Before I get around to the winners and the losers, let's give it up for the NFL. The 2020 draft went off without a hitch. Based on the beta test they did on Monday, there was plenty to worry about. Also, more than 15 million people tuned in Thursday night to watch the first round, a draft record. Don't tell me this country doesn't love sports. Though to be honest, with pretty much the whole country on "lockdown," I'm not that surprised at the ratings. There are only so many re-runs you can watch before you lose your mind.
Now onto the draft. Several things stood out. For starters, there were a shitload of offensive tackles taken in the first round. Six overall, with four of them going in the first 13 picks. What that told me was 1. There were a lot of exceptional tackles; and 2. Contrary to past drafts, a lot of teams went with need over best available player on the board.
Secondly, this was one of the deepest drafts that I can recall in quite some time. There were genuine steals as deep as the fourth and fifth rounds that in past years would've been taken much sooner. Clearly, it was a very good collegiate year.
So who were the winners? As much as it pains me to admit, the Cowboys had the best draft from start to finish. They ended up with the best overall wide receiver - CeeDee Lamb - at 17, the second best corner - Trevon Diggs - at 51, their next starting center - Tyler Bladasz - at 146, and a promising defensive end - Bradlee Anae - at 179. Clearly, Mike McCarthy did his homework. I haven't seen Jerry Jones smile that much since the '90s.
Another winner was the Carolina Panthers. For the first time in the modern draft, a team devoted all its picks to one side of the ball. After finishing near the bottom of the league defensively, Matt Rhule decided to do something about it, and boy did he ever. He chose Derrick Brown, the best defensive tackle in the draft, Yetur Gross-Matos, an outstanding defensive end, Jeremy Chinn, the second best safety in the draft and corner back Troy Pride. John Mara should never have let him get away.
The biggest losers? Guess. I'd give a month's worth of unemployment insurance payments just to have had the pleasure of listening in on the phone call Matt LaFleur made to Aaron Rodgers after he took Jordan Love with the 24th pick in the first round. Not only didn't he address a major need on a team that was one game shy of going to the Super Bowl, he actually traded up for a player that might never start a game for the Packers. Hey, Dave Gettleman haters, cheer up, at least your GM didn't pull a boner like this.
Speaking of Big Blue, they had a good, but not great, draft. The first two picks were exceptional. As expected, Gettleman chose an offensive tackle with the fourth pick. While most thought the top two tackles were Tristan Wirfs and Jedrick Wills, Getteman went with Andrew Thomas of Georgia. Frankly there wasn't much daylight between these three, so I'm good with Thomas. According to the poop sheets, he was the most pro ready, whatever the hell that means. Plus, he's a natural left tackle, which means Nate Solder's days as a Giant are numbered.
Xavier McKinney was a steal at 36. He was the best safety in the draft. The only reason he was still on the board was because there was a run on tackles and wide receivers in the first round. Unfortunately, thanks to the Leonard Williams trade with the Jets, the Giants didn't have another pick until 99 - late in the third round. That meant they lost out on a several outstanding players like Zack Baun, an outside linebacker who recorded 12.5 sacks as a senior at Wisconsin. Instead, they took Matt Peart, another tackle. A good player but likely not a starter. Two rounds later, Gettleman took guard Shane Lemieux. Clearly, the offensive line was his top priority, as was the secondary.
Overall, I'd give the Jints a B+. They addressed two major concerns, but sadly did not land the pass rusher the team has needed ever since it sent Jason Pierre-Paul packing. And in this throw-first, run-second NFL, a team without a pass rusher is a team destined to lose, and lose is what the Giants have been doing a lot of lately; in fact, they've made the post-season once in the last seven years - 2016. Not coincidentally, that was there last winning season.
It's too early to tell whether these picks will significantly improve the Giants' fortunes. No doubt, Thomas will give Daniel Jones the time he needs to complete more of his passes and provide Saquon Barkley with the holes he needs to become the all-pro running back he is. McKinney will shore up a pass defense that was 30th in the league last year. And the free agent signings Gettlemann made during the off season will certainly help a team that went 4-12 in 2019.
Do I feel better now than I did going into Thursday's draft? Yes, but I'll reserve my judgment until I see tangible evidence that the coaching staff Gettleman has assembled is up to the task of transforming this team from a perennial loser to a playoff contender.
