There’s a reason not every team makes the right moves when it comes to player personnel. Because talent evaluation is an inexact science. But sometimes you either have to be blind or ignorant to not see what is right in front of you.
This year’s offseason Hard Knocks features the New York Giants. The first episode aired Tuesday night and jumped right into free agency. One of the top priorities for the Giants front office was adding some pass rush to go alongside nose tackle Dexter Lawrence.
This led them to top free agent defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who is a friend of Lawrence’s. Which led to Giants’ Director of Pro Scouting Chris Rosetti to give his opinion on the potential move. He didn’t seem to be a fan of it.
“I don’t think he’s a difference-making pass rusher on third down we need opposite Dex,” said Rosetti. “But a really good football player who will do well for himself.”
Here’s #NYGiants Director of Pro Scouting Chris Rossetti from last night’s Hard Knocks saying he doesn’t think Christian Wilkins is a difference-maker on third down. #Raiders pic.twitter.com/3EOEkNd4kT
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) July 3, 2024
Wilkins did do well for himself, signing a five-year, $110 million deal with the Raiders.
But it was his first statement that had some ears perking up. Not a difference-maker on third down?
This statement had Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar look into it a bit, and what it yielded seemed to contradict that assessment.
Per @SportsInfo_SIS, third-down pressures from interior defensive linemen in the 2023 season:
1. Quinnen Williams, New York Jets: 30
2. Christian Wilkins, Miami Dolphins (tied with Chris Jones and DeForest Bucker): 27 https://t.co/udYe1EeqKx— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 3, 2024
Being tied with Chris Jones for the second most pressures on third down would suggest Wilkins is very much a difference-making pass rusher on third down.
The Raiders could see that he was the missing piece to their defensive line. And they’re thankful to the Giants for not recognizing that.
