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2019 NFL Draft: New York Giants top first-round options

By Sayre Bedinger

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 30: Montez Sweat #9 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs reacts after a tackle for loss against the Louisville Cardinals during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bulldogs won 31-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 30: Montez Sweat #9 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs reacts after a tackle for loss against the Louisville Cardinals during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bulldogs won 31-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 01: Josh Allen #41 of the Kentucky Wildcats get ready prior to the VRBO Citrus Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camping World Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 01: Josh Allen #41 of the Kentucky Wildcats get ready prior to the VRBO Citrus Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camping World Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Edge players

Josh Allen, Kentucky

Unfortunately for the Giants, Allen is likely destined for another New York team — the Jets — that own the third overall pick in this year’s draft.

That doesn’t mean the Giants aren’t doing their homework, however, as they are bringing in Allen for an official pre-draft visit.

If he should find his way to the sixth overall pick, Dave Gettleman would probably have no hesitation about calling that pick in. Allen is a dynamic edge player with length and burst who will be a disruptive player at the next level for a long time.

Projection: Top 5 pick

Rashan Gary, Michigan

Gary is a freakish athlete at 6-foot-4, 277 pounds who ran a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash and was one of the biggest winners of the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine.

Though Gary proved he’s a workout freak, his tape at Michigan didn’t always match up to his potential.

NFL coaches should be confident in his ability to translate to a versatile front, as he’s able to play inside and outside and make an impact every down.

Projection: Top 10 pick

Brian Burns, Florida State

Burns is a long, athletic, quick pass rusher with big time burst off the edge.

The Giants need someone who is scheme versatile off the edge, and unlike Rashan Gary who is an outside-inside player, Burns is a more traditional looking 3-4 outside linebacker with room to grow into his frame and rush the passer with elite speed and quickness.

Projection: Top 25 pick

Montez Sweat, Mississippi State

Players who check into the Combine at 6-foot-6, 260 pounds don’t hardly ever run in the 4.4 range, but Sweat is a rare, elite prospect in that regard.

He ran a 4.41 at the Combine and posted elite measurables in every other major category, solidifying his status as a top 10 player in this year’s draft.

Sweat had production off the edge at Mississippi State to go along with this freakish athletic ability. He’s going to be a stud in the NFL.

Projection: Top 10 pick

Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech

Unlike the other guys on this list, Jaylon Ferguson didn’t show very well at his pro day in terms of testing. He had a 4.82 in the 40-yard dash, 8.08 in the three-cone drill (measuring short-area quickness), and a 32-inch vertical jump.

With that said, there was no edge player in this entire class as productive over a four-year period as Ferguson was at Louisiana Tech.

He racked up 45 career sacks including 17.5 this past season along with 67.5 tackles for loss.

Ferguson should be considered more of an outside-in player in a four-man front rather than a 3-4 edge player, because his limitations athletically will be exposed in that type of scheme.

Projection: 1st or 2nd round (off-field)

Bottom Line

If the Giants want one of these edge players, they will miss out on Sweat or Gary if they don’t take them at 6, but they stand a good chance of getting Burns at 17 if they want him, or Ferguson even in round two if that’s their top target.

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