New York Giants: Grading the Dexter Lawrence, Deandre Baker picks
The New York Giants made a splash on day one of the 2019 NFL Draft beyond Daniel Jones, but are Dexter Lawrence and Deandre Baker good additions?
After taking Daniel Jones with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman shocked the draft world again. With the No. 17 pick, the Giants selected Clemson nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. Then, Gettleman traded back into the first round to take Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker with the 30th overall pick.
Needs shouldn’t dictate a pick — draft value should. Lawrence isn’t a bad talent. In fact, he’s a safe one. He plays nose tackle, but does so with limited upside and a solid floor. He’s a similar player to Dalvin Tomilson, albeit a much better prospect. A nose tackle doesn’t have same impact nor does the position act as a building block for a roster
Moreover, when the Giants drafted Lawrence while a pass-rusher in Montez Sweat was still on the board, who is a better overall prospect than Lawrence. Offensive tackle Andre Dillard was also available and would have helped to protect Eli Manning and their future signal caller, Daniel Jones.
Nevertheless, the Giants added a player that will take on double teams, eat up the middle and keep Alec Ogletree clean. Still, the value isn’t there because of the position Lawrence plays.
Dexter Lawrence Grade: C-
With the 30th picked, the Giants went against the majority by drafting Deandre Baker out of Georgia. It wasn’t the issue of drafting Baker in a vacuum but rather that he was taken when no other corner went in the first round.
Therefore, the Giants could have gotten Baker or another top prospect with the number 38th pick. Instead, they traded up for a corner who was ranked as the No. 3 corner by NFL Network’s Daniel Jerimiah and No. 5 by Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller. To get Baker, the Giants surrendered their second, fourth and fifth round picks.
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As a cover guy he excels in press coverage as he plays bigger than his listed size. He’s confident and a willing tackler. Baker is a safe, solid pick that fills a position of need. But the Giants sacrificed the depth for a player who was going to fall to the second round.
Deandre Baker Grade: C