By Sam Robinson | Last updated 4/16/21
Having needed an edge-rusher for a few years now, the Giants may be set to address this need with their top offseason resource.
They have done a lot of work on the top edge defenders in this year’s draft, and sources informed SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano the current sense is this will be the direction the team takes with its No. 11 overall pick. The Giants have spent big to fill needs at wide receiver and cornerback adding Kenny Golladay and Adoree’ Jackson but have lacked a long-term, starter-caliber edge-rusher since trading Olivier Vernon in 2019.
Bears’ needs in the draft
Quarterback: Andy Dalton is the Bears’ starter, but he’s not their future. It wasn’t too long ago when Mitch Trubisky embodied that hope after the Bears traded up and drafted him with the second overall pick in 2017. But he’s now in Buffalo to be Josh Allen’s backup after four turbulent seasons in Chicago, which did include two postseason appearances. The Bears remain stuck in quarterback purgatory. To escape it, Pace made an aggressive trade offer to the Seahawks for Russell Wilson, but coach Pete Carroll passed. The looming question is now how bold and aggressive Pace will be in search of his next quarterback in the NFL Draft. One difference this year is that Pace is working closely with Nagy. That wasn’t the case in 2017 with former coach John Fox. But at No. 20, the Bears are undoubtedly on the outside looking in at the best quarterbacks in the first round. They might be forced to wait until the second round to address it.
NFL Draft 2021: Why Giants don’t NEED to reach for an edge rusher in 1st round they can wait until Day 2
Updated 7:15 AM;
Today 7:15 AM
Michigan defensive lineman Kwity Paye is an option for the New York Giants in the first round. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
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They were outbid (by the Rams) and so turned their attention elsewhere.
But the pursuit of Floyd makes one thing clear: The Giants understand that they have a need at edge rusher. When they struck out on Floyd, they turned around and signed Golladay and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson to big-money contracts rather than pursue another big-money pass-rusher in free agency.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. The need is glaring. The New York Giants have to address the edge rusher position in the worst way.
At this moment they don t have a player slated to play outsider linebacker who had more than 3.5 sacks last season. And that player, Ifeadi Odenigbo, didn t even play outside linebacker last season with the Minnesota Vikings. The other notables include Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines, both coming off major injuries, and Ryan Anderson, who was a backup and didn t record a sack in nine games last season with the Washington Football Team.
Yep, it s a good thing the 2021 NFL draft (April 29-May 1 in Cleveland, on ESPN and ESPN the App) is coming. The Giants, who went hard after Leonard Floyd in free agency, will add an edge rusher whether it s at pick No. 11 overall, later in the first round after a trade down or maybe a scenario where they trade up on Day 2. Somewhere, sometime relatively early in the draft, the need will be addressed. It s why they ve done e
Mock draft season is hitting a fever pitch, as analysts are constantly funneling mocks into the public sphere. And while being closer to the NFL Draft doesn’t make these mocks any closer to being accurate, what they tend to provide is insight into team needs, positional depth, and how teams could go above using picks.
To that end, the latest from Mel Kiper Jr. should raise some eyebrows.
The long-time ESPN pundit is a unique mock with trade-ups, move-backs, and some surprise picks here and there. But when it comes to the Chicago Bears, that’s where Kiper’s mock stops me in place. Because, with the 20th pick, he sends Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins to Chicago. This isn’t the first time Jenkins has been the Bears’ pick in a mock. In fact, Kiper has been connecting Chicago and Jenkins since January. And with the 52nd pick, Auburn receiver Anthony Schwartz goes to Chicago. Two picks. Two needs filled. All things considered, this mock seems par for the course.