Pass rush help was a priority for the New York Giants heading into the 2019 NFL Draft, however, with premium talents like Josh Allen and Ed Oliver on the board with the 6th overall pick, they elected to pass in favor of quarterback, Daniel Jones.
With the 95th (third-round) pick, the Giants selected defensive end/outside linebacker Oshane Ximines, a talented rush specialist out of Old Dominion. The first ever player drafted from the smaller school, Ximines has immense skill and could be a force on the defense after losing Olivier Vernon in a trade to the Cleveland Browns.
The Giants also lost Connor Barwin, Josh Mauro, Kerry Wynn, and Mario Edwards during the free agency period this offseason.
Last season, Oshane racked up an impressive 12 sacks, 18.5 tackles for a loss and 4 forced fumbles. While this was against lower-tier teams, his fundamentals and moves are legit.
“We need pass rush help,†Gettleman said. “We feel we have really addressed it with Dexter Lawrence and this kid. We got inside pass rush help and we got outside pass rush help. The quicker you get to the passer, the less time corners have to cover and good stuff happens.â€
Dave Gettleman further stated:
“Oshane Ximines, ‘X-Man’ – he’s a scheme fit for us. He’s a guy that’s played a lot of football – 48 starts, has been very productive, many sacks. He’s got a good first step. He’s a good edge player. I think he’s going to be a real good fit for our defense in base, as well as in nickel,†Shurmur said. “Not to mention, as good a player as he is, as productive as he is, he’s an even better person. He’s going to be another real good scheme fit for our locker room. I called him to tell him we were going to draft him, and he quickly said hello and dropped the phone. He’s probably as excited a player to hear that he was going to be a New York Football Giant as anybody that I’ve called in the last couple years.â€
Ximines was a four-year captain for his team, attesting to his intangible traits. He’s a genuine leader and will help control the locker room atmosphere.
The Giants brass was so keen on the Old Dominion product, they even considered trading up 14-15 spots to grab him. Luckily, he fell right into their laps at 95. Gettleman and co. had a second-round grade on Ximines, showing their value in the small-school product.
What does Oshane Ximines offer the New York Giants?
The Giants’ new defender isn’t strictly a pass-rusher, he’s a three-down player, according to Gettleman. While his run stopping isn’t fantastic as he lacks some size, he will manage with three big men stacked alongside him in Dalvin Tomlinson, BJ Hill, and Dexter Lawrence.
Ximines has drawn comparisons to former Giants legend, Osi Umenyiora. Recording 11 sacks over a three-year period certainly boosted his draft stock. His length and strength are two of his quality attributes.