Giants’ Dave Gettleman altering approach for 2020 NFL Draft
The Giants might need more than a few seconds to make their first-round draft pick this year.
General manager Dave Gettleman — known for his convictions and quick submissions to defy a 10-minute clock — is open to marrying “best player available” and team needs with pick No. 4. That means Gettleman will not just select the player atop the draft board regardless of position if there are others within a similar grade range, like a two-point margin.
So, the top offensive tackles and position-less defender Isaiah Simmons should be firmly in the discussion, while defensive tackle Derrick Brown — perhaps the draft’s least-questioned prospect — could be seen as unnecessary overlap.
“When you’re splitting hairs, it’s OK to take the [grade] 96 instead of the 98,” Gettleman said responding to a hypothetical. “It’s when you have a 98 and then you’ve got an 88, that’s not splitting hairs anymore. Even if the 88 is the bigger position of need, once you start reaching you’ve created issues for yourself.”
The Giants had the same grade on running back Saquon Barkley and edge-rusher Bradley Chubb in the 2018 draft, as The Post reported at the time. Barkley became the No. 2 pick without a moment’s hesitation, even though pass rusher was (and still is) a major need. Chubb went No. 5.
Quarterback Daniel Jones and edge-rusher Josh Allen received the same grade from the Giants in last year’s draft. After selecting Jones at No. 6, the Giants considered trading up for Allen, but he went No. 7.
Gettleman, 69, has rethought a few philosophies in recent few months. He now is open to negotiating contracts in-season and he admits miscalculating the Giants’ ability to win while rebuilding when he first took over.
Redefining “best player available” also could be the influence of coach Joe Judge, who says “long-term upside” is a factor.
“What you’re trying to do is build the best roster you can,” Gettleman said. “When you’re talking a 96 to a 98, to me that is not a big deal. When you have precipitous drops in your evaluation, that’s when you get into trouble.”
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Simmons is the most challenging top prospect for some teams to grade, because he played 100 or more snaps at five different positions last season. The 238-pound Clemson product could be the top inside linebacker or the top safety in the draft, but he supposedly informed teams he wants to rush on passing downs despite his coverage strengths.
“What’s happening now is there are a lot of college players like that,” Gettleman said. “Because the college game is so different, they take a young man with a unique skill set and they use him in a variety of ways that maybe hasn’t happened before. It’s not what I grew up with, that’s for sure.”
Simmons created 26 quarterback pressures on 71 rushes for an eye-popping success rate last season. If the Giants pass on Simmons, Southern Illinois hybrid linebacker/safety Jeremy Chinn looks like the second-round version.
A graduate of the Patriots’ drafting school, Judge values schematic versatility in players. It seems to be rubbing off.
“It’s up to us,” Gettleman said, “to figure out how that player fits the New York Football Giants.”