The NFL draft is two months away, but there’s always something going on with the New York Giants in what continues to be a busy offseason.
In case you missed any of the New York Giants‘ transactions this week, here’s a look at what’s been going on with Big Blue.
Thursday saw the Giants waive linebacker Deontae Skinner. Skinner appeared in three games this season was credited with two tackles.
The #NYGiants have waived LB Deontae Skinner. pic.twitter.com/87Zrv5h0SI
— New York Giants (@Giants) February 22, 2018
The Giants were awarded a fourth-round compensation draft pick (135th overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft on Friday. There were a total of 32 compensatory picks that were awarded to teams, and the Giants were one of five teams that received a fourth-round pick.
The Giants now have seven picks in the upcoming draft. Prior to being awarded with the compensation pick, the Giants only had six picks due to trading away a conditional draft pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for cornerback Ross Cockrell. The conditional pick would turn out to be a seventh-round pick.
Cockrell’s three interceptions found him tied for the team lead with Janoris Jenkins.
How compensation draft picks are awarded to teams is based on the Compensatory Draft System’s net loss formula. Under the system, teams that suffer a net loss of compensatory free agents (CFA) during the prior free agency signing period are eligible to receive a corresponding number of compensatory selections in the following year’s draft, up to a maximum of four selections.
So essentially the Giants were awarded a fourth-round pick as compensation for losing defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins last offseason.
Mock Draft Shakeup
In his latest mock draft, ESPN’s draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. has the Giants taking Penn State running back Saquon Barkley with the second pick in the draft.
The top five in my Mock 2.0:
1. Browns: Josh Allen
2. Giants: Saquon Barkley
3. Colts: Bradley Chubb
4. Browns (from Texans): Minkah Fitzpatrick
5. Denver: Sam DarnoldFull 1-32: https://t.co/3rIWDMFIWM
— Mel Kiper Jr. (@MelKiperESPN) February 21, 2018
NFL Combine Notes
This Friday, March 2, is the first day of the NFL combine where you’ll get to see how future Giants perform in various drills. Below is the combine schedule.
- Friday, March 2: Offensive linemen, running backs, and special teams participants
- Saturday, March 3: Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends
- Sunday, March 4: Defensive linemen and linebackers
- Monday, March 5: Defensive Backs
Recently, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman spoke with Newsday‘s Tom Rock on what he’ll be looking for at the combine. In what comes as somewhat of a surprise, Gettleman will be watching as much off-the-field as he does the action on the field.
“I’m an inveterate people watcher,” he told Rock. “I’d watch people. My father told me that you can learn a lot by doing that, and he was absolutely right. …A lot of it is just watching how guys carry themselves and how they interact with other people and how they are on the floor. It’s another piece of the puzzle.”
“Absolutely not. There is a whole lot more information to gather. I’ve heard stories about teams setting their boards in February and that’s where they sit. That’s not my philosophy. I want all the information so I can make an informed decision. I don’t have any preconceived notions, I just let the process play out. You have to respect the process, and the process doesn’t end until you’ve done Indy, gone out to the Pro Days, had visits with kids both here and at their campuses, and then we gather up all the information. I’m a firm believer in respecting the process. You take shortcuts, you’re going to make mistakes. I can’t sit here in early March and decide who I’m taking with the second pick in the draft. It’s silly.”
