Daniel Jeremiah mock draft 2.0: Giants land Miami EDGE Gregory Rousseau

By now we are getting used to the New York Giants being projected to draft the best wide receiver available. While that’s probably accurate, it also gets a bit boring after a while.

Former NFL scout and current NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his Mock Draft 2.0 Tuesday morning, and bucked that trend. Jeremiah didn’t mock a wide receiver, or pass catcher, or offensive player of any stripe to the Giants. Instead, he gave them Miami EDGE Gregory Rousseau.

11. New York Giants - Gregory Rousseau

School: Miami | Year: Sophomore (RS)

I know GM Dave Gettleman has let it be known that he wants to add playmakers on offense. At the end of the day, though, he’s not able to pass up the big, athletic edge rusher.

Raptor’s Thoughts: I see where DJ is coming from, and I can see the logic. But with both Jaylen Waddle (13th overall to the Los Angeles Chargers) and DeVonta Smith (14th overall to the Minnesota Vikings), it’s hard for me to see the Giants not adding a potentially elite pass catcher. Yes, their need to add an athletic pass rusher is almost as great their need for a number one receiver. After all, the Giants simply can’t expect that their coverage schemes will keep opposing offenses befuddled indefinitely.

But the way to win consistently is on offense. A good offense is much more stable from game to game and year to year than a good defense, and having an explosive offense would make life much easier on the Giants’ own defense.

As for Rousseau himself, the short answer is that he has all the tools you could want to see in an EDGE player, but he isn’t too sure on how to use them. Right now he pretty much just wins by being longer and quicker than the guy across from him. Drafting him is an investment which might not see a return for a year or two, and a serious vote of confidence in the position coaches to teach him how to use those tools.

Elsewhere in the NFC East

No. 6 overall - Philadelphia Eagles: Kyle Pitts (TE, Florida)
No. 10 overall - Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain II (CB, Alabama)
No. 19 overall - Washington Football Team: Christian Darrisaw (OT, Virginia Tech)