Giants can hit a home run on day two according to PFF's best draft fits
The New York Giants made sure to address the linebacker position this offseason, signing Bobby Okereke to a four-year deal in free agency. But linebacker is not a one-size-fits-all, fix it with one addition type of position. And on a defense predicated on sending pressure, Wink Martindale will want as much speed and intensity as […]
The New York Giants made sure to address the linebacker position this offseason, signing Bobby Okereke to a four-year deal in free agency.
But linebacker is not a one-size-fits-all, fix it with one addition type of position. And on a defense predicated on sending pressure, Wink Martindale will want as much speed and intensity as he can get.
Well, Mike Renner of PFF knows that, and his best day-two pick for the New York Giants fits the bill perfectly.
Drew Sanders, LB Arkansas
Sanders is not your typical stacked linebacker.
Once a pass rusher at Alabama, Sanders transferred to Arkansas and was moved off the ball, where his coverage ability and rangy playstyle came to life for the Razorbacks.
When describing his reasoning for placing Sanders as the Giants best day-two fit, Renner said the following:
Sanders won the class superlative for the best blitzing linebacker in the 2023 class. The Giants blitzed more than any team in the NFL last season. You see where I’m going with this.
Yes, I do Mike, and I second this pick, as Sanders embodies both modern linebacker measurables and the identity required of Wink Martindale defenders.
At 6'4 and 235 pounds, Sanders recorded an 83 overall athleticism score at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, placing him among the top five at his position.
And that shows up on his film as well, proving Sanders to be much more than a workout warrior.
Now, Sanders is currently ranked as the top off-ball linebacker on the consensus big board, but his overall ranking is 40th.
That would put the Giants in a predicament, seeing as pick 25 is too rich for Sanders in my opinion, but wait until their next pick at 57 of the second round and you risk Sanders being long gone.
But that's the issue that all from offices deal with, and we are unaware of how the Giants view Sanders on their big board.
Perhaps he would be an asset they feel is worthy of trading up for, making a potential package deal with picks 57 and 89 (third round) to move into the 40s.
But that's assuming NFL teams view Sanders the same as the media, which is not an appropriate assumption to make.
I fully admit that I and few others see Sanders as a considerable prospect, but many in the media do not.
It only takes one team to fall in love with a prospect, however, making the draft always unpredictable.
