According to a former NFL player and hiring manager who interviewed with the team not long ago for the job Gettleman entered, there is more pressure than ever on Giants general manager Dave Gettleman to get this year’s concept right.
Louis Riddick said the Giants should get a player with the No. 11 overall pick in the NFL drawing who will immediately accelerate Daniel Jones’s development and contribute significantly to the total winnings for the 2021 season.
“I think the clock has sped up a bit for this regime and Dave in particular and so I think he knows he needs a man to come in and make an impact,” Riddick, an analyst for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football , ” said on the “Giants Huddle” podcast. “I think you’re going to see that kind of an influence on his decision-making here, when at the start of his tenure he would have looked at it a little more organically and said, ‘I’ll just take the best player.’
Riddick heard what John Mara had to say two weeks ago when the Giants co-owner admitted he was’ fed up with the loss’ and stated that he was also tired of ‘a post-season press conference to explain what went wrong and why I think we’re making progress. ”
Mara signed up for a free agency spend that cost nearly $ 100 million in guaranteed money for three players: Leonard Williams, Kenny Golladay and Adoree ‘Jackson. Next comes the design. The Giants have only six tips and have to take a big hit with their roster in the first round. Mara expects a franchise with a record 15-33 in Gettleman’s three seasons will compete for anything other than a high pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
“It makes it intriguing for the Giants,” said Riddick. “I can’t stress this enough, you have to consider the human element of this, if you’re a general manager in Dave’s position and you haven’t had the kind of success you want and you’ve pushed everything. Daniel Jones basket.
“Look, this is a performance company, everyone gets that and so Dave knows that pick has to produce at 11 and now he has to recoup his investment.”
Riddick met with the Giants property in December 2017 to interview for the position of general manager. He doesn’t really believe in the defensive talent in this year’s version; he is not sure whether a defensive player is worthy of a top-10 or top-12 choice. So Riddick expects the Giants to select an attacking player at number 11.
Riddick could envision a scenario where the Giants pick from three players with that number 11 pick: Alabama wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle and Northwestern offensive lineman Rashawn Slater. Riddick considers Slater the best offensive lineman in the draft, largely because of his positional flexibility: he can tackle or guard.
“I know they invested a lot, both in terms of free-agent money on the offensive line over Dave’s tenure and in the design, but the fact is it wasn’t good enough yet, and in particular it wasn’t good enough. Enough with the tackle to the left, “said Riddick.” I know Andrew [Thomas] needs more time and he’s in his sophomore year and has to make a big leap as far as his development looks.
But before Daniel Jones can do anything, he has to be protected in the bag. If he always runs for his life, and doesn’t take care of the football afterwards and turns the ball over and doesn’t win games, then those coaching staff won’t be there to see if he can be good enough or not. in the future, because they will be gone. ”
As for the recipients, Riddick prefers Smith to Waddle, but this is more hair than a fierce conviction. Waddle is the most explosive player – closest to Tyreek Hill in this draft, Riddick said – but also has a history of injury (he broke his right ankle last season). Smith has been the more prolific recipient.
“Is an offensive tackle more important than a wide receiver?” Riddick said. “You are paid for this. This is the kind of mental gymnastics that you go through as a team builder and that is what Dave may have to deal with in two weeks from now. ”