Giants general manager Dave Gettleman is under more pressure than ever to get the concept right this year, according to a former NFL player and staff member who recently joined the team for the task Gettleman was given.
Louis Riddick said the Giants need to find a player with the No. 11 spot in the NFL Series who will immediately accelerate the development of Daniel Jones and contribute significantly to the winning total for the 2021 season.
“I think the clock is similar to this regime and Dave in particular is speeding up, so I think he knows he needs a guy to come in and make an impact,” said Riddick, an analyst at ESPN’s Monday Night. Football “. , ” said on the ‘Giants Huddle’ podcast. “I think you’ll see that kind of influence on this is on his decision – making, while at the beginning of his term he would have looked at it a little more organically and said, ‘I just take the best player. ” ‘
Riddick heard what John Mara said two weeks ago when the Giants’ co-owner admitted he was “tired of losing” and stated that he was also tired of holding a post-season press conference to try to explain what went wrong and why I think we are progressing. ”
Mara entered the free agency for three players: Leonard Williams, Kenny Golladay and Adoree ‘Jackson. Next comes the concept. The Giants have only six picks and have to beat big with their first round pick. Mara expects a franchise that has a 15-33 record in Gettleman’s three seasons to compete for something other than a high pick in the NFL draft in 2022.
“That makes it interesting for the Giants,” Riddick said. ‘I can not emphasize it enough; you have to consider the human element of this, if you’re a general manager in Dave’s position and did not have the success you want, and you’ve all pressed your eggs into the Daniel Jones basket.
“Look, it’s a performance industry, everyone gets it and so Dave knows the choice has to produce at 11 and now it’s got a return on investment.”
Riddick met with Giants ownership in December 2017 to conduct an interview for the general manager. He does not believe the defensive talent in this year’s draft; he is not sure any player in defense is worthy of a top-10 or top-12 pick. Riddick therefore expects the Giants to pick an attacking player at No. 11.
If he is offended by Penei Sewell’s attacks, he will certainly be able to imagine a scenario in which the Giants choose from three players with the No. 11 pick: Alabama wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle and Northwest striker lineman Rashawn Slater. Riddick considers Slater to be the best offensive linebacker in the draft, mainly because of his positional flexibility: he can play or play.
‘I know they have invested a lot, both in terms of free agent money in the offensive position over Dave’s tenure and in the draft, but the fact is that it has not been good enough, and in particular it has not been good yet. enough during the left handle, ” Riddick said. ‘I know Andrew [Thomas] he needs more time and he’s going to be in his second year and needs to take a big leap as far as his development seems.
‘But before Daniel Jones can do anything, he needs to be protected in the bag. If he always runs for his life and then does not take care of the football and turn the ball around and does not win matches, then that coaching team is not there to see if he can be good enough in the future, because they are going to be away. ‘
As for the receivers, Riddick prefers Smith over Waddle, but that’s more splitting hair than fierce conviction. Waddle is the more explosive player – the closest to Tyreek Hill in this draft, Riddick said – but also has an injury history (he broke his right ankle last season). Smith was the more productive recipient.
“Is an offensive tackle more important than a wide receiver for play?” Riddick said. ‘This is what you get paid for. This is the kind of mental gymnastics you go through as a team builder, and this is what Dave will likely face in two weeks. ‘