EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – I know I should probably cover the college basketball championship game, as it looked like a great one. But truth be told, I was in bed by 9:30, crying at the value of my 401(K). Sell, Mortimer, sell! The Rangers’ playoff hopes are the only thing sinking faster than my 401(k), so we’ll stay away from hockey. How about a way-too-long look at the possible Giants’ scenarios for the upcoming draft. We’re just over two weeks away now, so let’s go.
Best Player vs Need
Teams on the bottom always say they’re not going to draft based on need and will take the best player available. But if your best player is a WR, you’re probably not going to take another one even when it’s the best player on your board. Enter the New York Giants.
Their biggest need is obviously QB. But the consensus seems to be that only Cam Ward is worthy of a top-3 pick and he is likely to be gone. Thanks for having the game of your life in a meaningless win, Drew Lock! The Giants are likely to be choosing from two of these three options – Travis Hunter, the electrifying WR/CB Heisman winner, Shedeur Sanders, the controversial Colorado QB and son of Coach Prime and teammate of Hunter, and Abdul Carter, the dynamic Penn State pass rusher.
Prognosticators are all over the place on Sanders, with mocks having him land from 3rd to the end of the first round. He is accurate and poised, but some say the arm strength isn’t great and he holds the ball too long. Holding the ball too long, just like Daniel Jones. Excuse me for a second – “throw f@&*ing ball, Jones!” Coach Prime came to his son’s defense on his arm strength, saying the criticism stemmed from the name on the back of the jersey and his arm strength is fine. Nice job trying to take the bullet for your boy, Prime, but that little farce can’t fool a Corleone.
Studs or a QB
To me, Sanders seems to me like a good guy to stick on the bench for a year and develop. But you want a sure thing at #3, and there are two studs that look pretty close to can’t miss – Hunter and Carter. Assuming the Titans take Ward, one of these two will be available for the Giants.
Hunter is a special two-way player who does not want to be relegated to one position. When asked what position the commish should say with his name, Hunter warned that Goodell had better say both. He would fit right on the Giants, as a compliment to Nabers on offense, and as a possible replacement for Banks at CB. That guy might be on his way to Bustville, USA.
On the other had, the Giants invested big money in CB Adebo and safety Holland. Along with second round safety Nubin, first round pick Banks and last year’s promising 3rd rounder Phillips, the Giants have invested a ton of resources in their secondary. And it looks pretty decent, I think it’s fair to say. And with Robinson and Slayton in the fold, they have bigger needs than WR.
That brings us to Carter, the relentless pass rusher who has drawn comparisons to Micah Parsons. As you may recall with violent nausea, the Giants passed on Parsons to trade back and take Kadarius Toney. We miss you, Gettleman!
The Giants made a huge investment at edge in recent years, giving up two draft picks and a ton of money for Burns, and the #5 pick fotor Kayvon Thibs. If the Giants pick up his fifth-year option, they have two more years of him under contract. They also fortified their front size with depth signs on the D-line and at the edge.
It doesn’t seem obvious to me that the Giants would take Carter here, just out of the need for asset allocation at other positions. But maybe that shouldn’t stop them, as the best Giants teams could all get after the passer. Why not go back to your roots here? A smart D-coordinator can find ways to use them all. And they could get something for Kayvon if it doesn’t work out with the three of them.
I guess what I’m saying is the Giants have invested the most resources in the same positions that the top draft picks play. Everything points to doing everything they can to get a QB.
Other Options
Should they look at the disruptive Michigan D-tackle, Mason Graham, to plant next to Dexter? That would give them a pretty formidable duo to go with Burns & Thibs on the outside. Should they trade back and try to get Shedeur a little later and maybe pick up some draft capital? Should they take a shot with a second-tier guy like Dart or Milroe and give them a year? Milroe might be faster than Lamar Jackson, which piqued my interest. Daboll might be able to mold him. Or load up with talent early and take a 3rd-tier dart throw with Tyler Shough, Will Howard, or Quinn Ewers?
More Clues
Based on the Giants basically bringing back the entire offense other than QB, they are putting all their chips on the bet that QB was the problem. They are definitely going to draft one with their picks at 34 or 65, if they pass at 3. The Giants second pick at 34 could be interesting because the Browns pick just ahead of them. If both teams pass on QB in round 1 and like Dart or Milroe, the Giants may have to leapfrog Cleveland to get their guy. And then they’ll probably take a young DT to play next to Dex, as this draft is loaded with them.
I expect something like:
- Hunter/Carter
- Dart/Milroe
- TJ Sanders/Darius Alexander (DTs)
Or if they like Shedeur, I bet they fortify the trenches with the next two picks:
- Shedeur
- Donovan Jackson (G), Josh Conerly Jr (T)
- TJ Sanders/Darius Alexander (DTs)
If I were a betting man, I’d say Shedeur ends up in blue.
Give me your top 3. And come back tomorrow for Furious Shedeur Ward.
