New York Giants: Making the case for drafting Lamar Jackson
By Henry Buggy
Big Blue’s new general manager Dave Gettleman has some major decisions to make this offseason.
The New York Giants hold their highest draft selection since 1981 and their options for the No. 2 overall pick seem fairly clear. The G-Men can take the best player available, select a future franchise quarterback, or trade back for one of the top offensive linemen.
All three ideas have valid arguments. New York’s moves in free agency will also shape the front office’s draft strategy.
Of course, Gettleman could surprise everyone and select a dominant pass rusher like Bradley Chubb. But New York’s switch to defensive coordinator James Bettcher makes that selection seem unlikely, especially given the depth of edge defenders in this year’s class.
While all eyes will be on Big Blue’s highest draft selection in over three decades, Gettleman and New York’s front office know every pick will be important.
If for some reason the Giants don’t take a quarterback at No. 2, Lamar Jackson is definitely a second-round selection worthy of consideration.
The G-Men’s moves in free agency and their decision with the first-round pick will have a significant impact on what they do in the second-round. But adding Jackson to Big Blue’s quarterback room could be a blessing.
If the Giants don’t take a quarterback at No. 2, it likely means one of three things. They believe Eli Manning has at least two years left. They believe Davis Webb can be Manning’s successor. Or they don’t feel any quarterback in this year’s class is worthy of that high a selection.
Adding Jackson to New York’s roster would give the Giants another option to Webb. One that will need to time to develop behind Manning, but also a player that has huge upside potential.
So Much Raw Talent
Jackson became the youngest player to win the Heisman Trophy in 2016. The comparisons to Michael Vick are legitimate.
The former Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was the first to put the comparison out there, writing on Twitter that Jackson is five times better than he was at Virginia Tech during the Cardinals’ dominant 63-20 win over FSU.
Vick recently doubled down on the comparison when speaking with NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.
"“I could not believe what I had seen. I could not believe the things he was able to do — It was a spitting image of me. And the only thing that came to my mind was this kid is five times better than I was when I was at Virginia Tech, only because he was going against Florida State. I remember how difficult it was for me to make plays against Florida State. What effort had to be put into getting first downs, scoring touchdowns.”"
Despite throwing for 9,043 yards through three seasons and having a slightly better completion percentage than Josh Allen, some NFL evaluators believe Jackson will have to make a position change at the next level.
Former NFL general manager Bill Polian is one of them. And included in his reasons is that Jackson is too “short.”
Well if 6-foot-3 is too short to play quarterback in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Russell Wilson better hang it up.
Vick joined a long list of other players and NFL evaluators in defending Jackson.
"“He’s a quarterback. I’ve been hearing about things about him playing receiver, they’ll probably say he needs to play defensive back next. But listen, the kid is 6-3, 215 pounds. But for anybody to say Lamar Jackson is a receiver, I don’t think they understand the quarterback position. I don’t think they appreciate the value that could be [brought] from the quarterback position. If I was the GM, I would draft him. Whether it’s first round or fourth round, you look at all the quarterbacks coming out of the draft, they’re all projects. Nobody is guaranteed to do anything.”"
Former VP of Player Evaluation Loves Jackson
Big Blue’s former vice president of player evaluation Marc Ross loves the 21-year-old out of Florida, via the New York Post.
New York Giants
"“I love Lamar Jackson. He’s gotten better and better each year. He does sit in the pocket, he can read defenses, he’s very poised, he can deliver on time, the offense they run there, he takes a lot of shots downfield, he’s not running some dink-and-dunk system. He is such a dynamic athlete and runner one of a kind, besides Vick, he’s going to keep getting better as a passer.’’"
Giants fans may not want to hear advice from Ross given New York’s recent draft history. But that doesn’t mean Jackson isn’t worth keeping an eye on.
Big Blue’s Has Two QB Gurus
The best reason for selecting Jackson with the No. 34 overall pick is New York’s new coaching staff.
The Giants have two quarterback gurus in Pat Shurmur and Mike Shula that have proven track records of developing players at the position. David Garrard, Sam Bradford, Case Keenum, Nick Foles, and Cam Newton are just some of the quarterbacks the two have helped along the way.
With so much talent, Jackson could flourish learning from Shurmur and Shula. He will also see first-hand the preparation it takes to succeed in the NFL, learning behind a two-time Super Bowl MVP.
Selecting Jackson at the top of the second-round would allow Big Blue the ability to add an instant impact player with the No. 2 overall pick or trade back for one of the top offensive linemen. It would also bring competition to New York’s quarterback room, giving both Jackson and Webb plenty to strive for as Manning’s potential successor.
Of course, Jackson may not make it the top of the second-round. NFL Network’s Charles Davis and Brooks both have the Heisman winner going to the Jacksonville Jaguars at the end of round one, but Jeremiah and Charley Casserly both have him falling to the second-round.
The biggest concern in taking Jackson is his frame, not his height. He will have to adjust his playing style at the next level. Linebackers are faster and defensive backs are only stronger in the NFL. He cannot afford to be careless with taking hits, or he could find himself on the same path as fellow Heisman winner Robert Griffin III.
Both Shula and Shurmur can help Jackson in that aspect. Shula has plenty of experience trying to teach quarterbacks to avoid hits, spending seven years coaching Newton.
A line is being drawn between those that think Jackson can play quarterback at the next level and those that think he can’t. Only time will tell if he can succeed.
But with so much pure talent and New York’s new coaching staff, a case can surely be made for Big Blue to draft Louisville’s electrifying young quarterback.