3. Love getting look at safety. Cornerback Julian Love, a fourth-round pick, left Notre Dame as the school’s all-time leader in pass breakups. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound rookie might be putting those skills to use at safety for the Giants, who acquired a pair of high-profile players at the position this offseason in Jabrill Peppers and Antoine Bethea, as Landon Collins signed with the Redskins. After the draft, Shurmur said Love “can play in the slot. He can play high. He's kind of got that tweener kind of corner/safety ability, which makes him a unique player for us.” Love is open to playing free safety. He has some experience at the position, starting there against the triple-option offenses of Army and Navy. The Giants moved him around “quite a bit” on Friday from corner to nickel to safety. He was ready for it.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” he said. “I think my skillset kind of fits that of a free safety – smart, physical, and range on the field.”
Love is currently rooming with cornerback DeAndre Baker, whom the Giants picked near the end of the first round after trading up for him. They previously knew each other from college awards banquets, which included Baker winning the Jim Thorpe Award over Love as the best defensive back in college football.
“I think he kind of has that dog mindset,” Love said of Baker. “He’ll tell you that he’s very confident, very physical, likes to attack. And I like that in players. I need that next to me because that inspires people, that helps people grow, helps people go fast as well.”
4. Big George competing for right tackle job. From left to right, the Giants have overhauled their offensive line over the last two offseasons. They signed left tackle Nate Solder, drafted left guard Will Hernandez, re-signed centers Spencer Pulley and Jon Halapio, and acquired veteran right guard Kevin Zeitler in the trade with the Browns. The incumbent at right tackle is Chad Wheeler, but the Giants added competition to his position in the draft when they selected George Asafo-Adjei in the seventh round. The Giants liked the Kentucky product’s toughness while playing in the SEC, including practicing against teammate Josh Allen, who was picked right after Jones by the Jaguars. Nothing changed the Giants’ thinking from then until now. He is lining up at right tackle and will compete for the job.
“He is a powerful guy that has very good length,” Shurmur said Saturday. “You can tell he is a very physical style player. That is important at the position.”