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The New York Giants have been clear about their intentions since the end of a disappointing 3-win campaign during which they played four quarterbacks, forced to start three different ones.
And now that Jameis Winston has joined the QB room, this will likely set up Big Blue to take a swing at the position not just for the here and now, but for the future.
"I think once you solve the quarterback issue," co-owner John Mara said, "a lot of these other issues will improve."
General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are facing an offseason of decisions that will speak to the urgency of turning the franchise into a winner again. That comes with the obvious pressure under which everyone will be operating as they enter a pivotal fourth season in control of Big Blue.
With NFL Draft festivities in Green Bay set to begin with the first round in prime time on April 24, we will continue to analyze what we know about the prospects who should be in play for the Giants.
So much is on the table for the Giants, who currently hold the No. 3 overall selection as the NFL Combine came and went this past week. Whatever plan Schoen executes in free agency was going to have a significant impact on the Giants' draft plans, especially at quarterback, and uncertainty remains. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are viewed as the top two QBs in the Class of 2025.
Story continues below photo gallery
The veteran QB market has been the game of musical chairs we expected it to be, and the Giants knew they could not be left without a seat, especially with the fact that there are currently no guarantees they will be able to select Ward or Sanders sitting at No. 3. That's one of the reasons they agreed to terms with Winston on a two-year, $8 million deal on Friday night, giving them a two-QB room with the 31-year-old former No. 1 overall pick and Tommy DeVito.
There is clearly still room for more - in reality, that is the expectation. Could that be Aaron Rodgers, who is still waiting on his decision, leaving the Giants and the Steelers - presumably - in FA limbo? Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco have also visited the Giants, and both also remain on the market.
The Giants are going to continue operating in the spirit of keeping all options open.
The most likely scenario is that the Giants will select their quarterback of the future in the draft. A trade with the Tennessee Titans for the No. 1 pick has received strong consideration from the Giants. The only question now, with the Titans fortifying their offensive line in free agency, is whether they will just stick and pick Ward at No. 1.
Using the Pro Football Network Draft simulator, here is our now-weekly stab at laying out a possible mock path for the Giants. This process - for those keeping score ‒ comes with obvious disclaimers: Big Blue is unlikely to prioritize cornerback with the signing of Paulson Adebo and safety with Jevon Holland coming aboard in the first round.
Will that take Travis Hunter, perhaps the best non-QB on the board, out of the mix? That remains to be seen.
Sanders is continually knocked for who his father is ‒ which is a bit of a joke, given Prime's standing as one of the greatest of all time ‒ and that's fine. Put some respect on what Sanders actually does well on the field, and it's easy to see why he'd appeal to the Giants: poise, toughness, accuracy and a keen sense of how to handle the spotlight. Whether he desires that spotlight is a matter of perspective.
In this simulation, the Titans again took Cam Ward and the Browns selected Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter. There will be consideration for Hunter, no question, but in the end I went with Sanders. The 22-year-old threw for more than 4,100 yards and 37 touchdowns while only throwing 10 interceptions. He also completed 74% of his pass attempts, the highest completion percentage in the country.
I was eyeing DT Tyliek Williams of Ohio State, but he went 25th to the Falcons. So I pivoted to the offensive line and Jackson left no doubt regarding his potential in the Buckeyes' run to the national championship. He moved to left tackle from guard early in the season and did not allow a sack over his final eight games. Jackson allowed just two pressures with zero penalties in that span.
Ideally, Jackson will be one of the top five linemen on the team from jump. If he's more comfortable at left guard, Jon Runyan could move to right guard without hesitation.
Turner plays with explosiveness and tenacity, and the Giants would benefit greatly from adding an impact player next to Dexter Lawrence on the interior. He has solid upper-body power, but the biggest thing in his game is that he must show more control and discipline. The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder can win with his hands, and that's a quality that appears to defensive line coach Andre Patterson.
The Giants will certainly get all the intel they need on Johnson with Ladell Betts, his position coach at Iowa, now on Brian Daboll's staff coaching the running backs here. He may start out his career as an early down back, which could complement Tyrone Tracy's skill set exceptionally well.
He could contribute right away in short-yardage and goal-line situations. With further development in pass protection and receiving, Johnson could carve out a significant role in the NFL. He just racked up 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns during his final season with the Hawkeyes, leading the Big Ten in both categories and setting Iowa's single-season record in the latter.
Pierce has an ideal combination of size and length (6-foot-8, 344 pounds), and the most appealing aspect of his game is the way he has rapidly improved in his career. The New Jersey native has yet to hit his ceiling, and in this spot, the Giants should be looking for a tackle to develop and get the most out of while working behind Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor. If Pierce excels fast enough, he could be an option as a swing tackle or give the Giants much-needed young depth at a position reliant on proven players who are not easily replaceable.
Phillips might ultimately project more as a nose tackle, and it'll be interesting how high his all-star performance boosts his value. But in a loaded class at the position, Phillips could emerge as one of those Day 3 gems who should have gone way earlier. He had himself a week at the East-West Shrine Bowl, showcasing good power and explosion on the interior. Still just 20 years old, the Tennessee transfer has a lot of untapped potential.
Truss is an experienced offensive lineman who has played multiple positions throughout his career. At 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, Truss has the frame and movement skills to develop with experience either at tackle or on the interior. He's been at Georgia for what feels like forever - how long has the six-year lineman been in Athens? He was a teammate with Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas for one season.
The Giants landed a Hall of Fame linebacker at South Carolina State in the fourth round in 1976, and Harry Carson became one of the greatest captains the franchise has ever had. If they could get a player in the seventh round to produce half of Carson's resume, they'd be thrilled. The 6-foot, 220-pound Smith is lauded for his leadership skills and football IQ. He's played in multiple systems and would seem to be an ideal fit as a developmental prospect.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: New York Giants mock draft 4.0: New franchise QB in latest projection
Continue reading...
And now that Jameis Winston has joined the QB room, this will likely set up Big Blue to take a swing at the position not just for the here and now, but for the future.
"I think once you solve the quarterback issue," co-owner John Mara said, "a lot of these other issues will improve."
General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are facing an offseason of decisions that will speak to the urgency of turning the franchise into a winner again. That comes with the obvious pressure under which everyone will be operating as they enter a pivotal fourth season in control of Big Blue.
With NFL Draft festivities in Green Bay set to begin with the first round in prime time on April 24, we will continue to analyze what we know about the prospects who should be in play for the Giants.
Who will Giants draft in first round?
So much is on the table for the Giants, who currently hold the No. 3 overall selection as the NFL Combine came and went this past week. Whatever plan Schoen executes in free agency was going to have a significant impact on the Giants' draft plans, especially at quarterback, and uncertainty remains. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are viewed as the top two QBs in the Class of 2025.
Story continues below photo gallery
The veteran QB market has been the game of musical chairs we expected it to be, and the Giants knew they could not be left without a seat, especially with the fact that there are currently no guarantees they will be able to select Ward or Sanders sitting at No. 3. That's one of the reasons they agreed to terms with Winston on a two-year, $8 million deal on Friday night, giving them a two-QB room with the 31-year-old former No. 1 overall pick and Tommy DeVito.
There is clearly still room for more - in reality, that is the expectation. Could that be Aaron Rodgers, who is still waiting on his decision, leaving the Giants and the Steelers - presumably - in FA limbo? Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco have also visited the Giants, and both also remain on the market.
The Giants are going to continue operating in the spirit of keeping all options open.
The most likely scenario is that the Giants will select their quarterback of the future in the draft. A trade with the Tennessee Titans for the No. 1 pick has received strong consideration from the Giants. The only question now, with the Titans fortifying their offensive line in free agency, is whether they will just stick and pick Ward at No. 1.
Giants mock draft: Every selection for Big Blue
Using the Pro Football Network Draft simulator, here is our now-weekly stab at laying out a possible mock path for the Giants. This process - for those keeping score ‒ comes with obvious disclaimers: Big Blue is unlikely to prioritize cornerback with the signing of Paulson Adebo and safety with Jevon Holland coming aboard in the first round.
Will that take Travis Hunter, perhaps the best non-QB on the board, out of the mix? That remains to be seen.
Round 1, Pick 3: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Sanders is continually knocked for who his father is ‒ which is a bit of a joke, given Prime's standing as one of the greatest of all time ‒ and that's fine. Put some respect on what Sanders actually does well on the field, and it's easy to see why he'd appeal to the Giants: poise, toughness, accuracy and a keen sense of how to handle the spotlight. Whether he desires that spotlight is a matter of perspective.
In this simulation, the Titans again took Cam Ward and the Browns selected Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter. There will be consideration for Hunter, no question, but in the end I went with Sanders. The 22-year-old threw for more than 4,100 yards and 37 touchdowns while only throwing 10 interceptions. He also completed 74% of his pass attempts, the highest completion percentage in the country.
Round 2, Pick 34: Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State
I was eyeing DT Tyliek Williams of Ohio State, but he went 25th to the Falcons. So I pivoted to the offensive line and Jackson left no doubt regarding his potential in the Buckeyes' run to the national championship. He moved to left tackle from guard early in the season and did not allow a sack over his final eight games. Jackson allowed just two pressures with zero penalties in that span.
Ideally, Jackson will be one of the top five linemen on the team from jump. If he's more comfortable at left guard, Jon Runyan could move to right guard without hesitation.
Round 3, Pick 65: Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M
Turner plays with explosiveness and tenacity, and the Giants would benefit greatly from adding an impact player next to Dexter Lawrence on the interior. He has solid upper-body power, but the biggest thing in his game is that he must show more control and discipline. The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder can win with his hands, and that's a quality that appears to defensive line coach Andre Patterson.
Round 3, Pick 99: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
The Giants will certainly get all the intel they need on Johnson with Ladell Betts, his position coach at Iowa, now on Brian Daboll's staff coaching the running backs here. He may start out his career as an early down back, which could complement Tyrone Tracy's skill set exceptionally well.
He could contribute right away in short-yardage and goal-line situations. With further development in pass protection and receiving, Johnson could carve out a significant role in the NFL. He just racked up 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns during his final season with the Hawkeyes, leading the Big Ten in both categories and setting Iowa's single-season record in the latter.
Round 4, Pick 105: Hollis Pierce, OT, Rutgers
Pierce has an ideal combination of size and length (6-foot-8, 344 pounds), and the most appealing aspect of his game is the way he has rapidly improved in his career. The New Jersey native has yet to hit his ceiling, and in this spot, the Giants should be looking for a tackle to develop and get the most out of while working behind Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor. If Pierce excels fast enough, he could be an option as a swing tackle or give the Giants much-needed young depth at a position reliant on proven players who are not easily replaceable.
Round 5, Pick 154: Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland
Phillips might ultimately project more as a nose tackle, and it'll be interesting how high his all-star performance boosts his value. But in a loaded class at the position, Phillips could emerge as one of those Day 3 gems who should have gone way earlier. He had himself a week at the East-West Shrine Bowl, showcasing good power and explosion on the interior. Still just 20 years old, the Tennessee transfer has a lot of untapped potential.
Round 7, Pick 219: Xavier Truss, OG, Georgia
Truss is an experienced offensive lineman who has played multiple positions throughout his career. At 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, Truss has the frame and movement skills to develop with experience either at tackle or on the interior. He's been at Georgia for what feels like forever - how long has the six-year lineman been in Athens? He was a teammate with Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas for one season.
Round 7, Pick 246: Aaron Smith, LB, South Carolina State
The Giants landed a Hall of Fame linebacker at South Carolina State in the fourth round in 1976, and Harry Carson became one of the greatest captains the franchise has ever had. If they could get a player in the seventh round to produce half of Carson's resume, they'd be thrilled. The 6-foot, 220-pound Smith is lauded for his leadership skills and football IQ. He's played in multiple systems and would seem to be an ideal fit as a developmental prospect.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: New York Giants mock draft 4.0: New franchise QB in latest projection
Continue reading...
