebacker — their first Round 1 ‘backer since 1984 (Carl Banks) — who found his way into just about every statistical category on the Clemson stat sheet. Simmons is what every NFL team dreams of having at its disposal. He can rush the passer, he can stand up against the run and he can drop into coverage. With Markus Golden and his 10 sacks headed toward free agency, the athletic Simmons could help fill the void.
The New York Giants have options:
Surprisingly, the Detroit Lions draft cornerback, Jeff Okudah, just before the Giants’ pick at No. 4, which might open up doors for a team in need of draft capital. After GM Dave Gettleman gave up a third-round selection for Leonard Williams, adding high-round picks should be a consideration.
The Bengals pluck Joe Burrow with the first overall pick, which leaves Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert for the taking. Gettleman has never traded back in the draft before, but this is as good a time as any, considering Big Blue could still land Simmons with the 5-6 pick.
Regardless of where he’s selected, Simmons would bring an exciting blend of speed and athleticism to the team. His 8.0 sacks, 16.5 tackles for a loss, three interceptions, and eight passes defended last season only attests to his diverse skill-set. If the Giants are serious about building the middle of the defense, picking Simmons is the right move.
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