NEW YORK — The Giants went linebacker and defense-heavy with their four seventh-round picks on Saturday to close the 2020 NFL draft.
They selected Minnesota edge Carter Coughlin at pick No. 218, South Carolina inside linebacker T.J. Brunson at pick No. 238, and Minnesota corner Chris Williamson at pick No. 247.
And then they made Georgia inside linebacker Tae Crowder “Mr. Irrelevant,” the name given to the final pick in each year’s NFL draft at pick No. 255.
Coughlin, 22, is a 6-3, 236-pound defensive end who played on the line in a 4-3 in college but projects as an off-ball linebacker in the NFL. He is smart and tough and was second-team All-Big 10 in 2019 with 4.5 sacks and 9.5 TFLs (22.5 sacks total in four years).
Brunson, 22, is a 6-foot, 219-pound inside linebacker, a two-time Gamecocks captain and college graduate who plays aggressively and could be an early special teamer that competes for more. He made 77 tackles as a senior, six for a loss, and defender six passes as a senior.
The same goes for Williamson, who turns 23 in May, is a 5-11, 199-pound hybrid nickel corner who is great friends with current Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton from growing up in the Atlanta area.
“Giants fans, I’ve known @Chris_Will8 my whole life,” an excited Slayton tweeted after Williamson’s selection. “This (is) going to be a late pick y’all will love. WELCOME TO NY, FAM.
Williamson had 57 sacks, 2.5 sacks, four passes defended and an interception return for a touchdown as a redshirt senior. He transferred from Florida after two seasons, sat out a year, and then played in 2018-19 for Minnesota, becoming a nine-game starter in 2019.
Crowder, a 6-2, 241-pound inside linebacker, was college teammates with Giants first-round No. 4 overall pick Andrew Thomas, the left tackle. Crowder had 62 tackles as a senior and played in the SEC against top competition, so special teams with defensive upside goes for him, too.
Coughlin and Brunson both showcased their skills at the Senior Bowl in January, where the Giants pulled five of their 10 draft picks from this year. They had selected 10 Senior Bowlers in the past three years combined, including at least three in each draft.
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Giants Round 7 selections
Round 7 (218): Carter Coughlin, Edge, Minnesota — Senior Bowl
Round 7 (238): T.J. Brunson, ILB, South Carolina — Senior Bowl
Round 7 (247): Chris Williamson, CB, Minnesota
Round 7 (255): Tae Crowder, ILB, Georgia
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