The 2019 NFL Draft is now just 10 days away, which means the New York Giants are finalizing their scouting reports, their value boards and what will ultimately be their approach.
While general manager Dave Gettleman is amazingly unpredictable, there are several scenarios that are extremely unlikely to play out come draft time. In fact, some are guaranteed not to happen.
With that in mind, here are five things the Giants won’t do in the draft.
Use all 12 draft picks
The Giants boast a league-high 12 picks (tied with the New England Patriots), which is quite a lot to juggle over a three-day span. However, it’s exceptionally unlikely that general manager Dave Gettleman uses all 12 and brings in a dozen rookies plus undrafted free agents, so the more likely end is that the Giants package a few picks at some point and move up to grab someone on their board.
From both a practicality standpoint and a financial standpoint, the Giants can’t add 12 players to the roster in the blink of an eye. However, it sure would be interesting to track the progression of 12 drafted rookies throughout the preseason.
Gamble on unnecessary positions on Day 1
The Giants enter the 2019 NFL Draft with very specific needs at defensive end, linebacker, cornerback, right tackle and quarterback. There is arguably some secondary needs at wide receiver and safety, which are all areas the Giants might address on Day 1.
However, what they won’t do on Day 1 is gamble on unnecessary positions such as running back, where Saquon Barkley is a lock to start all 16 games. It’s also unlikely they would gamble big on a guard, where Will Hernandez and Kevin Zeitler appear to be fixed for the foreseeable future.
Let the media influence their approach
Both national and local media have tried to feed the narrative that quarterback Eli Manning is done and should be removed from his starting post, but the Giants have repeatedly shot that notion down and done things their way.
Don’t expect that to change come draft time, either. Despite a persistence that the Giants should draft a quarterback at No. 6 overall, Dave Gettleman will not be influenced by their desires or demands. He does things the way he wants to and at his own pace.
Draft a running back
As noted earlier, the Giants are unlikely to gamble on positions already solidified on their roster. One such position is running back, where Saquon Barkley resides as the bell cow.
However, what about in later rounds? After all, the Giants do have a lot of picks even in the event they trade some away, so might they poke around the running back pool? It’s unlikely.
With Barkley leading the way and talented youngsters like Robert Martin and Wayne Gallman behind him, the Giants are more likely to sign a veteran running back than to add yet another rookie.
Select a wide receiver early
With serious needs along their offensive and defensive lines, coupled with the need to find Manning’s successor, there’s no need for the Giants to go wide receiver early. There are also precious few receivers worthy of taking early.
Unless the Giants have D.K. Metcalf extremely high on their board and view him as the best player available at either No. 6 or No. 17, there’s little chance they reach for one of the others.
Rather, the Giants will focus on their board over the course of Day 1 and may then visit the receiver position in the mid-rounds.
