Second-round pick a player the Giants clearly coveted
The New York Giants appear to have big plans for second-round pick Tyler Nubin.
GM Joe Schoen called Nubin a “culture-changer” collegiately at Minnesota and has spoken of him as though he clearly believes Nubin will be part of the team’s defensive core for the next several seasons.
Assistant GM Brandon Brown said this spring that Nubin can be the “alpha of alphas.”
Let’s discuss how quickly Nubin can ascend to a starting, and perhaps leadership, role as we continue player-by-player profiles of the Giants’ 90-man roster.
The skinny
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 210
Age: 23
Position: Safety
Experience: Rookie
Contract: Four years, $8,176,718 | 2024 cap hit: $1,486,676 | Guaranteed at signing: $5,935,968
Career to date
Nubin played 55 games over five seasons for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and finished his collegiate career with a school-record 13 interceptions.
Here is a scouting report from Dane Brugler of The Athletic:
“A four-year starter at Minnesota, Nubin was an interchangeable safety (single high and split zone) in defensive coordinator Joe Rossi’s mixed-coverage scheme. A cornerback-turned-safety, he led the Gophers in interceptions in each of the last four seasons and collected his 13th career interception in his final home game, which set a new school record. Using his athleticism and awareness, Nubin keeps everything in front of him and can drive off the numbers in the deep half to overlap the seam or track and finish from the post. As an alley defender, he is fearless but controlled, and he comes to balance with low pads to fi nish tackles with authority. Overall, Nubin has conservative tendenciesin coverage, but he is a four-down player with a coveted skill set, because of his split-field range, playmaking instincts and toughness versus the run. He is ideally suited for a quarters-based, Cover-2 scheme in the NFL and will be a core special teamer.”
Nubin was the first safety selected in the draft, 47th overall.
“To get Nubin at that value, a guy with high character, leadership, smart, tough, dependable, and then the 13 career interceptions. Just a good football player,” Schoen said the night he drafted Nubin. “Culture-changer at the University of Minnesota and he’s going to bring that type of mentality here … Just a really special kid that’s a good football player.
“He’s a ball hawk. To me, the leadership, the character, the smarts, safety, the ability to communicate out there. To get guys to lined up I think is very important, and this kid is elite at those types of things.”
2024 outlook
Nubin worked primarily with the backups during spring practices, but it won’t be any surprise to see that change during training camp. In fact, it might be a surprise if it doesn’t.
The Giants have shown no concern over Nubin’s low Relative Athletic Score (RAS), pointing to his playing and testing through an injury.
“You look back to his testing numbers. Maybe some people said they wish he would have ran faster,” said assistant GM Brandon Brown. “When he came here for his physical, I gave him a big hug, and I was like, you know what, I feel like I got my favorite food on discount because the tape speaks for itself.”
Jason Pinnock is expected to be one of the Giants’ two starting safeties. Beyond Nubin, options for the other spot are Dane Belton and veteran free agent signee Jalen Mills.
Probably sooner rather than later, the job next to Pinnock will belong to Nubin.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login