The New York Giants seemed to approach the NFL Draft as if the organization, and general manager Joe Schoen specifically, had a dual mandate.
Schoen and the Giants trained one eye on the future by trading up to select quarterback Jaxson Dart in the first round, adding the former Ole Miss standout to an already crowded quarterback room, but added immediate help on offense by dropping former Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo along Tyron Tracey as a versatile weapon.
@mattlombardonfl Trying to make some sense of the Giants’ QB situation, and why they may have been so motivated to trade up for Jaxson Dart. #Giants #NYGiants #NFL #NFLDraft ♬ original sound – MattLombardoNFL
However, it was the Giants’ first pick that might go down as the most impactful made across the entire league throughout the entire NFL Draft.
New York Giants’ Abdul Carter Pick Heralded as One of NFL Draft’s Best
By many accounts, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter was the premier prospect in the entire draft class, and the Giants pounced on the opportunity to select him No. 3 overall.
According to ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller, the Giants adding Carter was the eighth best selection made by any team throughout the entire draft.
“Having my top-ranked player “fall” to No. 3 actually represents great value,” Miller writes for ESPN. “But Carter is also a great fit in a Giants defense that has established stars in defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II and edge rusher Brian Burns. Carter doesn’t have to carry the defense right away and can be used the way the Cowboys used Micah Parsons as a rookie. He’ll play some linebacker, rush the passer and be a defensive chess piece.”
Whether the Giants plan on planting Carter on the edge opposite Burns or line him up at inside linebacker remains to be seen, but the expectation in New York should be that he can make an immediate and significant impact on a defense that entered the offseason in desperate need of difference-makers.
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