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5 players Giants should draft in the first round

By Mike Phillips

Giants Co-owner, Steve Tisch, Giants General Manager, Joe Schoen Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll, and Giants Co-owner, John Mara, pose for a photograph, in East Rutherford, NJ. Monday, January 31, 2022
Giants Co-owner, Steve Tisch, Giants General Manager, Joe Schoen Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll, and Giants Co-owner, John Mara, pose for a photograph, in East Rutherford, NJ. Monday, January 31, 2022 /
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ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 02: Nakobe Dean #17 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts in the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Sanford Stadium on October 2, 2021, in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

2. Players the New York Giants should draft in Round 1 – Nakobe Dean

The defense was a strength for the New York Giants over the past few years but one area of the unit that could use some help is the linebacking corps. Blake Martinez was a shrewd free-agent pickup by Gettleman a few years ago but is coming off a torn ACL while the Giants could upgrade over Lorenzo Carter and Tae Crowder.

One of the best linebackers in this year’s class is Georgia’s Nakobe Dean, who was a key component of the Bulldogs’ national-title winning team. Dean is the perfect middle linebacker for today’s NFL since he has the speed to cover sideline-to-sideline, blitz up the middle, and dominate the opposing running game by racking up tackles.

Wink Martindale, the Giants’ new defensive coordinator, comes from Baltimore and has built defenses that thrived thanks to elite linebacker play. C.J. Mosley became a star under Martindale and Dean could fill that same type of role for New York, giving this defense another dynamic playmaker to help rebuild right away.

It is likely that Schoen will take an offensive lineman with one of his two first-round picks so taking a star defender like Dean offers good balance with premium assets. Dean also gives the Giants insurance against any struggles from Martinez in his return from injury.

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