There probably hasn't been an NFL team more in the spotlight as of late than the New York Giants. The trade of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns ahead of the NFL free agency period had social media buzzing. A strong majority felt that they received an underwhelming package in return, but we'll have to wait and see how it plays out with the added picks in the NFL Draft.
The fact that the Giants agreed to deal Beckham at all is the puzzling part. Just last August, Beckham and the Giants agreed on a new five-year deal. While general manager Dave Gettleman can argue in his defense that the return will prove to be a great one (we will see), it's not one that was necessary to make. Considering some of the moves that the team has made before and since the trade, one has to wonder what is the direction of the Giants?
Some are under the impression that they are attempting to rebuild. However, signing someone like Golden Tate doesn't do much to convince that argument. Neither are you giving that impression when you draft a running back with the number two overall pick instead of taking a future franchise quarterback.
Whatever the plan that Gettleman has, it seems to all be centered around a loyalty to Eli Manning. Gettleman was willing to trade Beckham and let Landon Collins walk, but he is unwilling to move on from a 38-year-old quarterback.
Yes, Eli has won the Giants two Super Bowls, but sooner than later, New York has to hand over the keys to someone else. Maybe they decide to find one in the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft. It's possible that we'll have a better understanding of what their plans are following the draft. They hold 12 picks, including two first-rounders, so opportunities to make moves will certainly be there.
Let's take a look at which directions they could go in order to land a quarterback and prevent their fanbase from going completely crazy.
4. Take a quarterback early in the 2019 NFL Draft
This seems simple enough. The Giants hold the number six and 17 overall picks next month. They could simply take one at either position or use them both in a trade package to move up and grab someone like Kyler Murray. Giants fans would probably prefer that the team simply take Dwayne Haskins at six if he remains available.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Giants have little interest in Haskins. Last week, ESPN's Dianna Russini reported that the Giants have expressed little interest in Haskins because of a lack of mobility. It makes little sense considering who their current starter is. It could be a ruse, however, to drive down Haskins' stock to ensure he is available at the six spot. After all, Gettleman did publicly state the Giants were not interested in trading Beckham.
We'll see how much interest in Haskins they really have when the draft approaches. As it stands, if New York is to use a first-round pick on a quarterback then it's likely to be with their second selection. At pick 17, the Giants could take someone like Daniel Jones, who draws a similar comparison to Manning. Admittedly, that was my first thought when the trade package for Beckham was announced.
Giants fans would be irate if the organization elects to take Jones in the first round.
3. Draft a quarterback in the mid-rounds
As previously stated, the Giants have 12 picks in upcoming NFL Draft. They very well could elect to draft a quarterback on day two or three of the draft. Although this is not a strong draft class of top-tier quarterbacks, there are a number of developmental projects that could be found in the mid-rounds.
The Giants may have the idea of taking one of them to develop under Eli for a year or two. Seven of the Giants' 12 picks will come in rounds 2-5. New York should have no issue finding a player they covet in this range.
2. Trade for Josh Rosen
Should the Giants trade for Josh Rosen, it would explain a lot and make a ton of sense from their perspective. This, of course, stems from the idea that the Arizona Cardinals are in fact ready to draft Kyler Murray number one overall.
If the Cardinals do indeed draft Murray, that would make Rosen expendable. Some believe that it would cost a high compensation pick such as a first-rounder to acquire Rosen, but that's not necessarily true. By drafting Murray, the Cardinals would essentially be admitting they made a mistake to draft Rosen last year. Additionally, it has been reported that the price for Rosen will likely be a 3rd-round pick.
Arizona moved up to the No. 10 overall position to get Rosen, but he was by far the least impressive of the five quarterbacks taken in the first round last year. It was not a good situation for Rosen, and he didn't have a lot of help, but the results still hold true.
Rosen is no longer worth a first-round pick, but he could be had for a second or third-rounder. He's still a young quarterback on a rookie deal, and maybe a change of scenery could turn things around for him. The Giants surely have the assets to acquire him should they choose.
1. Do Nothing / Wait for 2020
Another direction that the Giants could go in is to do nothing this year in regards to a quarterback and simply wait until 2020. They could simply ride with Eli like they have been and use their picks to build in the trenches for the anticipation of next year's NFL Draft class.
The 2020 class has already been pegged as a strong one for quarterbacks. Expected to be headlined by guys like Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, and Jake Fromm to name a few, the Giants may feel it's smarter to just wait until then.
Again, it goes back to giving the impression that the team is rebuilding, although some of their moves this offseason have contradicted that. Regardless, if the Giants plan is to go into this season with Manning as the starter as we anticipate, then we can't expect this team to be competitors in 2019.
The Giants have won just eight games in the last two years with Eli as the primary starter, and 3-5 wins can be the projection for them again. That would ensure them another top-5 pick and prime position to get their franchise quarterback in 2020.
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