Chris in New York: Do you think that the Giants will select Jordan Addison Wide Receiver from USC?
Will he be available when the Giants select at 25? I have no idea. He was extremely productive in college, especially in his final season at Pittsburgh before transferring to USC in 2022. He is an excellent route runner, has good hands, and his play speed is good enough to run away from defenders. He also weighs under 175 pounds, which may limit how you deploy him.
Sheamel in Florida: We have a lot of short quick receivers that are good in space already so if one goes down we can replace that production. Do you think looking at Bryce Ford Wheaton, Jonathan Mingo, or Justin Shorter would be ideal pick-ups to back up Isaiah Hodgins?
You listed three bigger wide receivers that could play that traditional role of an outside wide receiver. Mingo only measured at just under 6-2 at the combine but weighed in at 220 pounds while running a 4.46 40 with a strong 1.52 10-yard split. He did well at the Senior Bowl and his game film from the season shows someone who can get open and has strong hands in contested spaces. Two other Day 2 guys that could excel outside of the slot are Cedric Tillman from Tennessee and A.T. Perry from Wake Forest. Tillman is a bigger possession receiver, while Perry has some nice ball-tracking ability down the field. I see Ford Wheaton and Shorter going after Mingo, Perry and Tillman.
Ron in Florida: I keep reading that potential defensive draft choices will fit nicely into Martindale's defensive scheme, but my fear is that he gets a head coaching job next year and these players do not fit the new DC's philosophy. What are your feelings about this potential situation? Is it something to think about or just worry about one year at a time.
It's a good question. I think you try to draft good players that could fit into any scheme, but obviously how they fit into what Wink Martindale does defensively will be a huge part in evaluating what players to take and I don't think there is a way around it. You pick the players that fit your scheme, and if you have to replace Martindale next season, find someone that runs a similar heavy press-man/blitzing system.
Jimmy in New Jersey: What do you think about targeting specific positions in the draft to make easier decisions on contracts of current veterans?
Teams do not draft positions. They draft players. There needs to be a good enough player at a position in the requisite round to draft them, and sometimes the draft just doesn't fall that way. You also do not draft only for the upcoming season. So, planning ahead and drafting players at positions where there might be holes down the road is advisable, and I wouldn't consider it a risk. Pick the best players, and if they are good enough, they will find their way on the field.
