Both the New York Giants and New York Jets addressed some big needs in the opening night of the NFL Draft out in Pittsburgh, and none bigger than adding a some edge rushers to the mix.
JETS PASS ON REESE, DRAFT DAVID BAILEY INSTEAD
This was one of the most controversial picks of the night. Should the Jets select Bailey, a player by most accounts was one of the most dominate pass rushers in college football last season, or do they take the versatile Arvell Reese, who many believe could be an even better player than Bailey in the long term?
Well, the Jets decided to go with Bailey who recorded 14.5 sacks last season at Texas Tech, and had an impressive 4.50 -40-yard dash at the combine. While he is considered "pro ready" to take the leap into the NFL, many scouts also feel his ceiling is not as high, and there are concerns about his ability against the run.
Many Jets fans were not pleased with the pick, some even going as far as to claim that the Jets drafting of Bailey is evidence that coach Aaron Glenn is on the hot seat and needed to select a ready-made starter. Kind of silly logic, but these are Jets fans we are talking about.
GIANTS TAKE REESE WITH FIFTH OVERALL PICK
This one really had to stick Jets fans unhappy with the drafting of Bailey right in the craw. The Giants took Arvell Reese fifth overall after the linebacker surprisingly slipped past the Tennessee Titans. While Reese's sack totals were low last year (6.5), he is known more as a hybrid player who can play both in the middle at linebacker or on the edge. His ability to move around the line could become a match-up problem for teams if he is developed correctly.
Some have said Reese was more of a project as compared to Bailey, but the ceiling is very high here. And the Giants, just days after trading Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals needed an impact player on defense. And they might have one here in Bailey.
Add Bailey to an already deep linebacker corps in New York is a huge plus. It also gives New York flexibility with regard to Kayvon Thibodeaux, who is in the final year of his rookie deal. Thibs hasn't exactly lived up to the billing in the Big Apple, and there are rumors about a trade in his future. This could be a signal that the Giants are ready to go in a new direction.
GIANTS BEEF UP O-LINE
Really got to hand it to John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen, they really hit a home run in this first round.
With the 10th overall pick, the Giants selected Miami's Francis Mauigoa who is considered by many to be the top tackle prospect in this draft.
According to Big Blue View: The 6-foot-5, 330 pound Mauigoa is an exceptionally powerful player with very good mobility for the guard position. The addition of Mauigoa will help to not only upgrade the Giants pass protection as well as add a people-mover to their running game.
Mauigoa is expected to slide over to guard for the Giants this season. It's a huge get for the Giants who need to find a way to keep Jaxson Dart upright.
JETS CONFOUND WITH SADIQ THE FREAK PICK
With the 16th overall pick the Jets decided to take the top tight end in the draft in Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq instead of drafting a wide receiver in this spot. Many had New York pegged to take speedy reciever Makai Lemon out of USC in this spot, but they passed. Lemon dropped to Philadelphia with the 21st pick.
Lemon ranked eighth in FBS with 1,156 yards receiving on 79 catches and 11 touchdowns. Yes, he's 5-11, which is small, but he is expected to be a slot receiver. He could have been a nice change-up to Garret Wilson.
But instead the Jets go with Sadiq, and now have a log jam at tight end. New York drafted Mason Taylor last year, and already extended blocking tight end Jeremy Ruckert to a two-year $10 million deal. Both Taylor and Ruckert are decent pass catching tight ends, so it makes one wonder why this move?
What Sadiq has going for him is speed. he ran a 4.39-40 this spring, and is one of the fastest tight ends in league, which is incredible considering his 6-3, 241 lb frame.
While his numbers last year at Oregon don't jump off the page (51 catches, 560 yards and eight touchdowns), he has a chance to be dynamic change-up in the offense. The Jets could feature multiple tight end sets. Perhaps they even swing out Sadiq wide on plays while sporting Taylor and Ruckert inside a two-tight end formation.
Could be interesting, but it was a stunning pick.
JETS GET THEIR RECEIVER
Ok, so to the Jets fans complaining about Sadiq, you can shut up for now. The Jets got the receiver many believed they coveted all along in Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. The Jets traded back into the first round with San Francisco to get the deal done for Cooper.
Cooper was one of the best receivers in the Big Ten last year, leading the league in yards per reception at 21.2. He also led the Hoosiers in receiving with 937 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is taller than the much hyped Makai Lemon, standing at 6-0, and is said to play bigger than his actual size which is a plus. He is also known for high-pointing the football at the point of attack, which is great for short yardage situations.
OVERALL:
GIANTS Grade: A ... Great debut for the Harbaugh/Schoen relationship as the Giants get two huge pieces on both sides of the ball that can help instantly and for the long term.
JETS Grade B ... some lingering questions remain about Sadiq, and many Jets fans want to see what Bailey can do off the edge, but the potential is there. One thing is certain the Jets got three players who are fast off the point of attack, which is going to benefit them greatly this coming season.
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