NFL Draft Grades, Day 2: How did New York Giants do in Rounds 2, 3?

It’s time once again for more instant NFL Draft grades. How do New York Giants fans and draft analysts think GM Dave Gettleman and Co. did on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft? Pretty well, actually.

Let’s start with Giants fans.

Voters in our poll love the pick of Alabama safety Xavier MKinney at No. 36. Seventy-six percent (3,494) of 4,595 voters gave the pick an ‘A.’

• Dave Gettleman, Joe Judge explain why the Giants drafted Alabama safety Xavier McKinney
• Instant analysis: What the Giants are getting in Alabama safety Xavier McKinney

The selection of UConn offensive tackle Matt Peart with the 99th overall pick in Round was also greeted favorably. Forty-nine percent (1,591) of 3,240 voters gave the pick a ‘B,’ with 572 voters (18 percent) grading it with an ‘A.’

• Analysis: Doubling down on offensive tackles could work
• Dave Gettleman, Joe Judge explain selection of OT Matt Peart

Around the Inter-Google

Here is how draft analysts graded the Giants’ Day 2 work.

Bleacher Report (Tanier)

Round 2 (No. 36) — Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

Grade: A

The Giants ranked 31st in the NFL at defending deep passes, according to Football Outsiders. Antoine Bethea (now a free agent) looked like he was running in quicksand, rookie Deandre Baker simply wasn’t ready to play, and it may turn out that Jabrill Peppers’ true position really is “athlete.” Newcomer James Bradberry, a year of experience for Baker and a nice retirement party for Bethea should help. But so should reinforcements like McKinney in the secondary. This is a safe selection of a player who slid a little bit.

Round 3. (No. 99) — Matt Peart, OT, UConn

Grade: B

Peart gets an A-plus on the eyeball test, but he played for a woeful Huskies program and wasn’t tested much. Many opponents just blitzed from the other side of the field or sent a sacrificial defender to take Peart wide so a blitzer could work inside him. He has one or two traits of an All-Pro tackle, and that makes him a sound value in this round for a Giants team that needs all the help it can get on the offensive line.

NFL.com (Reuter)

Grade: A-

Julian Love appeared in line to take over a starting safety spot next season, but that seems less likely with McKinney on board. I wondered if teams would view the Alabama product more like Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix or Ronnie Harrison — two other prominent ‘Bama DBs to make it to the NFL. Apparently, it’s the former, with McKinney coming off the board early on Friday. The Giants essentially used their original third-round pick on Leonard Williams, whom they acquired from the Jets last season, and managed to secure some nice offensive line depth in Peart, who can become a useful swing tackle behind Nate Solder and Andrew Thomas. The Giants should find an edge rusher with their fourth-round pick (No. 110 overall).

Yahoo! Sports (Edholm)

McKinney (Grade: B+)

Pass rusher figured to be high on the Giants’ Day 2 priority list, and McKinney isn’t the big hitter they got in the same round (and from the same school) with Landon Collins a few years ago. Still, McKinney is our highest-rated safety in this class, well-rounded and savvy and a future leader on defense for new coach Joe Judge.

Peart (Grade: B)

The depth of the OT position allowed players such as [Lucas] Niang and Peart to fall this far; had they been in last year’s class, both could have been top-50 selections. Peart has basketball feet and experience at both tackle spots in 48 college starts. He’s still considered a bit of a project, but could vie for a starting role a year from now if he harnesses a bit more of a mean streak.

Draft Kings

McKinney (Grade: A)

The Giants defense needs some serious upgrades, and McKinney slipping to them early in the second is a nice value addition.

Peart (Grade: A)

Scouts love his athleticism and the Giants are early enough in their rebuild that projects make sense.

CBS Sports (Trapasso)

McKinney (Grade: A)

McKinney does it all at safety. Active, reliable tackler. Range and ball skills in coverage. QB of the defense. Big boost for Giants defense.

Peart (Grade: A)

Peart is freaky long with stellar feet and pass-protection chops. Needs to get a little stronger. Lateral quickness is outstanding. Solid anchor that’ll only improve. More of a pass blocker than run blocker, yet solid in the latter too. Love this pick for New York even after Andrew Thomas.

Sporting News

McKinney (Grade: A)

The Giants were smart to take the best player available to improve at safety. McKinney (6-0, 201 pounds) is a complete safety who can get physical in run support and also drop back and handle intermediate coverage. There is nothing he can’t do. He’s also willing to do what is asked of him; he can toggle seamlessly between extra linebacker and short-area subpackage back.

Peart (Grade: B)

The Giants got their immediate right tackle starter in Andrew Thomas in the first round, but it makes sense to get a developmental potential replacement for left tackle Nate Solder. Peart (6-7, 318 pounds) has attracted teams with his wingspan and fluid athleticism. He needs to get stronger to improve the power aspects of his game.

Pro Football Network (Pauline)

Tony Pauline did not offer grades, but he did offer assessments worth noting.

McKinney:

The Giants were considering three players at this spot; A.J. Epenesa, Grant Delpit, and Xavier McKinney. They settled on McKinney who was considered the only safety with a chance to sneak into the first round. I prefer Delpit as he’s faster and possesses better range, but McKinney is a hard hitter who brings it on every down. This could make Giants fans forget about the team letting Landon Collins go a few years ago.

Peart:

The Giants got a steal in Matt Peart, a player they can develop into their future right tackle. Peart is incredibly smooth, athletic, and fundamentally sound. He needs to add some bulk to his frame but he comes with an incredible upside. This was a bargain for the NY Giants.

Pro Football Focus

No grades from PFF, but analysis worth dropping in here.

McKinney:

What an absolute steal by Dave Gettleman in getting Xavier McKinney, PFF’s 19th overall prospect, at 36th overall in the draft. There have been only five safeties to play over 450 snaps in the box, slot and at free safety over the past two years, and only one of those five produced 70.0-plus grades at all three of those alignments — Xavier McKinney. Regardless of alignment or role, McKinney performed at a high level in each of the past two seasons, producing grades above 79.0 against the run, as a pass-rusher and in coverage. He’s a legit Swiss Army knife.

Peart:

After taking Andrew Thomas early on, the Giants go back to the tackle well with Peart at the back end of the third round. Peart has the size and length that you want at the tackle position with a history of strong play in pass protection. He had grades of 75.0 or higher as a protector in all four seasons as a starter for Connecticut. The next step at the NFL level is to add some strength, something he can do as he doesn’t project to step in and start right away for New York.