It’s a bit early to be making predictions about the NFL’s postseason awards, but with so much being made of this New York Giants draft class I’m going to put forward my candidates for the NFL All-Rookie Team a shot.
Much like last year, the current class of rookies looks good on paper. And if they can replicate the success of their 2018 brethren, it’ll be a home run for general manager Dave Gettleman.
Let’s take a look at who could earn All-Rookie honors:
Cornerback Deandre Baker
Baker is the most likely rookie to land a full-time role with the team. He only has to beat out the unproven Sam Beal to gain a starting position on the outside. Baker was touted as the the best cover defender in this draft and the Giants are hoping he can be a ‘shutdown’ corner.
“He’s a cover corner,” said head coach Pat Shurmur. “The thing that impressed me most on tape was how stinking competitive he is. He’s very confident and he’s very competitive and I think when he’s faced with a challenge of a good wide out, he’s going to accept the challenge.”
The Giants traded back into the first round (No. 30) to snare Baker, a move which cost them a total of three draft picks. Beal was a third-round supplemental pick last July and missed the season with a shoulder injury. If everything holds true to form, Baker should win this job and keep it for a long time.
Defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence
The knock on Lawrence is that no one is buying that he’s not going to be a situational/rotation player, which means the Giants reached for him in the first round. The rule of thumb is that first round selections should play the lion’s share of the snaps (at least 75%) to justify their draft status.
Lawrence, at 340 pounds, projects as an interior lineman who will be a two-down player that will come off the field on passing downs. Neither he nor the Giants see his role being of a part-time nature.
“He’s a quality run player and he’s more than just a two-down run player,” said general manager Dave Gettleman. “This kid can push the pocket and he can have an impact on the pass rush. That’s why we took him at 17 and we are thrilled.”
“I think I can play all three positions. From the shade or the three technique,” Lawrence said at rookie minicamp. “I feel comfortable today out there. I felt pretty comfortable playing all three positions. I kind of did that in college as well. We’d learn multiple, so I’m kind of fluid with it and comfortable with it.”
Linebacker Oshane Ximines
The “X-Man” as he’s being called, was selected with the 95th overall selection in Round 3. The Giants had passed on all of the top pass rushers with their first three selections (Quarterback Daniel Jones, Lawrence and Baker) to address other positions. He will be counted on, along with a consortium of others, to help revive the dormant Giants’ pass rush.
But how much will he play? That’s the key to how much he will contribute as a rookie. Will he just be used on third downs and in passing situations?
“He’s not a designated pass rusher. He’s a legit three-down player,” said Gettleman.
“He’s an edge player for us, so he would play the outside backer spot for us when we are five on the line,” said Shurmur. “We can take the nose out and he’s a pass rusher in a four-man front. He can be a three-down player.”
Defensive back Julian Love
Love, a virtual steal in the fourth round, was a “Swiss Army Knife”-type player at Notre Dame and the Giants aren’t quite sure where he fits with them at the moment. All they know is that he’s too talented to keep on the sidelines, so Love will likely see a lot of reps at slot corner.
“Love is a really, really good football player,” Shurmur said. “He can play in the slot. He can play high. He’s got that tweener kind of corner safety ability, which makes him a unique player for us.”
“Wherever they need me, I will play,” Love said at rookie minicamp. “Working on some nickel, a little safety and a little corner. Just trying to be able to do it all at this point.”
Love will be in contention with last year’s slot corner, Grant Haley and perhaps Beal if he gets beaten out by Baker, but you can count on most or all of them to be on the field in the nickel package which is good for the Giants.
