When the NFL Draft on Day 2 last night was up to ~pick 3.90, there were ~12 or 13 picks left before the Day closed out. We held our breath and asked for Guard Marcus Mbow if he was still on the board at 4.105. Well, here we are going into Day 3, and there are 2 picks at 4.103 and 4.104 between the Giants and their 4th Round selection…. and Marcus Mbow is still on the board.
Let’s review who is left on the “My Guys” list from Big Blue Banter (get over there to Like, Subscribe, Comment). The 10 players below are the only ones remaining from their original list of 32 players. Their original list was not based on players they like. It is players that ‘pop’ for them, making them special value for who they are. One of them was Travis Hunter, who was just sooo special that he garnered the highest draft grade of Nick Falato EVER. Others are lowly R6-R7 developmental players that you get cheap and roll the dice. That is value. That ‘value’ conversation is what we have been discussing since starting this NY Giants in 2006. I have spent literally my entire career in the financial world working to either find value or deliver in that space. It is lowest common denominator. Dan and Nick’s “My Guys” are value. You are not drafting RB Cam Skattebo in Round 1. He is imperfect (pass protection is a liability). But on Day 3, let’er rip, because he is a potential menace who breaks tackles regularly.
| PLAYER | POSITION | SCHOOL | SUMMARY | IDEAL RANGE |
| Damien Martinez | RB | Miami | Downhill bruiser with vision and balance. | Rounds 3–5 |
| Jarquez Hunter | RB | Auburn | Balanced power and YAC. Productive and reliable. | Rounds 4–5 |
| Raheim Sanders | RB | Arkansas | Unique stop-start ability in space. 230+ lb mover. | Rounds 4–5 |
| Kyle Monangai | RB | Rutgers | Gritty, compact runner. Low-center zone-fit back. | Rounds 5–6 |
| Cam Skattebo | RB | Az State | Versatile back with hands, power, and toughness. | Rounds 5–7 |
| Deone Walker | DT | Kentucky | Freak athlete at 6’7”, 340 lbs; raw technique. | Day 3 |
| Yahya Black | DT | Iowa | 336-lb run-stuffer. Prototype rotational anchor. | Rounds 6–7 |
| Cam Jackson | DT | Florida | Massive interior DL. Early-down enforcer. | Rounds 6–7 |
| Kain Medrano | LB | UCLA | Tools-rich developmental LB. | Rounds 6-7 |
| Marcus Mbow | IOL | Purdue | Feather-footed, smart, developmental IOL. | Round 3 |
So why are we so high on Mbow? Process of elimination. It marries the following:
1) Value, for this moment in the draft
2) QB/PROTECT QB/RUSH THE QB… the trenches
3) He’s literally the only remaining “value” OL player left
3a) Game theory.. 5 RBs still remain for one to be available Round 5-6
I say it this way: Protect QB.
Dan says it another way: build the trenches like the Eagles and other franchises do.
Others say it another way: Inside Out.
It is all the same thing. I love listening to BBB because they preach what we preach.
Marcus Mbow was a Top 30 visit. That does not mean he will be successful in the NFL. It does mean the Giants looked at him more closely, and performed more due diligence on him. I respect that process enough to believe that (especially with the success of last year’s Draft) it makes the decision to select him (OR NOT) more informed.
There once was a time in the NFL Draft when they got to later rounds and GMs would just pick guys based on what school they went to. They had no idea who these players were! So we have come a long way. Process matters.
There are other OL choices still available that Nick mentions: G Miles Frazier, G Jalen Rivers, G Jackson Slater, G Garrett Dellinger, T Cameron Williams, T Logan Brown.
Dan is still pounding the table for RB Cam Skattebo. He is certain that Skattebo will be gone by Round 5. But he then concedes that with so many RBs (even beyond their “My Guys”, players like Kyle Monangai etc), it probably means OL first in R4. That is my strong bias as well. Get a Guard.
Remaining Top 30 Visits of the NY Giants: DT Joshua Farmer, G Marcus Mbow, LB Kobe King, LB Carson Bruener, EDGE Collin Oliver, CB Korie Black, RB Cam Skattebo, RB Ollie Gordon II, S Jaylen Reed