Giants: Evaluating a sneaky fit at 25th overall of the NFL Draft
The New York Giants defense was one of the least productive in the league last season, recording only 19 turnovers and a pedestrian six interceptions. Those are numbers that Wink Martindale was hired to overhaul, but it takes getting the proper players in place to do so. Well, the Giants have a chance to start […]
The New York Giants defense was one of the least productive in the league last season, recording only 19 turnovers and a pedestrian six interceptions. Those are numbers that Wink Martindale was hired to overhaul, but it takes getting the proper players in place to do so.
Well, the Giants have a chance to start that defensive ovehual this draft, with eyes on the cornerback position early in the draft. Think of players like Marlon Humphrey or Marcus Peters as the ball-hawking corners that Martindale deployed in Baltimore.
While that type of player currently evades the Giants current roster, there is a good chance they can find a player that fits the mold with pick 25 of the first round. Let's dive into who and why.
Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Here is my full evaluation on Forbes:
One Liner:
A wispy corner who despite a concerning build, plays with an aggressive mentality, particularly when the ball is in the air.
Pros:
- Long limbs with lanky arms and useful height.
- Not afraid to throw his bag of bones in a pile and provide run support.
- Able to transition in zone coverage, breaking on the ball from opposite hip alignments.
- Can plaster bigger pass catchers and isn’t phased by their obvious size advantages.
- Recovery speed that makes you confident if he bites on double moves or misses his re-route.
- Capital E elite ball skills.
- Football instincts and intelligence lend him to constantly finding the football, with a scores mentality when he gets his hand on the ball.
Cons:
- Built like a stick figure with very little weight anywhere on his frame.
- Serious concerns when it comes to durability given his lower half.
- A little grabby at the top of the receiver's route.
- Hands will get him in trouble at the next level.
- Too many missed re-routes and often done way to far downfield.
- Misses his jam at times, leaving easy voids a quarterback to hit the honey hole in cover 2.
- Back to the sideline a lot, often with significant cushion despite his long speed, not a ton of man coverage in his resume.
- Can play to unbalanced, lending untimely hip flips.
Summary:
Forbes will have serious concerns at the next level but it has little to do with his on-field product. His ability to find the ball in the air literally rivals the best in the history of college football and he has the speed and length teams covet. His frame could be a serious liability, however, with significant question marks about his ability to play a full slate of games, year in and year out.
