With the Browns likely to take a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick of the upcoming draft, the Giants are generating a lot of discussion, as they could go in any number of directions with their No. 2 overall selection. According to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, the team is looking increasingly unlikely to take a signal-caller with that pick. 
Though the MMQB’s Albert Breer notes general manager Dave Gettleman likes Sam Darnold and the coaches like Josh Allen, Schwartz cites a national scout who pegs Saquon Barkley as the pick.
“I thought all along this is the guy Dave wants,” the scout said. “And he might get him, if Cleveland is dumb enough not to take him at No. 1.”
The Penn State back is considered by the Giants to be a better player than the Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott, who was the No. 4 overall pick in 2016. Schwartz says Barkley’s lack of off-the-field concerns and his ability to contribute in the passing game make him a solid selection at No. 2.
However, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com says he has been hearing more and more whispers that the Giants could trade the No. 2 selection (Twitter link). The Bills are one team that other writers believe could be the Giants’ trading partner in that scenario, as Buffalo could grab its quarterback of the future and New York could add a significant amount of draft capital while still being in position to select a top-flight player in the first round. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report, meanwhile, hears that all options are on the table for Big Blue’s top pick, including a trade, a QB, Barkley, Bradley Chubb, and even Quenton Nelson (Twitter link).
Schwartz does name Chubb as a potential candidate for the Giants’ No. 2 pick, and Gettleman’s history would lend credence to that theory, as the former Panthers GM took defensive linemen with his first two picks with that franchise.
But Schwartz, unlike Miller, does not believe Nelson will be in play if the Giants keep their pick. Though he is a top-three player on their board, Schwartz hears that Nelson will only be considered in a trade-down scenario.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.
Chubb depends on if they think he will fit in a hybrid 3-4 scheme. If they don’t take Nelson they are dumb. Cant run with a crap OL. Don’t see a trade down unless it’s with the Browns or Broncos, Nelson will be taken if there by the Colts.
Yeah, it’s funny how think you just need a great RB to have great running game. It’s always more complicated than that.
Considering the Giants have the receivers and haven’t had a running back for the last couple of years, yeah, it’s that simple.
They could draft Nelson in the 1st and Nick Chubb or Ronald Jones II in the 2nd.
Only 3 guards have gone as high as 2 overall. Walt Sweeney, Tom Mack (HOF) and most recently Bill Fralic in 1985. If you get a John Hannah (4th overall in1973) your set for the next decade but a GM in his first year with a franchise probably isn’t going to go for broke in that way.
Leonard Davis 2nd overall 2001 3x pro bowl
Also, if his comp is Larry Allen, I think you can justify drafting him 2nd
Alright… I’ll take Brady or Rodgers. You can take the best guard in the NFL – if you can name him.
You just named 2 QBs not taken in the top 2. Does that add to your point, no. Best guard in the NFL, Zack Martin imo. Some would argue Norwell, who if you follow this offseason was one of the top FAs. Bust potential with Nelson is lower than the rest of the top 10 prospects. Nelson, Barkley, Chubb cleanest prospects in this draft, followed by James, Vea, and Fitzpatrick. The QBs this year are late 1st grade types, wouldn’t be surprised if none pan out. Mark Sanchez and Joey Harrington type guys here.
Stop saying imo. It weakens your credibility. You are the writer, we know it’s your opinion.
Will say it again – Barkley is the pick if the Browns don’t snatch him with the first pick. If the Browns were smart, they’d be best served taking Barkley with the first pick and most likely get Rosen with the fourth pick. I’d assume the Giants would grab Chubb if that were the case and the Jets taking Darnold.
A good offensive line is a must for a good running game. Case closed.
Nelson is the closest thing to a HOF talent as anybody in this draft! According to some scouts, he is the best guard ever to come out of college.
You have no idea who will turn out to be a hall of famer. Even the guys who do this for a living aren’t foolish enough to make a claim like that.
They comp him to Larry Allen, the best OG to ever suit up
Hey, I was the best tackle once upon a time to come out of college.
– Tony Mandarich
Chance Warmack was the best guard to come out in years too.
You must not have watched Adrian Petterson running behind the Vikings’ 2015 offensive line, which had only two good players, at C and RG. Peterson was hit behind the line of scrimmage constantly – Norv Turner’s predictable “run, run, pass” play-calling didn’t help – but he was still able to eke out 4.5 yards per carry, nearly 15 hundred yards and 11 TD’s, lead the league in rushing, make a pro Bowl and be voted to his fourth first-team All-Pro team.
Yes, a good OL helps the running game a lot, but I had to bust your chops for closing the case a bit too firmly.
That’s a really stupid quote from a national scout.
You also need a good running back for a running game. Why would you pass up Barkley(cheat code) and also the safest pick in the draft, for a lineman who could be really good
HOF potential…There are 3 in this draft and none of them are QBs.
Yet 5-6 teams would kill to move into the top 3 and draft one of those QBs… So why not move down if you don’t believe any of the QBs are going to be good?
Bc now they get paid half what Sam Bradford was paid. Makes that risk less costly, draft capital and cap wise.
What everyone seems to ignore come draft time is that the draft is more than one round – and that good players can be found throughout the draft. It’s not about needing a guard or needing a RB. It’s about which player has the best chance to make an impact. That’s why you don’t see guards go in the top 10. They don’t make an impact. You want a guard? Get them in rounds 2-4.
Which is the why the Giants should should trade down and accumulate more picks. I’m also hoping the 49ers dangle the no. 9 for Beckham. The more picks the better, something the Giants never have. They have a lot of holes to fill and this would be the best solution. Can get a solid guard, tackle, DL/OLB, RB, and CB in rounds 1-4. Especially if they have 6 or 7 picks to work with.
@Persky…I concur…THEY MUST TRADE THE PICK!
If they trade down, the only possible trading partner would be Denver. They cannot trade out of the top 7.
A trade down with CLE would be best case scenario: extra 2nd or two, still can take Nelson, then grab Guice at the top of the 2nd or with a trade into the late 1st. Top Guard helps both Eli and a future QB AND helps new RB perform. #1 G + #2 RB would be more impactful than The #2 RB and maybe the #3-4 G or #2 OT in a weak draft for tackles. I think there is more likely to be a run on Guards based upon draft chatter than on RBs in round one.
The really great linemen result in a lack of impact – less times your QB impacts the turf and less times a DT/LB impacts your inside running game.
If that were the case it wouldn’t cost so many picks to trade up one spot.
Well, of the last 10 guards to make the Hall of Fame, seven were selected in the first round, one in the second, two in the third and none lower (did I miss a free agent, anyone?), and a John Hannah or a Randall McDaniel can have a bigger impact over the course of their career than a Tony Eason or a Christian Ponder, if not a Jim Plunkett or a Tommy Kramer. If someone thinks Nelson is closer to Hannah than they think one of these QB’s is to, say, Ryan Tannenhill, than I’d say give Nelson a shot. If they think they can get a Cam Newton or Mat Ryan out of one of the QB’s, then go for the QB. But I’ve become very wary of hard and fast rules like only looking for a guard outside the first round, especially when the center/guard class is looking as good as it’s looked in decades.
Cleveland taking Rb Barkley at 1 would make any qb they pick at 4 that much better? IMO , YES
No way they pass on a QB at 1
You don’t win Super Bowls with great runningbacks. You win Super Bowls with a good to great quarterback and a great defense. If Darnold is there at #2 they should take him, if not then they should take Chubb.
Buffalo is dying to move into number 2 and give up a slew of picks. YOU will get a solid player at 4 and a ton of more players with the extra picks. None of the 6 QB’s going in the top are SURE things. Take the extra picks and take a flyer on a QB but I would take the top OL at 4, draft a RB at some point-deep draft at RB and build your team. You will end up top 5 again next year then grab a QB! Trade out of 2, drafts like this come along once in a lifetime where there is a team willing to traded so many top draft choices for a QB! Don’t be dumb!!
I think it’s sir best move to make. Giants can probably get from Buffalo the 12, 22, one of their 2nd rounders, and next years 1 or 2. Especially since the jets had to give up/swap their first round, plus three 2nd rounders just to move up 3 spots. Buffalo to move up 10 spots it should be that costly. The only negative for the Giants by trading down is they miss out on Chubb, Nelson, Barkley. Aside from the top 4 QB’s.
Probably 12, 22, 53 or 56, and 65 would add up via JJ calculator for 2. They could then swap 12 and 53 for 6 or 7. If the Broncos go QB, Colts go Chubb, I could see the Bucs trading back and the Giants could leapfrog the Bears to get Nelson.
That’s interesting. A lot of movement there but certainly doable.
Dkaner are you talking about the Giants or Cleveland? If the grade with Buffalo they will not have the number 4 pick. Buffalo has 12, 22 and two rounders.
*trade with Buffalo. Buffalo has 12,22 and Two 2nd rounders. Cleveland has the 4 pick.