On Wednesday, New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman made another move to improve the roster by taking Sam Beal in the supplemental draft.
Normally, when a team is coming off a 3-13 season while experiencing wholesale changes to the coaching staff and front office, the expectations heading into the following season are modest.
But New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman is not taking that approach.
Since the Giants hired Gettleman as their new general manager in December, he has made precise moves that he believes will make the team contenders in 2018.
First, he provided reinsurance to Eli Manning that he wants him as his quarterback by not asking Manning to take a pay cut to create more cap space, and by not taking a quarterback with the second pick in the draft.
He then supplied Manning with the pieces he needs to be an effective quarterback by signing the best free agent left tackle in Nate Solder and then drafting the best offensive player in the draft in Saquon Barkley. To further stabilize the offensive line, he signed free agent Patrick Omameh and drafted Will Hernandez in the second round (34th overall).
With the additions made to the offense, we should see Elite Eli again in 2018.
But Gettleman also worked on improving the defense by trading for Alec Ogletree, signing free agent Kareem Martin, and drafting Lorenzo Carter and B.J. Hill to help fit defensive coordinator James Bettcher’s 3-4 scheme.
But despite the additions he made to the front seven, the Giants were thin at cornerback following the release of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in March. The Giants are confident in their top three cornerbacks in Janoris Jenkins, Eli Apple and William Gay. But after that, there’s a ton of uncertainty.
That’s why, on Wednesday, he took Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal.
The Giants feel that the 6-foot-1, 177-pound Beal has a ton of potential and feel he can make an instant impact.
Welcome to Big Blue, Sam Beal!#NYGiants select @BigBeal_ in the third round of the 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft.
➡️ https://t.co/wZbZKYaieV pic.twitter.com/ktCSEtKN9O
— New York Giants (@Giants) July 11, 2018
He started 23 of 37 games and recorded 96 tackles (68 solo), two interceptions and 21 passes defensed.
“We’re very, very excited about getting Sam in the draft,” Gettleman said. “He’s long, he’s very athletic for a corner, he has all the physical skills, he can carry the vertical, he has very good play speed, he shows instincts out there, he has ball awareness, he doesn’t panic when the ball is thrown at his guy, and he is a very willing tackler. We just feel it gives us a really talented young kid with the ability to ascend.”
By taking Beal in the supplemental draft, the Giants forfeit a third-round pick in next year’s draft which only emphasizes more of how Gettleman is committed to winning this year.
He hasn’t come out and said that 2018 is playoff or bust, but his actions sure indicate that.
Gettleman is still being treated for lymphoma that was first diagnosed in June. But the 67-year-old Gettleman is not letting that slow him down. In fact, don’t be surprised if Gettleman makes another splash before the start of the season.
Even if he does not make another key acquisition, Gettleman has already provided the necessary pieces to ensure the Giants will be vastly better than the team from a season ago.
The Raiders have a slogan Commitment to Excellence. Maybe Gettleman’s version should read Committed to Winning.
