By now, it is pretty clear to most if not all NY Giants fans that:
1) there are 3 blue chip QB prospects
2) those blue chip QB prospects will go 1.01, 1.02, and 1.03
3) there is potential interest in trading up to one of the top 3 spots from the Giants
4) it is not clear if there will be the ability to trade up to one of those spots
5) the Giants have many needs to address in this draft
6) this is a solid draft class with adequate depth
Last Tuesday, it was reported that “Mike Garafolo believes the Giants will select a first-round QB in the NFL Draft.” I need to remind everyone that we started talking about this right after the Las Vegas Raiders game on November 6. Why? Because the loss of Jones was big in many ways. Not only did it doom the season, but questions about Jones’ availability got heaped on top of questions about his ability (to process). Wonder once again deserves props, because you have to note that he was thinking about Daniels as a potential elite draft prospect well before anyone else. After November 6th, Daniels started being discussed as a Round 1 prospect and then by December people were considering him as a Top 5 prospect. Now, he is slotted to go in the Top 3. By January 7th, this NY Giants blog was already talking about shooting the moon and trading up for one of these QBs. This was 7 weeks before the Garafolo news broke that the Giants were seriously thinking about (trading up for) a Round 1 QB.
Here is the way I see Round 1 for the NY Giants… my personal view of what is the correct path. This is a binary decision. Mahomes and Stroud are painful reminders that this is a QB league. Either you have a true franchise QB who makes your team consistently competitive, or you don’t. Admittedly, Jones got the better of the Giants and me (amongst many) by thinking he could get it done. If the Giants can trade up without getting completely bankrupted, they should do so. AND IF THEY CANNOT, THEY NEED TO TRADE OUT OF ROUND 1. The Giants have too many needs at too many positions. Everyone covets the big 3 WRs: Harrison, Nabers, and Odunze. THIS IS A LUXURY THE GIANTS CANNOT AFFORD. If one of these is Larry Fitzgerald (a character guy who can stick with your franchise for 10+ years), I will be happy just like everybody else that I have gotten a terrific player. But Odell Beckham should have taught you that WRs (for the most part) sell tickets, they do not win titles. Look at how the Chiefs won with a R5 WR named Tyreek Hill. They jettisoned his rich contract and won 2 more titles without him. Btw, not for nothing, they took CB Trent McDuffie with the R1 pick they got for Hill and McDuffie shut down Deebo Samuel in the Super Bowl. Everyone else is going to covet Harrison/Nabers/Odunze. I am sure that Wonder will too. TFB. We can’t afford it. Trade down when everyone else wants the 1.06. Let them pay us for the stud WR. Use that to move out of R1 and collect three Round 2 picks. You guys should know by now what I think of Round 2 draft picks. LOVE’M. ALL STEAK, NO SIZZLE. Football players. The Giants could have FIVE Round 2 picks in total (they already have 2, thanks to the Leonard Williams trade deadline deal) and get Barbers Toomers Sehorns Strahans Snees.
Let’s take a look back at a recent history of Giants Round 2 picks. Keep in mind, this franchise is where it is because it has failed in the draft. Yet, if we look at Round 2, we see very good football players:
JMS– very early, I think he will be a solid starter
Wan’dale Robinson– already looking like a total stud
Azeez Ojulari– Would have been a great EDGE if not for injuries
Xavier McKinney– even in a system that did not lever his ball hawking, he is a top Safety FA who the Giants want back
Will Hernandez– Bust
Dalvin Tomlinson– Solid starting DT
Sterling Shepard– Stud WR, injuries
Landon Collins– All Pro Strong Safety
In summary, either trade up or trade out of Round 1. Build your team with a franchise QB or trade down and build it with Round 2 football players.