What does Sam Beal bring to the Giants?

It was something of a surprise when the New York Giants used their 2019 third round pick to select Sam Beal out of Western Michigan in the 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft.

That Beal was draft wasn’t the surprise, he was widely considered to be the top prospect to qualify for the supplemental draft. Nor was it much of a surprise that the Giants would put a bid in on him, because after parting ways with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Ross Cockrell, the Giants’ secondary is frighteningly thin. And, based on the Beal’s game, if they were going to put in a bid, it was going to be on him.

The surprise comes from the fact that the Giants would bid a third round pick on a player who was ineligible — for any reason, though Beal doesn’t seem to have any character concerns — to play college football in the coming season.

But, the Giants put in that bid and were awarded Beal. Since we have given the supplemental draft only passing attention, let’s take a closer look and see what Sam Beal could bring to the Giants.

Measurables

Height: 6 feet, 1 inch

Weight: 180 pounds (Pro Day)

40 Yard Dash: 4.51 seconds (4.5 is average)

3-Cone Drill: 7.11 (6.90 is average)

Short Shuttle: 4.09 (4.16 is average)

Vertical Jump: 37 inches (35.9 is average)

Broad Jump: 126 inches (121.4 is average)

Pros

• Good length for the position. Good height and long arms, has the frame to add muscle and get stronger.
• Very quick feet. Able to stay in tight coverage with opposing receivers or dance around rub routes.
• Stays low and balanced in his backpedal and transition to running with receivers appears effortless.
• Great ball skills. 10 passes defensed and 2 interceptions in 2017.
• Scheme diverse. Adept at both man and zone coverage.
• Solid field awareness. Knows how to use the sideline to his advantage.

Cons

• Tackling needs (a lot of) work.
• Long speed is a bit of a question mark. Doesn’t quite seem to have that extra gear.
• Lanky frame could get him bullied by aggressive physical receivers in press-man coverage.
• Needs to get stronger taking on blockers.

Prospect Video

What They’re Saying

Analysis: Beal displayed consistent improvement in his game over the past two seasons and was recently graded as a potential first-round selection by a number of scouts this spring. He possesses the measurables and athleticism to eventually start on Sunday, but he needs a lot of work on his game. At the very least, Beal should be able to line up in nickel packages this fall while contributing on special teams.

Round Projection: 2nd/3rd

Tony Pauline (DraftAnalyst.com)

What Does Sam Beal Bring To The Giants?

With the Giants’ strikingly thin depth chart at outside cornerback, the biggest thing Beal brings to the team this year is depth. He is a talented player who would have been in consideration as one of the best corners in next year’s draft had academics not tripped him up.

Beal also gives them a young player with starter’s upside to develop behind Janoris Jenkins. Along with Eli Apple, having a pair of long, athletic corners under the age of 23 with man-coverage ability is certainly intriguing. Schematically, Beal fits James Bettcher’s defense well as a press-man corner.

Looking towards the future, Beal will have to do quite a bit of work on his tackling, though willingness doesn’t seem to be as big an issue as form and technique. As well, having an extra year in an NFL strength and conditioning program will do him good.

Overall, Beal is a high-upside pick who could have worked his way into the top of the second, or even the first, round with a solid 2018 campaign. But now the Giants will be able to develop him in-house, and might have taken a big step towards shoring up their depleted secondary.