The New York Giants went from taking the massive 310-pound defensive tackle Marvin Austin in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft to taking the smallish speedster Jerell Jernigan, a wide receiver from Troy, in the third round (83rd overall) Thursday night.
The selection of a wide receiver came as a bit of a surprise as the Giants still have not addressed the areas seen as their two primary needs — the middle of the offensive line on offense and the linebacking corps on defense.
Jernigan has 4.46 speed and has the ability to return kicks as well as play wide receiver.
From NFL.com:
Jernigan is flat-out a playmaaker who has the ability to make an immediate impact as a return man at the next level. He has excellent speed to stretch the field and the hip fluidity to maintain momentum in transition and separate out of his breaks. He lacks the size to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL, but he is a slippery runner in the open field after the catch and projects to be a weapon in the slot.
From Draft Countdown:
Best fit at the next level might come as a slot receiver and return specialist who can also be utilized in the Wildcat and on reverses
-Dynamic all-purpose playmaker who is a threat to score every time he touches the ball from anywhere on the field-Just may be a bigger, much faster version of Dexter McCluster.