Giants get a replacement for Xavier McKinney

With the No. 47 pick in Round 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft the New York Giants selected Minnesota Safety Tyler Nubin.

The pick makes sense for the Giants, who lost starting safeties Julian Love and Xavier McKinney in free agency over the past two offseasons. Nubin will join a safety group that includes Jason Pinnock, Dane Belton, Jalen Mills and Gervarrius Owens. Nubin should compete to start alongside Pinnock.

Scouting reports

From Nubin’s BBV Prospect Profile:

Chris Pflum writes:

Nubin projects as a starting free safety at the NFL level.

He doesn’t have elite range or athletic traits, and therefore might not have the range to start for teams that run a high rate of Cover 1. However, he certainly has the instincts and mental processing to be a reliable starter in most defensive schemes run at the NFL level. His ball skills, in particular, will likely attract attention from coaches around the league.

Pro Football Focus says:

Nubin possesses the athleticism, football IQ and run-defense potential to be a versatile and impactful safety in any scheme, though he would likely make the most plays in a system that consistently uses two-deep coverages, allowing him to play free, robber and box safety roles.

ESPN says:

Pre-Draft Analysis

Nubin is an instinctive and versatile safety who started 36 games over the past three seasons. He has enough range to cover a deep half in two high looks, breaks on the ball well in off coverage over the slot and is competitive matching up with tight ends. Nubin reads the quarterback and tracks the ball well. He’s a wrap-up tackler who is active in run support. — Steve Muench

Matt Miller’s pro comp: Justin Simmons

Post-Draft Analysis

Letting free agent Xavier McKinney sign with the Packers created a void at safety, and 30-year-old free agent signing Jalen Mills isn’t the long-term answer. Nubin should compete for and win a starting job as a rookie. — Muench

Dane Brugler (The Athletic) says:

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.

Instant grade

SB Nation’s Joseph Acosta gives the pick a B+:

While he wasn’t my top safety in the class, Nubin is a really good fit for the Giants’ defense and coordinator Shane Bowen. Nubin is instinctive and smart on the back end of the defense, and while he tends to go a little wild as a tackler, he fits right into where Xavier McKinney left.

Giants round-by-round draft selections

Round 1 (No. 6) — Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Round 2 (No. 47) — Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Round 3 (No. 70) —
Round 4 (No. 107) —
Round 5 (No. 166) —
Round 6 (No. 183) —

More draft coverage

• Big Blue View Draft Hub page
• 2024 Big Blue View Big Board - How do the prospects stack up?
• Big Blue View rules for draft success, 2024 edition
• Big Blue View mailbag: Draft day edition

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How to watch the rest of the draft

• Saturday, April 27: Rounds 4-7 (Noon)

TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network
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Odds: DraftKings Sportsbook

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