More than 775,000 fans attended last week’s NFL Draft held in downtown Detroit, Michigan, breaking the previous record of 600,000 football followers that flooded Nashville, Tennessee, in 2019 to partake in the annual gathering that has become the second most popular event on the league’s calendar behind only the Super Bowl.
At the Giants’ and Jets’ draft headquarters in East Rutherford and Florham Park, New Jersey, respectively, the teams painstakingly considered their options before settling on their first round picks. Both selected players that fill pressing needs. The Giants have lacked a world-class wide receiver since Louisiana State University product Odell Beckham Jr. was a three-time Pro Bowler in 2014, 2015, and 2016. The Jets’ offensive line has been unstable for a half decade and with 40-year-old starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers coming back from suffering a ruptured Achilles in the first offensive series of last season, it is imperative the Jets are sound in front of him.
Thus, the Giants selected another dynamic LSU pass-catcher, Malik Nabers, with the sixth overall pick, and at No. 11, the Jets secured offensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu from Penn State. The Giants also drafted safety Tyler Nubin from Minnesota in the second round (No. 47) and cornerback Dru Phillips in the third round (No. 70) among their six picks. Among the Jets’ other six picks in addition to Fashanu was Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley (Round 3, pick No. 65), Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen (Round 4. pick No. 134), and quarterback Jordan Travis (Round 5, pick No. 171) from Florida State.
“We had a lot of guys that we liked that would fit in with the way we had them stacked,” Giants general manager Joe Schoen revealed via Giants.com. “At the time we took him, he was the top receiver on our board.”
Nabers is confident of the versatility and attitude he brings to the team.
“I’m able to play different positions, create separation, open up a great window for the quarterback to throw me the ball,” he said. “Great teammate. Great leader. All in all, a great football player. Dog mentality when I’m out there on the field.”
As for Fashanu, Rodgers expressed his agreement with Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas’ choice of a player who competed in 29 games at Penn State, all at left tackle, starting 21.
“Olu Fashanu didn’t give up a sack his entire college career, which is saying a lot because you’re going against great schools in [the] Big 10,” Rodgers noted. “Olu is a mauler. He’s not going to need to jump in right away. We’ll see if we work him in at guard.”