If the New York Giants decide they want to wait until 2020 for a quarterback or prefer to pursue Josh Rosen, the 2019 NFL draft opens up like a flood gate. With a ton of offensive and defensive talent, there is plenty of the Giants can choose from to address positions of weakness.
While offensive or defensive line would make the most sense, they could choose to go after one of the most physically gifted linebackers in the last decade. LSU backer Devin White has emerged as one of the most intriguing prospects as he represents a major upgrade over the oft-injured BJ Goodson.
White formally met with the New York Giants at the NFL combine, stating:
“We watched straight film,’’ White said Saturday. “They didn’t tell me nothing, we watched straight film. ‘What were you doing right here? Oh, that was a good play. What was this? …. Tell me what was going on. Draw this up.’ It was straight football, strictly business and I know they were picking my brain to see was I the linebacker that can go out there and control everybody. Did I know what I was doing at LSU? And I think I put on a show for ’em.’’
That’s the type of confidence you want in your defensive leader, and having a player with his skill-set to learn behind Alec Ogletree is an ideal situation on the defensive side of the ball. This would make the idea of retaining Landon Collins that much more attractive, as White and Collins would make for one of the best run-stopping duos in the league.
How did Devin White look at the NFL combine?
White ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the combine, leading the linebackers in that category.
"Giddy-up"
4.42u @DevinWhite__40 wins the 1st round of 40s.#NFLcombine #NFLSU pic.twitter.com/kAA0wgj7o6— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) March 3, 2019
? GET UP, @DevinWhite__40??
? @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/qVMbALSJKk
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) March 3, 2019
The sideline-to-sideline speed that the LSU product possesses is generational. Additionally, he’s extremely intelligent in the middle of the field and can feel out run plays. He’s phenomenal at not just plugging holes, but picking the right ones to shoot to stop runners behind the line of scrimmage.
In his final two seasons of college, he amassed 25.5 tackles for a loss – 12 in 2018. He had an astounding 123 total tackles last season.
There’s no question that he would provide major value to a below-average Giants defense. Pairing him with Ogletree would immediately make the duo one of the best in football.