As Round 1 looms in six days, Saquon Barkley has surged to the center of the Giants’ radar screen. While that interest is real, per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv, this shouldn’t be viewed as a surefire pick.
There are some at Giants headquarters who think passing on a possible franchise quarterback “would be nuts,” per Vacchiano, who adds Sam Darnold likely remains the quarterback Big Blue would target (if he’s available). The Giants do not appear to be interested in Baker Mayfield or Josh Allen, and Vacchiano adds the team doesn’t seem to be as sure about this quarterback class as the one 14 years ago that produced their current starter.
Josh Rosen‘s stock may have taken a slight hit compared to where he was at the end of his final UCLA season, but one source informed Vacchiano he should not be ruled out of a New York selection. He was believed by some to be the favorite here early in the pre-draft process. A report earlier this month indicated the Giants were down on Rosen, but we are in peak smokescreen time.
Barkley is likely the No. 1 player on the Giants’ board, Vacchiano notes, adding that the team appears to prefer him to Bradley Chubb and may just view the Penn State sensation as an too much of a talent to pass up, regardless of positional value. ESPN’s Todd McShay has heard immense Barkley praise coming out of New York lately, and PFR readers’ early consensus is Barkley will be Big Apple-bound.
While the Giants are high on Chubb and Quenton Nelson, Vacchiano writes these two are likelier fits if they trade down, pointing to the Notre Dame guard in particular in a trade-down scenario. Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reported Nelson was a top-three player on New York’s board and a target if the team trades down. If the Giants were to move down and target Chubb, they probably wouldn’t be able to drop too far. Any trade-down move, though, may be less likely than the franchise just picking its preferred prospect.
“Why would we (trade down) and pass on either the best quarterback or best player on our board?” one Giants source told Vacchiano.
This is the highest pick the Giants have held since 1981, when they landed Lawrence Taylor, and Dave Gettleman has repeatedly said he would like a “gold jacket” player with his first pick as GM.
If the giants aren’t gonna take a franchise qb, then trade down. Get buffalo on the phone and take their first 3 picks.
Gotta make the move and take Barkley. He is the highest graded RB coming out of college since Adrian Peterson(higher then Gurley and Zeke) Barkley has speed, power, can block like a FB and is a great receiver(great hands and route running) he is the only cant miss player in the draft
He’s their pick. If the Browns change their mind and take him first, Darnold is the pick or a trade down.
Barkley at 2 would be the dumbest pick of the draft…
1- You guys comp him to Zeke and Fournette but you ignore that neither of those guys have been the most productive backs in their own draft class. There will be another Rb in this draft who is as good – or better – than Barkley.
2- The Giants weren’t bad last year because of injuries. They had a few, sure, but their issues were more talent related. This isn’t a Cowboys situation where they had a ready made system. Or even a Jags team that had a ready made defense and just needed someone that could help them move the ball. This is a bad, aging team that’s probably one year away from losing its best player.
3- A 2-14 team with a 39-year old QB that happens to play in the same division as the defending SB Champs shouldn’t be looking to fill a need for the next season. They should be looking for a guy who provides the most long term answer. That’s usually a QB, an OL, or a DL. It’s never a RB.
4- the NFL is a QB starved league. There are four top-5 picks at the position this year. Even if you don’t evaluate one of those guys to be a true franchise QB, your job is to find the team that does think there’s a franchise QB available – and make them overpay to acquire him.
TL/DR. The Giants are a bad team that should be starting a rebuild. You don’t start a rebuild in 2018 with a RB. You do it with a stud Ol, a stud DL, or a potential franchise QB. And if you don’t think one is available, you trade down and collect a kings ransom for it.
Sorry, but your argument isn’t convincing, nor your statement that Eli is 39…he just turned 37 in January. And who is better than Zeke from that draft class?
Zeke is the best RB from his class. If it weren’t for the ridiculous suspension he would’ve led the league in rushing both years
I kind of agree. But they won’t have a chance again to get Eli’s successor. While I think taking Barkley or even Chubs is the right move, I think they have to take a QB for the sake of the future
But there’s no slam dunk with any of those QB’s – none of them separate themselves from one another. Barkley is the closest to a sure thing. The Giants have the receivers, they have a proven QB with 2-3 years left, and they’d have a RB. Improve that o-line and you have a nice offense.
Cleveland should take Barkey at 1, then a Qb that’s left at 4.
That’s the smartest move.
Which probably means it won’t happen
No it’s not. They need to take their pick at QB at 1 overall. They have Hyde and Duke there now with 3 second round picks. Several RBs taken in later rounds are highly productive including Le’Veon Bell, Kareem Hunt, Ajayi, Jamal Charles, and I could go on.
Sure it is.
Hyde and Duke are now trade chips, for draft picks. I’m not saying they can’t be productive outside of the top 5, but do you really think Cleveland can identify a RB in the 3rd or 5th round who can put up points? I don’t.
Agreed. If they believe in whoever drops to 4 enough
Saquon or Darnold. Whoever is available
What if they’re both available?
Hard one
I’d say its 70% Darnold, 20% Allen, 10% Barkley #1 overall. So IF Darnold is there yi ou take him. That’s Plan A. Plan A-1 is trade for Jordan Howard after you get Darnold. #2 = 2600 value in a trade so…
Plan B is 3-way deal with Broncos for #5, #22, #96 [2600:2596]
Plan C is 3-way deal with Bucs for #7, #22, #56 [2600:2620]
Plan D is take Barkley at #2.
Barkley, Chubb, and Nelson are all gone by 8 so no trading back to 12th.
Barkley sucks. People who want to draft him only see his highlights. But his production
at PSU wasnt any better then others backs in this draft. If the GM wants a HOF Nelson is the pick.
Please go check stats instead of making baseless claims. Its extremely simple to look up game logs and compare his stats to other RBs vs top 25 opponents. Fyi he destroys Guice’s stats.
Guice – 67 YPG 2 Total Rush TDs in 9 games vs ranked opponents. 4.49 40yd 15 reps 31.5 Vertical
Barkley – 104 YPG 16 Total Rush TDs in 15 games vs ranked opponents. 4.40 40yd 29 Reps 41 Vertical
If I were the Giants I would be looking to move down to Denver and pick up the 5 & another 2nd this year plus something next year maybe a 1st but more than likely another 2nd.
Then at 5 I would look to the Bills and snatch up both 1sts this year and another 1st next year. With the 12 & 21 picks I would now be in position to draft the best player available.
With the new regime the Giants have a lot of holes to fill. The defense is switching to a 3-4 and they need players to fit that system and the o-line is a mess.
Plus it will give the QB guru Shurmur a year to work with the young QB behind Eli to see what he really has and the draft capital next year to be able to make moves to get a QB the may like.
If the Giants want to get this right all they have to do is find out who Hillary Clinton would choose…then pick the other guy.
Lock her up amirite
Nah, that would mean you end up with a criminal.