New York Giants News

Giants news, 5/4: ‘X-Man’ loves the nickname, Dexter Lawrence on rushing the passer, more

New, comments

Giants’ rookies meet the media

By Ed Valentine@Valentine_Ed May 4, 2019, 7:00am EDT

/ new

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

‘X-Man’ has arrived

Oshane Ximines had never been called ‘X-Man’ until the second night of the NFL Draft, when the Giants called to inform him they were using the 95th overall pick on him.

“That’s the first time I heard X-Man, and it kind of surfaced on the Internet,” Ximines said on Friday. “I got a few of my friends back home calling me that now, and I just feel like it’s going to keep going in the right direction.”

Yes, he likes the nickname.

“I love the nickname actually, and I hope to keep that going,” he said.

Dexter Lawrence

The 342-pound defensive tackle had only 3.5 sacks the past two seasons, but on Friday he disputed the notion that he is just a two-down run stuffer.

“Definitely underrated [as a pass rusher],” he said. “It’s kind of on me to prove myself, right, because I know who I am and to prove others wrong. I’ve always been able to collapse the pocket, now I’m focused on escaping blocks or finishing the plays and things like that.”

Lawrence said that as the draft unfolded he suspected he wasn’t going to get past the Giants at No. 17.

“This is one of the teams I thought I would get drafted by,”Lawrence said. “My agent was talking, he’s a little conservative, so he was talking a little down towards the end of the (first round of the) draft. But I knew who I was, I knew what kind of player I was. I’m in the best spot.”

Deandre Baker not feeling extra pressure

The Giants traded up to get Baker with the 30th pick in the first round of the draft. They gave up their 37th pick, a fourth-round pick (132nd) and a fifth-round pick (142nd) to get Baker. The former Georgia cornerback said Friday the price tag doesn’t add any pressure.

“I just come in and play my game and just show them they haven’t made a mistake by coming to get me,” Baker said. “Just want to come in and help the team.”