Big Blue faces a franchise-changing decision this upcoming April.
The New York Giants hold their highest draft selection since 1981. The last time the G-Men held a top five pick, they acquired Eli Manning through a trade with the San Diego Chargers.
Multiple draft analysts have projected Big Blue to take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick. Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, and Josh Allen seem to be the top quarterback prospects destined for the Big Apple, but should Baker Mayfield be on the Giants’ radar?
Oklahoma’s Heisman Trophy winner torched the Big 12 in 2017, surpassing his own single-season FBS passer efficiency record. The two-time walk-on led the Sooners to three consecutive conference championships and two College Football Playoff berths.
At 6-foot-1, 220-pounds, Mayfield lacks the ideal height and size NFL teams look for in a franchise quarterback. He has drawn comparisons with Russell Wilson, Johnny Manziel, Drew Brees, and Doug Flutie.
Through three seasons in Norman, Mayfield completed 69.8 percent of his passes for 12,292 yards and threw 119 touchdowns to 21 interceptions. Pro Football Focus lists him as the top quarterback prospect in this year’s draft class.
Could Mayfield Excel Under Shurmur?
Darnold and Rosen may be the safer picks. Allen has a cannon and checks all the physical boxes. But that doesn’t mean Mayfield wouldn’t excel in Pat Shurmur’s offense.
New York Giants
The New York Giants new head coach has a history of developing and producing results with quarterbacks. Case Keenum is the latest example.
The Vikings 6-foot-1, 215-pound quarterback posted multiple career-highs under Shurmur in his first season in Minnesota.
Mayfield and Keenum are not only similar in size. They both put up astronomical numbers in college. Keenum led Houston to a 13-1 record in his senior year but still went undrafted.
That won’t happen for Mayfield. Playing in a Power Five conference and his performances against Ohio State, Oklahoma State, TCU, and West Virginia make him worthy of a first-round selection.
Even in a loss against Georgia’s sixth ranked defense, Mayfield still completed 23-of-35 passes for 287 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Shumur could play to Mayfield’s strengths in his accuracy and mobility. NFL Network draft analyst Bucky Brooks believes Big Blue could make a strong fit given New York’s “catch-and-run specialists,” Odell Beckham Jr, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram.
Mayfield has more upside potential than Keenum at the next level, and could very well thrive in Shurmur’s offense.
Would Big Blue Use No. 2 Pick On Mayfield?
The Giants could use the No. 2 overall pick on the Oklahoma quarterback, but it seems highly unlikely.
First general manager Dave Gettleman would have to sign off on him. It will be interesting to see if New York’s first-year G.M. meets with the Heisman winner this week at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Second, the No. 2 overall pick is likely too high a price for a quarterback with multiple question marks. Wilson didn’t get selected till the third-round of the 2012 draft. Brees was the 32nd overall pick in 2001.
But it’s not as though the other quarterbacks in this year’s class don’t have their flaws. Allen’s 56.2 percent career completion percentage, Darnold’s turnovers, and Rosen’s leadership and coach-ability qualities will all be put under a microscope.
Darnold and Rosen are arguably the safer choices, but Gettleman notes there’s still plenty of evaluation to be done, via Newsday.
"“One of the biggest adjustments these guys make is the mental part of the game. A lot of them come from systems that are fairly simple and they’re not asked to do a lot, so we have basically a football interview. We have film and they talk us through everything. We’re trying to find out how much football they know, which is really important.”"
Mayfield undoubtedly has a passion for the game. He could excel in Shurmur’s offense. But given New York’s recent draft history, could the Giants afford the risk of taking a quarterback who doesn’t check all their boxes?
Only Gettleman and Shurmur can decide that.