Pro Football Focus named rookie New York Giants safety, Dane Belton, as the team’s biggest gem from the 2022 NFL draft.
Here’s what PFF had to say and how Belton will impact other players, including Julian Love:
The Value: The nickel safety position is a more coveted role in today’s pass-happy NFL. Getting such an impactful talent in Belton during the middle rounds is a valuable asset for Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.
The Player: Belton starred in his final college season at Iowa with the highest PFF coverage grade of his career (82.3). Playing as Iowa’s “cash” defender, Belton thrived as a slot safety, allowing a 66.0 passer rating across 315 coverage snaps. He packs a powerful punch at 6-foot-1 and has shown an ability to thrive in a zone coverage slot role when given the opportunity (89.4 zone coverage grade in 2021).
The Roster Impact: Julian Love, a fourth-rounder in 2019, hasn’t been an ideal starting safety for the Giants. He allowed a troubling 108.7 passer rating in slot coverage in 2021, and his overall coverage grade hasn’t topped 60.0 in the two seasons since his rookie campaign. Belton being able to earn his stripes during training camp will go a long way toward him winning the slot safety job in 2022.
