The latest mock draft from NFL.com has the New York Giants going in a different direction than most would assume ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Many mock drafts have seen the Giants selecting a pass-rusher with the No. 6 overall pick. Others are pairing the G-Men with Ohio State Quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
The latest mock draft from Lance Zierlein of NFL.com has the Giants going with Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf with the No. 6 overall pick.
Whispers have begun circulating that the Giants are not in love with QB Dwayne Haskins. If that’s the case, the Giants could go with Metcalf to add a big, fast wideout with the potential to become the new WR1 after Odell Beckham’s exit via trade.
Zierlein then has Big Blue taking quarterback Eli Manning’s successor with the No. 17 pick in the form of Missouri quarterback Drew Lock.
The Giants passed on quarterback with the sixth pick but still land a talented signal-caller to groom behind Eli Manning with their second pick of the first round (acquired from the Browns in the OBJ trade).
To say doubling down on offense in the first round would be a mistake is an understatement, even with the departure of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and the questions surrounding Manning’s future beyond 2019.
Not only would the Metcalf pick be considered a reach, but the Giants have far more pressing needs on defense at the moment. Such a deep defensive draft that offers a lot of talent in the first round is the perfect opportunity to address those needs.
Drafting Lock with the No. 17 pick would also be a risky endeavor in what is considered a shallow quarterback class. Again, the Giants have bigger fish to fry on defense and at right tackle, making it more evident the team should avoid a quarterback in this spot.
If the Giants finish the first round without landing at least one defensive player, it would be a failure on the part of general manager Dave Gettleman. Big Blue needs to focus on rebuilding a depleted defense and not on enhancing what is an already stabilized offense.
