NFL general managers need to trust the people in the building who are working to evaluate players. They need to know that all scouts and evaluators have done their homework and that all information distributed is based on actual work, not guesswork.
The first episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants” featured Giants general manager Joe Schoen and his staff discussing which pass rushers they could add to the team via trade or free agency. The deal ended with the Carolina Panthers’ edge demon Brian Burns, but there was one very interesting part of the discussion that really caught my attention.
After a story about Kansas City’s Chris Jones being considered the NFL’s best defensive tackle behind Big Blue’s Dexter Lawrence (and I agree), the topic shifted to former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who signed a four-year, $110 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
When Wilkins’ name was mentioned, Giants pro scouting director Chris Rossetti was unimpressed with Wilkins’ ability.
“This guy is Dexter’s best friend,” Rossetti said. “I don’t think he’s a difference-making pass rusher on third down. He’s a guy you need on the other side of Dex. But he’s a really good football player who can do it on his own.”
“Dex texted me about him a while back,” Schoen replied.[He] We asked what we thought [about Wilkins].”
Korean: https://t.co/BPsEqtjEp3 pic.twitter.com/jR5gI3wTqX
— Doug Farrar
(@NFL_DougFarrar) July 3, 2024
Wilkins and Lawrence played together on Clemson’s defensive line from 2016-18, and were both first-round picks in 2019. Wilkins was taken 13th overall by the Dolphins, Lawrence 17th overall by the Giants. So there’s a camaraderie and chemistry there.
But for Wilkins, the answer was no. And if it was no because of the information Rossetti provided, it was a huge mistake. According to Pro Football Focus, Wilkins had 66 total pressures last season. Thirty of those pressures came on third down. Now, different analytics services may have slightly different charting methods, so their results may vary, but among NFL defensive tackles last season, Wilkins was the best at creating third-down pressures. Sports Info Solutions agrees.
sugar @Sports Information_SIS2023 season interior defensive lineman 3rd down pressure:
1. Quinnen Williams, New York Jets: 30
2. Christian Wilkins, Miami Dolphins (tied with Chris Jones and DeForest Butker): 27 https://t.co/udYe1EeqKx— Doug Farrar
And it wasn’t like Wilkins wasn’t home to tape of him destroying the Giants’ offensive line. Wilkins had one sack and seven total pressures against New York in Week 5. It was one of Wilkins’ best games of the 2023 season.
Oh, my God — it gets better. One of Wilkins’ third-down sacks last season came against the Giants. https://t.co/fxmrHJ1vkx pic.twitter.com/t6wEd8PYd7
— Doug Farrar
So. We know that scouts and executives are wrong. That’s part of the process. But in this case, how did the Giants come to this conclusion and look at themselves from the outside?
You have to work.
