New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman has said to never make personnel moves based on emotion. Also, never draft out of need.
His Giants, however, happen to need a lot at the moment, so his top pick (No. 6 overall) in the upcoming NFL Draft will appear to be a ‘need’ pick.
The current wave on social media, talk radio and television are steering the Giants and their fans towards selecting Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
Why? Because they need a franchise quarterback to succeed Eli Manning. Do they need to answer that question right at this moment? No, and taking Haskins with the sixth pick does not solve the issue right now and may never solve it.
Selecting Haskins, who had a lukewarm performance this past weekend at the NFL Combine, would mean bypassing a glut of elite defensive players that could transform the Giants defense right away and for years to come.
I believe the Arizona Cardinals will select quarterback Kyler Murray, the Heisman Trophy winner out of Oklahoma, with the first overall pick. Then, the next four picks will likely be all defensive linemen or edge rushers: Nick Bosa of Ohio State, Alabama’s Quinnen Williams, Josh Allen of Kentucky and Michigan’s Rashan Gary.
If any of the five players listed above fall to No. 6, I take them. And that includes Murray, or at the very least trading the pick to a team that wants him for a package of picks.
Here are three more players I would select without hesitation ahead of Haskins at No. 6.
Devin White, LB, LSU
Do you remember Patrick Willis? He was great, wasn’t he? Well, that’s what you’ll be getting if you draft this monster of a talent. He can make plays from sideline to sideline and is excellent in pass coverage. White can also rush the passer and gets into the backfield so quickly, it’s like he has a copy of your playbook.
He is fast (he ran a 4.42 40 at the combine) and he can hit, too. There are no holes in this young man’s game. You might be getting the new Luke Kuechly or the next Bobby Wagner with this kid. He’s perfect for the Giants, or any team for that matter.
Ed Oliver, DL, Houston
Ed Oliver has been compared to Aaron Donald at times because of his size (6-foot-2, 287 pounds) and because he possesses the same fire that Donald has. He can’t be expected to be as good as Donald, but who is? Teams will take that all day, every day.
This kid is explosive and finds ways to make plays against bigger competition. He might end up being the best defensive lineman in this draft because of his athleticism and quickness. He can be moved around the line to create mismatches and can also be used as in inside linebacker but his strength remains on the interior, where he dominates with excellent leverage and a twitchy first step.
He will be a perennial Pro Bowler.
Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State
Montez Sweat wowed the league officials with a breakout performance at the Combine. He ran a 4.41 40 and registered high scores in all of the other categories. He is 6-foot-6, weighs 260 pounds and has 35 3/4 inch arms. He reminds of Michael Strahan in frame and stature.
Many scouts had him as a mid-to-late first-rounder, but after seeing how athletic he is, he’s a top-10 pick now. Sure, he needs work technique-wise and probably needs to get stronger but who wouldn’t want a Strahan 2.0?
