The New York Giants might be holding onto the optimistic hope that supplemental draft pick Sam Beal can emerge as a starter, but coming off a serious shoulder injury should temper our expectations.
The Giants secondary is thin, some might even say non-existent. Relying on Janoris Jenkins, Beal, and Grant Haley to hold it down in coverage is not the most ideal scenario, but the 2019 NFL Draft offers several great options, one of which is Notre Dame prospect Julian Love.
Where can the New York Giants draft Julian Love?
The Fighting Irish corner is one of the better options in pass-breakups, recording 16 passes defended in 2018 and 20 in 2017.
Simply put, Love has outstanding hips, feet, and natural instincts. His competitiveness is top-tier, offering extreme value as a mid-round selection. The Giants could potentially grab him in the second round or top of the third. NFL.com has him graded as a potential NFL starter.
https://twitter.com/BarstoolIrish/status/1014544382278717440
Love operates with great quickness and technique. He has the ability to anticipate throws and turn his head to make plays on the ball, something Eli Apple couldn’t do if his life depended on it. The Giants are in dire need of a second outside corner, a slot that Love could fill with ease.
The Notre Dame product’s negatives are purely physical. Scouts believe that Love might lack the strength and toughness to grapple with bigger receivers on the outside. Adding a bit more size and strength could be beneficial for the corner, which would increase his potential that much more.
The primary issue with Love is speed – he ran a 4.54 40-yard-dash. With a lack of size holding him down at 5’11”, 195 pounds, he relies heavily on his technical abilities. If he’s unable to keep up with NFL caliber wideouts, he will struggle in coverage.
However, his fundamentals are pure and he has the potential to be a starting caliber corner at the next level. Grabbing him at the bottom of the second or beginning of the third could be a great value pick.