NEW YORK — Giants general manager Joe Schoen traded back twice in Friday night’s second round, matching the Giants’ total for the past 14 years of NFL drafts.
Schoen traded back with the Jets and the Falcons, sliding from No. 36 to 43, and acquired extra fourth (114) and fifth (146) round picks in the process.
Then at 43, Schoen stayed and selected Kentucky wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, a 5-8, 178-pound gadget player, slot receiver and return man who has played running back, too.
That’s an interesting addition considering the Giants were recently making calls to other teams looking to trade wide receiver Kadarius Toney.
Will Robinson replace him or play alongside Toney, who has since reported to the Giants’ offseason program?
Schoen was asked that question. The GM said: “You guys saw Kadarius. We’ll take as many guys like that as we can on the field.”
Schoen then bristled when he was asked if he’d shut the door on trying to trade Toney, as the New York Daily News reported last week.
“We’re not shopping Kadarius Toney,” Schoen said.
The GM then was asked: So you’re not going to trade him?
“Reflect on what I just said,” the GM said, not shutting the door on trading Toney.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the Giants traded too far out of another preferred player.
While Schoen waited at pick 43, the Minnesota Vikings jumped over the corner-needy Giants to 42 with the Colts and selected Clemson corner Andrew Booth Jr.
The Giants drafted Robinson higher than he was graded by Pro Football Focus (fourth rounder) and The Athletic (third or fourth-rounder).
One scout told the News that Robinson was “fast” but that he considered him more of a “day 3 guy.” Robinson has more career drops (11) than receiving touchdowns (10), per The Athletic.
Robinson, 21, does continue a theme of speed on offense for Schoen and new coach Brian Daboll, including the free agent signing of running back Matt Breida and the signing of receiver/return man Richie James Jr.
Even if Schoen reached, at least he picked up some extra draft picks while doing it.
The Giants franchise didn’t make a single trade back in an NFL draft from 2007 through 2020.
Ex-GM Dave Gettleman — who had never traded back in eight prior drafts for the Panthers and Giants — finally traded back in last year’s first and second rounds.
Schoen’s two trades boosted the Giants’ total 2022 draft picks from nine to 11 for the rebuild.
Schoen first traded pick 36 to the Jets for 38 and 146 in the fifth round. That gives the Giants back-to-back picks at 146 and 147 in the fifth round.
Then he traded back from 38 to 43 and grabbed pick 114 from Atlanta in the fourth round.
Daboll made sure to announce that “Kadarius had a good week” in the Giants’ voluntary offseason program during his first in-person week after showing up Monday.
“Jumped right in and chugging along,” the coach said.
It remains to be seen what further business Schoen conducts this offseason and whether Toney factors into those future trade plans.
