Are New York Giants perfect draft trade partner for Bills?
By Henry Buggy
The 2018 NFL Draft is still more than two months away but the rumor mill remains in full swing this offseason.
The New York Giants hold their highest draft selection since 1981. General manager Dave Gettleman has said he plans to let free agency determine the team’s draft strategy but trading back from No. 2 overall is surely not out of the question.
The Buffalo Bills are reportedly trying to trade up to the top 10 of this year’s draft, leaving many to wonder if Gettleman would cut a deal with his former assistant general manager, Brandon Beane.
Optimum Scouting’s Eric Galko suggests that Big Blue could be a potential trade partner for the Bills with their eyes on Josh Rosen, via WGR 550.
"“They have aggressively scouting quarterbacks all year long. I think Josh Rosen is the apple of their eye. It’ll be hard to go up and get him, but I think the tie between Buffalo and Giants GM David Gettleman kind of paints a picture of where they both might be thinking to go.”"
Giants The Perfect Trade Partner?
Gettleman and Shurmur must first decide whether they want to draft a quarterback or select running back Saquon Barkley. They both have said they are committed to Eli Manning, but for how long is anyone’s guess.
New York Giants
If the answer to both those questions is no, then the Giants might be the perfect trade partner for Buffalo.
The G-Men have multiple needs this offseason. Offensive line is the top priority. But a trade with Buffalo could potentially fill multiple holes, allowing Big Blue to compete for an NFC East title in 2018.
The Giants could potentially trade the No. 2 overall pick to the Bills in exchange for Buffalo’s No. 21 and No. 22 picks, a 2019 second-round selection, and left tackle Cordy Glenn.
Free agency will determine New York’s top priorities heading into draft season, but landing a proven left tackle and two first-round selections is surely tempting. Not to mention, a 2019 second-round pick could be more appealing with a rookie quarterback potentially starting in Buffalo.
Cordy Glenn Worth The Risk?
Glenn’s health would likely be a determining factor in the trade, as the 28-year-old is coming off a season-ending foot injury. The Bills 2012 second-round pick has not completed a full 16-game slate since 2015, but when healthy he’s considered a top 15 tackle.
Glenn is due $9.25 million in base salary in 2018 and there’s an opt-out clause in contract after next season, according to Spotrac. With few tackle options in free agency, Glenn would provide New York a starting left tackle at a much cheaper rate than top tackle free agent Nate Solder.
New York’s front office would likely only pull the trigger on this trade if they believe this team can compete for a Lombardi Trophy in the next couple of seasons.
Gettleman has said he doesn’t believe Manning’s performance against Philadelphia in Week 15 was a mirage. Going from worst-to-first wouldn’t be a shocker in the NFC East. The Eagles division title in 2017 marked the third consecutive year a team had gone from worst-to-first in the East.
Adding Glenn at left tackle would immediately improve New York’s offensive line. Gettleman could also look to still sign another lineman in free agency. The Giants may not be able to afford Andrew Norwell along with Glenn, but Justin Pugh or Weston Richburg could potentially come at a cheaper rate.
Endless Draft Options
Big Blue could also add two immediate impact players in the first-round of the draft. Depending on New York’s moves in free agency, the Giants could look to target one of the top tackles, guards, centers, or linebackers in the nation.
Selecting an offensive tackle like Orlando Brown, Mike McGlinchey, or Connor Williams at No. 21 could give Big Blue some security at left tackle and a potential starting right tackle for Week 1.
If Gettleman feels comfortable at tackle after the trade, selecting Billy Price, James Daniels, or Will Hernandez could make sense, especially if the Giants need to replace either Richburg or Pugh.
The draft’s top offensive lineman Quenton Nelson and Barkley will likely be long gone by pick No. 21, but the G-Men will still have plenty of immediate impact players to choose from.
Outside of the offensive line, linebackers Roquan Smith and Rashaan Evans could be potential options. The Giants could also look to add some youth to their pass rush with a player like Harold Landry, Arden Key, or Marcus Davenport.
And for those who feel Big Blue missed out on Barkley, LSU running back Derrius Guice could still easily be on the board. Pairing Guice with Wayne Gallman would undoubtedly give New York a dynamic one-two punch behind a revamped offensive line.
The G-Men will also still hold the No. 34 overall pick after the trade, giving them plenty of options at the start of the second-round.
Whether or not the Giants and Bills pull off the trade remains to be seen. But there are clearly benefits for both sides. The question is how healthy is Glenn and does Gettleman believe New York can afford to pass on one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft?