carter coughlin

What are the New York Giants getting in 7th round pass rusher Carter Coughlin?

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New York Giants, Carter Coughlin

Taking a look at Carter Coughlin and what he’s bringing to the New York Giants:

While most believed the New York Giants would trade some of their seventh-round picks to move up in the 2020 NFL draft, they stayed put and utilized every pick to its completion. One of the players they landed was Minnesota pass-rusher Carter Coughlin, who finished his college career with 22.5 sacks and 40 tackles for loss.

Coughlin is a high character player that operates with speed and intelligence. He ended up playing for Minnesota based on his love for the school, stating that he grew up a Gopher fan since the day he came out of the womb.

Transferring from college to the NFL can be problematic for late around players, as sometimes they don’t require the necessary size to excel at the next level. Coughlin stands at 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds, offering more speed and power off the edge.

“He’s a guy that gives us more speed on the edge,” head coach Joe Judge said when the Giants selected Carter. “He brings some length with him. He plays with a high motor and a lot of aggressiveness. He was productive in Minnesota’s scheme and with the way we are going to play guys on the edge in different packages, he’s someone with a lot of value. He will come in here and compete.”

Coughlin has moved around Minnesota’s defense in the past, setting the edge and also playing a hybrid linebacker due to his smaller size. He is extremely athletic and capable of developing a multitude of pass rush moves, and while I believe Coughlin will take a specific role in the Giants’ defense, he could have an impact as a rookie. His size will affect his production against offensive tackles, but I believe utilizing him as a down linebacker that focuses more on stopping the run and rushing from a second level stance might be beneficial.

Selected with the 218th pick in the seventh round, Coughlin is a value player with high upside, the most you can ask for in the later rounds.

New York Giants land OLB Carter Coughlin with 218th overall pick – here’s what you need to know

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New York Giants, Carter Coughlin

The New York Giants secured Carter Coughlin, outside linebacker out of Minnesota with the 218th overall pick.

The New York Giants went with back to back outside linebackers in the later rounds —  Penn State defender Cam Brown and Minnesota pass rusher, Carter Coughlin. Coughlin is a senior for Minnesota, weighing in at 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds.

He had a speedy 40-yard dash of the NFL combine at 4.57. He’s a bit small for an edge defender at the NFL level, but he plays with a high football IQ and motor to help them produce.

He does have a nice blend of pass rush movies but just lacks the strength to beat tackles at times. He’s proactive in his approach, and his intelligence allows him to compensate for his lack of size at times.

His ability to get into the backfield and create turnovers is one stand out factor that he brings to the table: his three forced fumbles and 9.5 tackles for loss last season glow on his stat sheet.

His lack of size and play strength severely limits his potential, but if he can gain some mass, he could end up being a solid rotational player for the Giants. In addition, he lacks the necessary bend to break down tackles on speed rushes. However, he is agile and can use that to his advantage. I anticipate him featuring as a special teams alternative for the time being, but the Giants found a developmental player who can leave an impact in a few years, hopefully.