The analysts are crowing about the New York Giants’ performance at the 2021 NFL draft. General manager Dave Gettleman uncharacteristically traded back twice and picked up four additional selections — first, third and fourth rounders for next year and a fifth rounder in this year’s draft.

But the biggest steal, according to Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling, could have come in Round 2 when the Giants selected Georgia outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari with the 50th overall selection.

Some draftniks had Ojulari going No. 11 overall to the Giants before rumors of a tricky knee began to circulate, sending Ojulari tumbling down the draft order. The Giants traded back from 11 to 20 with the Chicago Bears and selected Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney with that pick and when their turn cam again at No. 42 in the second second round, they passed on Ojulari again but traded back to No. 50 with Miami.

To their delight, Ojulari — considered by many to be the top pass rusher in this draft class — was still available. Gettleman had ridden the wave long enough and finally made Ojulari a Giant.

“You have to have confidence in your ability to evaluate players,” Gettleman said. “So you just turn around and people are missing it for whatever reason and it didn’t scare us, that’s for darn sure. We’re thrilled to get him. You know, it’s kind of the same thing when people cut a player. The instinct is to say what’s wrong. My attitude is maybe they made a mistake. So it’s one of those deals where the fact that Azeez was dropping did not impact us at all in terms of our opinion of his playing ability and what he could do for us.”

The Giants will continued to be thrilled if Ojulari can fulfill the promise he showed at Georgia. They are reuniting him with his old college roommate, offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, the Giants’ top pick in last year’s draft.

The Giants are hoping the reunion also ignites Thomas’ play after a disappointing rookie season in 2020.