:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69165842/1168264766.0.jpg)
When he wasn’t making jokes about Dave Gettleman and right turns in NASCAR, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah did make a couple of serious points about the New York Giants during a videoconference with media on Wednesday to preview the 2021 NFL Draft.
There has been a great deal of debate over which Alabama wide receiver, DeVonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle, would be a better choice should the Giants want a pass-catcher at No. 11. Jeremiah said choosing between the two is “splitting hairs.”
“I have Waddle over Devonta Smith, but you could say, okay, well, they’ve got — with Slayton he can kind of stretch the field a little bit. I think Devonta Smith would give you that pure route runner that’s going to be able to uncover and win on third downs and be kind of Daniel Jones’ best friend,” Jeremiah said.
I love Waddle. I could make a case for Smith. To me, again, you’re really kind of just splitting hairs there. I don’t think there’s a bad decision to be made. I would probably just stick with the way that I have them stacked, which is I have Waddle over Devonta Smith.”
Jeremiah also addressed the offensive line and potential interest in Northwestern offensive lineman Rashawn Slater.
“To me, Matt Peart, he’s like a swing tackle to me, like that’s kind of where his value is, and I know Solder is back in the mix, but I’m not going to rely on that all that much,” Jeremhia said.
If Slater is there I would pick him. If Sewell was somehow there I would take him. Outside of that I don’t think it’s something they need to force, and I get letting some of those young guys develop, but if you can get better, get better. That would be my kind of philosophy there.
“They’ve got to identify who and what their quarterback is this year, so with Daniel Jones, to me that first pick, even though they have some defensive needs, I still think at the end of the day they do something to help him, whether it’s the offensive line or one of those big receivers.”