The New York Giants knew what they were doing.
Of course, that statement about the Giants hasn’t been true very much lately, but when it comes to safety Jevon Holland, it’s very true. The Giants signed the former Oregon Duck to a three-year, $45.3 million contract and according to PFF grades, they’re getting one of the best safeties in the league for the next few seasons.
This past week, PFF went back a few draft classes to 2021 and put out a list of the best players in the league to come out that year. It just so happens that two of the top players are former Ducks: Holland and Penei Sewell.
“Holland recorded a career-low 63.0 PFF overall grade in 2024, but he’s still the highest-graded safety in the 2021 class, edging out the likes of Tre’von Moehrig, Talanoa Hufanga and Camryn Bynum,” PFF said. “He earned a 90.4 grade in 2023 and an 84.7 grade in his rookie season. Holland has shown that he’s capable of playing in the box, in the slot or as a free safety. The Giants will hope that they get the version of Holland closer to 2023 than this last season with the Dolphins, but he’s a Swiss Army knife of a safety and should comfortably find a role in New York’s defense.
Also in that 2021 draft class was offensive tackle Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions. In his four years in the league, Sewell has been incredible for the Lions, who are in search of their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
“Sewell was the highest-drafted tackle in a class that featured Rashawn Slater, Christian Darrisaw and Spencer Brown,” PFF said. Sewell’s career 91.7 PFF overall grade is the highest among tackles in the class, but it’s also third among all tackles in the past four years, behind only Trent Williams and Jordan Mailata.
“Over the past two seasons, Sewell has deservedly garnered back-to-back first-team All-Pro selections. His presence along the Lions’ offensive line has helped turn the unit into a collective force multiplier, and he’s not even 25 years old yet.”
Oregon has had a lot of draft picks lately, and hopefully, some of them can have starts to their careers like Holland and Sewell.
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