The New York Giants on Thursday selected Clemson defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence with the 17th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
The Giants obtained this pick, their second in Round 1, when they traded Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns. Earlier, they used the sixth overall pick in the draft on Duke quarterback Daniel Jones.
In his profile of Lawrence, our Chris Pflum wrote:
Every defensive scheme needs a good nose tackle, so yes, Lawrence fits in their defense. However, he could be so much more than just a nose tackle.
While many will look at his 6-foot-4, 340-pound frame and picture him clogging running lanes and holding up guard/center double-teams, he is also capable of lining up as a 3-technique or 5-technique depending on down, distance, and sub packages. Lawrence did not get a chance to perform a full combine workout after straining a quad running a 5.05 second 40-yard dash, but that and his game tape is enough to prove his athleticism. ...
Lawrence does have some upside as a pass rusher, but it is dependent on his power. His hands aren’t terribly fast, and (understandably) his lateral agility isn’t fantastic, which can limit him in short areas. Of course, for a player his size, we shouldn’t expect mobility like a 290- or 300-pound player. His versatility could make for an interesting rotation with B.J. Hill and Dalvin Tomlinson if the Giants do decide to select him.
The 6-foot-4, 342-pound Lawrence could be looked at as a replacement for Damon Harrison, traded to the Detroit Lions during the 2018 season. Having used the 17th overall pick on him, though, the Giants will hope for more than run defense.
Here was the reaction of NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah to the pick:
At 342 pounds, he is a dominant run defender. In the pass rush, he has a push-the-pocket style. Reminds me a lot of former Raven Haloti Ngata. He’s a great athlete at that size. The only question mark is the pass rush, but he’ll definitely help in the run-defense department.
Giants draft picks
The Giants are scheduled to make 12 selections.
Round 1 (No. 6) -- Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
Round 1 (No. 17) -- Dexter Lawrence, DL, Clemson
Round 2 (No. 37) --
Round 3 (No. 95) --
Round 4 (No. 108) --
Round 4 (No. 132) --
Round 5 (No. 142) --
Round 5 (No. 143) --
Round 5 (No. 171) --
Round 6 (No. 180) --
Round 7 (No. 232) --
Round 7 (No. 245) --
Grade the pick
How do you think the Giants did with this selection? Let us know by grading the pick in the poll below.
Poll
What grade would you give the Giants’ selection at No. 17 overall?
This poll is closed
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11%
A
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34%
B
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29%
C
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12%
D
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11%
F