Thumbs up from Wonder for the Giants R3 pick of CB Andru Phillips. “Phillips is literally right below, in the next tier, 51-55, from what I evaluated. So when you get him at 3.70 that’s good value. Not a reach by any means. CB is right behind OT and WR in terms of depth and quality in this 2024 Draft. So the Giants benefitted here with a guy they could get in early R3 with R2 value.”

Wonder continues. “When it comes to CB, I look for smooth hips, the swivel, and the methodology in how they backpedal. The stuff they talk about on TV is mostly meaningless to me. It’s hips and to a lesser extent how they backpedal. Phillips is ok in this regard, capable. He played a lot. Consistent. Doesn’t have long arms. A little slight of frame but he competes. He’s a willing tackler.”

Wonder is not sure here but thinks Phillips may be able to play slot corner, which ironically makes his value go up. “I think it’s tougher to play slot. On the outside he played more zone coverage. He may be able to pick up the slot game. I do think he will make the team and sticks.”

Wonder sums up the first two days: the Giants have been quietly solid, like what the Baltimore Ravens do every year. That’s high praise.

Good solid pick. Certainly addresses a need. He was picked 2.47 and he was 2.49 on our Board, so matches our value, one of our guys. “Nubin is a two-way Safety, which everyone wants today: he can cover and he can tackle,” said Wonder. “He can also cover the TE. Look, he’s not an Ed Reed centerfielder.. hey, he is a mid Round 2 value. And I wish he’d be a little bigger. But he’ll be able to gain 10-12 lbs, and if works, he can be a solid starter for a long time. His comp (ceiling) is Saints solid guy Malcolm Jenkins, who actually had 3 years in the Pro Bowl.”

Wonder continues. “Nubin is a willing tackler. He is 6’2” so he can handle the weight, which he’ll need to tackle TEs.”

Wonder recognizes what Schoen has done- he got the best player on the board at 1.06 and he had to either address RB (Trey Benson) or Safety (Nubin). “No way I am paying McKinney $17M so Nubin is a good answer. Heck, I only liked two safeties in the entire draft and they found one of them. There was a big dropoff after those two (S Javon Bullard 2.58), so that was wise because they needed to get that done. And Nabers has more football and breakaway speed than Jamarr Chase. He is going to scare the sh*t out of people with a QB who can get him the ball.”

How can I be happy with Schoen when he took WR in Round 1 and we didn’t get a QB either? Because he has discipline.

Discipline is eating properly and avoiding sugar wherever you can. Trading up is Draft sugar. It’s expensive. We know this. Trading up for QB is super expensive. It needs to be done because when you have your sights on a guy that will change your franchise, the cost will end up being justified. There’s one catch- you better be right. And since we also know many (most) QBs don’t work out and don’t become the elite difference-makers we want, trading up is a high stakes bet. You try. And if you can’t do it, you patiently wait for the next time an opportunity may present itself.

That’s the key. You patiently wait for the next opportunity. There may have been another QB (Penix, whom we liked, or even McCarthy or Nix) later in Round 1. Yet those 3 went 1.08, 1.10 and 1.12, too rich for Schoen’s blood, and too rich for ours too. You see, we liked Penix A LOT. But Penix does have 2 ACLs. So there is risk. Wonder felt at 1.20 that was appropriate. He went 1.10. Hard pass. Next. If Schoen liked (LOVED) one of the other 3 that went after 1.06, he would not have taken Nabers. So there’s your answer. Discipline.

Nabers is going to be a stud. Super stud actually. Schneier loves his balance after contact. Wonder loves his routes and havoc in the open field. Super high confidence is there that this blue chip pick is going to be a big problem for other teams to defense. So, as Wonder said last night, you can’t “quarrel” with the pick. We preferred to trade down once Alt was off the board (the Giants were never taking him anyway, or at least that’s our Eluemunor read), but they stayed at 1.06 and took the guy we would have taken if we had to pick at 1.06. I respect that process. It’s the exact opposite of Gettleman, who was hell bent on a WR in 2021.

What now? Schoen isn’t perfect, and I’m still pretty pissed about that injury clause in Jones’ contract. Jones is going to have a MUCH better OL this year (assuming we don’t get ravaged by injuries etc). Bricillo has chops. Either he salvages Neal or Eluemunor is the RT. Runyan (who will start) and the other 3 free agent signings give better depth than what they had previously.

When does Jones come back? Not week 1. That’s Drew Lock. It will be interesting to see how both Lock and Jones do with decent protection and WRs who consistently deliver separation. This is a strong set of WRs they have assembled. Well, damn, Schoen has invested R2 Robinson, R3 Hyatt, and now R1 Nabers, so it’s going to be on the QB to throw with anticipation and not be afraid. These WRs will need to be trusted. After Thomas, they are the best players on the field when the Giants have the ball. I’d prefer to have the QB (and the OL) before I have the WR. So would Schoen. He tried, but New England (or Chi/Was) wasn’t willing to trade down. Next. Make it work, Daboll, Kafka, and Bricillo.

With the 1.06 pick, the Giants selected WR Malik Nabers. “You cannot quarrel with that pick,” says Wonder, the NY Giants Draft analyst. Wonder had Nabers as his 5th best player on his board. For me, I am not in love with taking WR that high, given how many needs they have. For our draft analyst and myself, we would have preferred Alt (who went 1.05), or trade down. So trade down was our preference. Still, Nabers was Wonder’s highest rated WR in this year’s draft, higher than Harrison. Harrison has the higher floor. Nabers has the higher ceiling.

Given the Giants alleged interest in taking a QB, they passed on QB and 3 QBs went relatively quickly thereafter. So it was clear the Giants were not trading up for anyone except Williams, Daniels, or Maye, which went 1.01, 1.02, and 1.03 respectively.

Nabers is electric in the open field. He is able to make cuts and keep his speed. “His comp is Jamarr Chase, but he is a quicker, faster, better runner in the open field, says Wonder. “Chase is better in the end zone jump ball conditions. Nabers will be a stud when he has a QB.”

Tomorrow, pay attention to Round 3. If the Giants can land Rutgers product CB Max Melton, that will make this draft.