Dave Gettleman may have given away Giants’ first-round draft plan

It is not a finished product, and general manager Dave Gettleman admits “there’s more work to be done’’ before the reconstruction of the Giants’ defense can be viewed as complete. In free agency, the Giants brought in cornerback James Bradberry and linebackers Blake Martinez and Kyler Fackrell. Gettleman said “we’re thrilled signing those three guys’’ …

It is not a finished product, and general manager Dave Gettleman admits “there’s more work to be done’’ before the reconstruction of the Giants’ defense can be viewed as complete.

In free agency, the Giants brought in cornerback James Bradberry and linebackers Blake Martinez and Kyler Fackrell. Gettleman said “we’re thrilled signing those three guys’’ and “oh by the way we also signed Austin Johnson,’’ a defensive tackle.

“We’re very pleased with where we’re at,’’ Gettleman said Monday.

Extrapolate what you can from that, from Gettleman’s words about the offensive tackles on his roster and the strength of the upcoming NFL draft and a connect-the-dots scenario leads to the growing belief the Giants will use their first-round pick on one of the heralded offensive tackles in this draft class.

Gettleman’s marching orders every year in free agency is to find players to fill specific holes, allowing him as free a hand as possible to stay true to his board and take the top-graded player in the draft without reaching based on need. Evaluating how that plan worked this year in free agency, Gettleman said, “I think we’ve done a good job, it’s not perfect. I’m pleased with where we’re at going into the draft.’’

Dave Gettleman working from his New Jersey home during the coronavirus pandemic.Gettleman family

Martinez will be a starting inside linebacker. Fackrell will be, at least, a situational pass rusher and unquestionably part of the defensive rotation. Neither signing precludes the Giants from taking Isaiah Simmons, Clemson’s do-everything outside linebacker, with the No. 4 overall pick. But, with Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines returning at outside linebacker and the additions in free agency, a case can certainly be made the Giants far more desperately need a starting offensive tackle. This makes Jedrick Wills (Alabama), Tristan Wirfs (Iowa) or Mekhi Becton (Louisville) viable options for the Giants, at No. 4 or perhaps a few spots deeper into the first round if Gettleman can pull off a trade-down to acquire additional draft capital.

The only offensive lineman the Giants signed in free agency, Cam Fleming, is not considered to be starting material. All Gettleman said about Fleming is that he has a “double connection’’ to the new Giants coaching staff based on his previous stops with the Patriots and Cowboys.

Otherwise, Nate Solder returns at left tackle. Nick Gates, an undrafted free agent from Nebraska signed in 2018, is also on the roster. Gates stared three games last season; two at right tackle, one at right guard.

“I know this sounds crazy but we’ve got faith in Nick Gates,’’ Gettleman said. “Last year he made a lot of progress and we’re excited about him.’’

As for Solder, the less said about his 2019 performance, the better. Removing him from the roster this year would have resulted in an unsustainable $13 million in dead money on the salary cap.

“Nate had a rough year last year, nobody’s denying it,’’ Gettleman said. “Certainly he is not. I’ve made the statement to people after we signed him in ’18 and the 2018 season nobody was talking about Nate Solder, okay? He had a tough year, no doubt about it.’’

Gettleman made it clear he had at least one eye on the draft when he made the moves he did in free agency.

“So we kind of marry the two,’’ he said. “We just felt with the depth of the tackle class in the draft we just felt like this was the best way for us to go.’’

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There it is. Gettleman knows he can land an offensive tackle – and, most likely, a center as well – in this draft and thus he did not have to force-feed a tackle for big money in free agency. It is difficult to believe the Giants will head into new head coach Joe Judge’s first season with Solder, Gates and Fleming as the three top options at tackle.

Clearly, Gettleman believes he upgraded the talent he will hand over to new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. Gettleman in 2016 drafted Bradberry for the Panthers and last month forked over a three-year deal worth $45 million to Bradberry in free agency.

“He gives you a big, long body that’s played against number ones,’’ Gettleman said. “ He’s got the mindset, he’s not shy and the moment’s not too big for him.’’

Gettleman sees Martinez and Fackrell as better fits with the Giants than they were in Green Bay.

“You just got to keep building it,’’ Gettleman said of his defense.

The Giants have to keep building the offensive line, as well, and that unit will get help, most likely quite early, in this draft.