The New York Giants have an abundance of needs entering the 2019 NFL Draft, but with a league-high 12 picks, they seem well-positioned to patch a substantial number of holes.
But what would be the ideal scenario? Which players would be considered a grand slam for Big Blue? How would they earn an “A” grade from ESPN’s Todd McShay?
McShay recently broke down “A” grade scenarios for all 32 NFL teams, and when it came to the Giants, he kicked things off with a quarterback and went from there.
Round 1 (6): Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
Round 1 (17): Brian Burns, DE/OLB, Florida State
Round 2 (37): Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State
Round 3 (95): Mack Wilson, ILB, AlabamaThe Giants have a lot of needs, but everything starts at quarterback. Haskins is the purest passer in the draft, so that’s a no-brainer for me at No. 6 overall. If Haskins is there, I’m taking him. OK, now we need a pass-rusher. Enter Burns, who had 10 sacks for the Seminoles in 2018. Howard would help improve the offensive line in front of Haskins (or Eli Manning if the Giants smartly let Haskins learn behind the veteran for a bit), and then New York gets real value with Wilson’s coverage ability all the way at the back of Round 3.
The idea that quarterback is the biggest need for the Giants remains up for debate. McShay states that as fact, but Giants general manager Dave Gettleman doesn’t seem to agree with him.
Moreover, recent reports suggest Haskins’ draft stock is plummeting, making him potentially available to the Giants at No. 17 if they want him, but that notion also seems flimsy at this point. The team seems to be trending more toward Drew Lock.
Beyond Haskins, McShay has the Giants addressing their needs at the edge, at right tackle and at linebacker, but the names aren’t on the same elite level as some of the other tackles and defenders Big Blue could target at No. 7.
Overall, this is a solid draft, but based on the Giants’ needs and the talent available at each pick, we’d argue this is not an “A” draft for Big Blue.
