New York Giants take strange defensive route in 2021 Draft Network Mock Draft

New York Giants, Caleb Farley
Oct 5, 2019; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver K.J. Osborn (2) is unable to make a catch as Virginia Tech Hokies defensive back Caleb Farley (3) defends the play during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Giants endured many struggles during the 2020 season, but one of their most glaring needs remains CB2. After starting the year with Corey Ballentine penciled in alongside James Bradberry, the Giants quickly embarked on a rotational journey at the position.

By season’s end, the Giants had made their way through Ballantine, Ryan Lewis, Isaac Yiadom, and Julian Love. While Love displayed some optimism in the final two games, allowing 51 yards and four receptions against Dallas in week 17, it is unknown if the Giants feel confident he can be their starter moving forward.

Due to COVID-19, the salary cap is expected to drop to a minimum of $175 million. With that being the case, teams are going to have to shed players to stay under the cap, meaning valuable veterans could be on the market for cheaper deals. That should give the Giants an opportunity to pick up an established veteran who can hold down the position for one year. There is another route they can take toward shoring up the CB2 spot.

The Draft Network’s Benjamin Solak mocked an interesting player to the New York Giants:

Projecting for the Giants is tricky. You can’t rely on the David Gettleman hog-molly bit, as their defensive trenches are set—though a surprise pick on the offensive line is certainly within the cards. A splash at wide receiver would also make sense, though two of the top three players are gone; an improvement at EDGE rusher is still necessary, though the board isn’t great for EDGEs early in the first round.

We have seen Gettleman make big investments in the secondary recently. They traded up to spend a first-round pick on DeAndre Baker in the 2019 draft, a top-40 pick on Xavier McKinney, and spent big money on James Bradberry in free agency. Their efforts have been rewarded. With the additions of Jabrill Peppers, Logan Ryan, and Julian Love, the Giants have a strong secondary group. It’s just another outside CB away from being elite.

Caleb Farley replaces Isaac Yiadom at that spot. He won’t have to follow WR1s early, which is to his advantage, and he brings great man and zone flexibility—important for Patrick Graham’s defense in New York.

If the Giants did elect to take Farley from Virginia Tech with the 11th overall pick, it would undoubtedly be a surprise. Farley is a fantastic man-coverage cornerback, but he has a troubling injury history, tearing his ACL in 2017 and suffering through back spasms in 2019. If those injuries are behind him, he represents arguably the best CB in the draft. He is an extremely athletic player who has played quarterback and receiver in the past, giving him a unique perspective.

Adding him to the secondary would give the Giants one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL. However, the offense desperately needs support, and going defensive might give them a top unit in the NFL, but once again, their offense will likely struggle to get things going, even with the Saquon Barkley expected to make a full return.