The 2019 NFL Combine will come to a close on Monday as the final on-field workouts and interviews conclude, and all those in attendance take off in preparation for the new league year.
In typical fashion, the combine came and went with several players separating themselves from the pack, others hurting their draft stock and, as a sidebar, a ton of news from across the league.
Early on, the New York Giants were the center of attention and there was much to be gleaned. Let’s recap:
Olivier Vernon is on the way out
Despite finishing the 2018 season strong, earning a spot on the NFC Pro Bowl roster and grading out well courtesy of Pro Football Focus, linebacker Olivier Vernon appears to be on his way out of East Rutherford.
Reports surfaced during the combine that the Giants had not only held internal discussions about trading Vernon, but may have reached out to other teams in an effort to gauge interest.
If the Giants were to trade or release Vernon prior to June 1, they would absorb a dead cap hit of $8 million in 2019, saving a total of $11.5 million. However, if they were to trade or release Vernon post-June 1, the dead cap hit would account for just $4 million with a total savings of $15.5 million.
Landon Collins may not get the franchise tag
It had once seemed like a foregone conclusion that the Giants would designate safety Landon Collins as their franchise player, but that went out the window at the combine.
Could general manager Dave Gettleman still tag Collins? Absolutely, but he did not sound like a man even close to making that commitment.
“We’re still evaluating,” Gettleman said. “Here’s what everybody has to understand – you’ve got 53 players on your club and you’ve got a salary cap. You don’t have 53 silos. Decisions like this can’t be made in a vacuum. You can’t do it. So, it’s a process.”
Meanwhile, word came down the pipeline that Collins could hold out up until the first week of the regular season should he be tagged, which is something he previously said he would not do.
Eli Manning back, ‘Kansas City model’ in play
Some may still try to spin the possibility that Eli Manning could be cut or traded, but the reality is that’s not going to happen. Manning will be with the Giants in 2019, but for the first time in quite some time, the starting job is not guaranteed.
“Well, it’s a never-ending process. We haven’t even hit free agency yet, so like I told you, I had my conversation with Eli back right after the season ended and we are where we are. Like Pat said, there’s a million different models, there’s a million different ways to do this and you could cite a number of models where they had a veteran guy and they drafted a young guy, and at some point in time, the torch got passed and away everybody went, and it was a happy away everybody went. So, there’s still a lot of time to make these decisions,” Gettleman said.
Ultimately, the Giants appear to be leaning towards drafting a rookie quarterback and grooming him behind Manning in much the same way the Kansas City Chiefs groomed Patrick Mahomes, although it’s unclear in what round that may be.
“I think a young player would greatly benefit from that,” head coach Pat Shurmur said of a young player learning behind Manning. “We all want to learn from somebody that’s done it – players, coaches – and he’s done it at a very high level. So being in a room with him, I think, would only help that player.
“You’re still looking to play the best guy. I’ve been in situations where Sam Bradford started the first game. I was in another situation where Donovan McNabb didn’t start until Week 8; Doug Pederson was the starter. And you’ve seen in Kansas City where Mahomes really didn’t play the first year. So there’s a lot of different models for that.”
Giants love CB Sam Beal
The Giants do not have a third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft after spending it on cornerback Sam Beal in the Supplemental Draft, and even after he missed the 2018 season due to injury, they remain confident in what he’ll bring to the table.
“It’s really funny. For what it’s worth, we really feel strongly that if (CB) Sam (Beal) were in this draft, he’d be a second-round pick. We feel pretty strongly about that. So while it’s aggravating that we don’t have a third, if Sam steps up and is doing really well with his rehab thing, surgery went well, and so if he’s the guy we believe he is, then we won’t be mad,” Gettleman said.
The Giants appear thin at cornerback, but they’ve been pounding the Beal drum for quite some time now. They truly believe they have a special player there.
OBJ trade rumors persist even though he’s parked in NY
From moment one of the NFL Combine, even before anyone in the media spoke a word to him, Dave Gettleman made it clear Odell Beckham Jr. would not be traded.
“We didn’t sign Odell Beckham to trade him. I know that’s all over the place right now, but we didn’t sign him to trade him,” Gettleman stated. “That’s all I need to say about that.”
Gettleman refused to rule out accepting a King’s random (imagine four first-round pick?) in exchange for Beckham, so that was somehow spun into “Gettleman still open to trading Odell.”
It’s not accurate. If some team overpays drastically for Odell, Gettleman will take it. Short of that, Beckham will return to the Giants in 2019 and beyond. Unfortunately, that story doesn’t sell as well, so it won’t be presented that way.
Jets open to rare Draft Day trade with Giants
Imagine a scenario in which the New York Giants and New York Jets teamed up to help each other out at the 2019 NFL Draft? Bizarre thought, right?
Well, hold onto your hats because it’s entirely possible this year.
“Right now, we feel good at No. 3, but I’d definitely say if there’s an opportunity to trade down, we would absolutely look at it,” Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan told reporters.
The Jets need a pass rusher… Might they be interested in Olivier Vernon?
Giants want Kerry Wynn back, Antonio Hamilton walking
The Giants reportedly want defensive end Kerry Wynn back in 2019, but unlike in years past, it’s going to take more than a one-year deal to get it done.
After several impressive seasons, Wynn has carved out a market for himself and that will cost the Giants, who are expected to face quite a bit of competition for the veteran if he hits the open market.
“The Giants defensive end and special teams standout is expected to have a much deeper market this year that should lead to a multi-year contract, according to a source familiar with the situation,” wrote NJ.com’s Ryan Dunleavy. “The market includes the Giants, who are interested in retaining the 28-year-old Wynn for more than just one year, the source said.”
Meanwhile, the Giants will not tender restricted free agent cornerback Antonio Hamilton, who played exceptionally well on special teams in 2018.
Hamilton may eventually be re-signed, but the Giants risk losing him by letting him hit the open market.
Dwayne Haskins, other QBs dream of playing for Giants
Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins grew up a Giants fan and refused to hide his fandom. He loves Big Blue and said it would be “a dream come true” to play in East Rutherford.
“Growing up in New Jersey, I grew up a Giants fan, so it would be a dream come true going back home where my family is and play for that great franchise,’’ Haskins said Friday at the NFL scouting combine. “There are a lot of really great skill players, so either way it happens throughout this process, I’m just going to be happy to be in the NFL. New York, of course, would be a great spot for me.’’
But Haskins wasn’t the only one. Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray shared similar sentiments.
“OB, Shep, Engram, Saquon, I think me in that system with those guys can be very dangerous,” Murray said via NJ Advance Media. “At the same time, I don’t get to choose where I go. If that were the case, I’d love to be in that situation. I’d love to be in New York. But, I don’t pick myself, so. . .”
Add in Buffalo’s Tyree Jackson and Mississippi State’s Nick Fitzgerald as well. They, too, would love to play for the Giants.
Pass rusher, offensive lineman appear likely in early rounds
The New York Giants need a heir to Eli Manning and have acknowledged wanting to take the Kansas City approach, but there are strong indicators that they may address the line of scrimmage in early rounds.
The Giants met with a large portion offensive line and edge rush prospects at the combine, and given how well many of those pass rushers performed, it’s hard to imagine Gettleman willingly passing one up.
The draft appears stocked with historically unique defensive athletes and quality top-end offensive linemen. The same can not be said for the quarterbacks however, as everyone not named Kyler Murray displayed some red flags.
Devin White feels confident he impressed the Giants
Speaking of top quality defensive prospects, LSU linebacker Devin White was among the best on the field at the NFL Combine. But how did he handle himself behind the scenes?
If you were to ask White, he’d tell you he was every bit as good during the interview process and that he blew the Giants away.
“We watched straight film” White told reporters. “They didn’t tell me nothing, we watched straight film. ‘What were you doing right here? Oh, that was a good play. What was this? . . . Tell me what was going on. Draw this up.’ It was straight football, strictly business and I know they were picking my brain to see was I the linebacker that can go out there and control everybody. Did I know what I was doing at LSU? And I think I put on a show for ’em.”
Russell Wilson to the Giants isn’t happening
Leading up to the NFL Combine, there was some rumor and speculation that Russell Wilson’s wife could be pushing him toward the east coast. Accordingly, word began to spread that Wilson may try to force a trade to the Giants as a result.
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider wasted little time in shutting that down.
“I don’t have any other reason to believe that other than, like, website rumors and stuff like that,” Schneider told reporters with a laugh. “We’ve been in communication with his agent, Mark (Rodgers). I’m sure we’ll continue to talk. There are some guys that are unrestricted free agents right now, so we try to work through that process.”
What the future may hold for Wilson remains to be seen, but at least here in 2019, he’s not going to be anywhere near East Rutherford.
