New York Giants: Get Their Free Safety In Darian Thompson

After the New York Giants were scrutinized for not addressing the free safety position in free agency, the team spent their third-round pick on Boise State safety Darian Thompson.

The New York Giants ended the second day of the 2016 NFL Draft by addressing a need, and finding another player who will complement an established starter on the team.

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In the same vein Eli Apple will complement Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Sterling Shepard will complement Odell Beckham Jr., Darian Thompson will complement Landon Collins as a free safety.

Thompson joins an incredibly young and inexperienced safety unit, and he’ll have a chance to earn significant playing time during his first year.

As it stands right now, I think Thompson will probably end up being the starting free safety, being the third safety on third downs at the very least.

At 6-foot-2, Thompson has desirable size, and he plays with adequate range for the safety position.

What jumps off the page immediately with Thompson is his gaudy interception numbers. His 19 career picks is best in Boise State school history. He has soft hands, and when the ball is in the air, he tracks it like a receiver. Thompson’s interceptions while at Boise State weren’t just ducks, either. He had a penchant for laying out and making some very impressive picks.

While Landon Collins is a good, young player, he’s not exactly a playmaker. Thompson adds that to the safety unit.

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He’s not just about interceptions, though. Thompson uses his size to lay out some absolutely punishing hits. He puts his body on the line if it means separating the ball from a receivers’ hands, and that ruthless aggression can get his teammates fired up.

He adds a presence to the safety unit that was lacking last year. Pairing him up with Collins — the second-year Collins projects to be moved to his natural position of strong safety — gives the Giants a couple of head-hunting, physical safeties who will be looking to lay the wood to opposing receivers.

The move makes sense, as the Giants desperately needed a rangy, physical free safety, especially after seeing the worst-case scenario transpire last year. And this pick isn’t a reach like when the team took Mykkele Thompson last year. Thompson (talking about Darian, now) is a good player with a lot to offer the team.

Although he sometimes gambles and lets receivers get behind him, he certainly has the ability to make a difference as a free safety.

However, I think the Giants would’ve been better off using their third-round pick on an offensive tackle like Le’Raven Clark.

I will say this about Thompson: Juding by the tape, he’s going to be a better pro than Nat Berhe, Bennett Jackson and Mykkele Thompson. Thompson is the ball-hawking safety the Giants lost when they neglected to bring back Antrel Rolle.

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From a need perspective, drafting Thompson makes a lot of sense, even if it is the unpopular pick. After being absolutely torn apart through the air in 2015, the Giants are continuing to make the secondary more dangerous. At the very least, the Giants now have options at free safety.

Grade: B-

This move fills a need and adds depth. There’s a very good chance Thompson emerges as the alpha male of the FS group, which would give the Giants an impressive safety duo for years to come.

Side note: 

Don’t be shocked if the Giants end up making a move for 49ers’ Anthony Davis, who sat out all of last year. Trading for Davis would give the Giants the right tackle they so desperately need, and it probably wouldn’t cost too much.