How the Jets – Colts trade affects the New York Giants
By Curt Macysyn
In the topsy-turvy world of the NFL, how does the New York Jets trade with the Indianapolis Colts affect the New York Giants?
Gang Green acquired the 2018 No. 3 pick from Indy for its No. 6 pick and three second-round selections, two this year and one next year. If you say at No. 3 the Jets pick has no impact on the G-Men, you’re incorrect. The Jets are now firmly positioned to take a franchise quarterback. In fact. the only given of this draft remains that the Jets will draft a quarterback.
It remains to be seen whether that guy is Josh Rosen (UCLA), Sam Darnold (USC) or Josh Allen (Wyoming). If I were general manager Mike Maccagnan, I would be perfectly satisfied with Allen on my roster, if it comes to that. It also removes the Jets from having to “settle” for Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma).
Can we get four quarterbacks drafted in the top 10?
That certainly seems likely, given the fact that quarterbacks may be selected at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3. Remember, with the Jets holding the third pick, the Cleveland Browns absolutely must grab a QB with the No. 1 selection.
Whether valid or not, it seemed that the Browns were playing footsie with running back Saquon Barkley. In that respect, this trade helps the New York Giants. If Barkley is truly the Giants dream pick, then he’s as good as drafted by Big Blue. Conversely, if general manager Dave Gettleman has other thoughts, then the No. 2 pick can become a valuable trade chip.
The lone remaining team on the quarterback bubble continues to be the Buffalo Bills.
New York Giants
Continued Maneuvering
It’s interesting that teams maybe following the lead of the Chicago Bears (really the Seattle Seahawks) by doubling-down on the quarterback position. As you recall, the Bears grabbed Mitchell Trubisky last year, even after signing Mike Glennon away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This year, the Denver Broncos could still emerge in these quarterback sweepstakes – even though they signed Case Keenum as a free agent.
It’s called hedging your bet.
With the Jets – Colts trade locking in Cleveland taking a quarterback at No. 1, the trade also hurts the Giants. Unless someone has targeted a specific quarterback at No. 2, this pick seemingly has less suitors.
Now that can all change if, for example, Cleveland eschews Darnold, but the Bills absolutely love him. That won’t be determined until draft day.
Considering the Bills as a potential trade partner, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post considered a trade:
"“To drop from No. 2 to No. 12, the Giants should get 1,400 points of value. That could be accomplished if the Bills send their second first-round pick (22nd overall, worth 780 points) and their two second-round picks (53rd overall, worth 370 points, and 56th overall, worth 340 points) to the Giants. That adds up to 1,490 points and represents fair value. The Bills most likely would stipulate one of the second-round picks would be in 2019.”"
Consider this, the New York Giants drafted left tackle Ereck Flowers at No. 9 and cornerback Eli Apple at No. 10. Neither player has proven himself close top worthy. Some of the blame can be shifted to Jerry Reese’s magic draft board. But also keep in mind that high-level draft talent also levels out at a point every year.
Seriously considering a drop from No. 2 to anything past No. 6 becomes risky business.
Top Guns
Here are the top 7 picks in no precise order;
- Sam Darnold – QB (USC)
- Saquon Barkley – RB (Penn State)
- Josh Allen – QB (Wyoming)
- Josh Rosen – QB (UCLA)
- Quenton Nelson – G (Notre Dame)
- Bradley Chubb – Edge (N.C. State)
- Minkah Fitzpatrick – DB (Alabama)
The last thing the Giants need is to be holding the bag at No. 7 and have to select Fitzpatrick.
Remember also that Reese used to claim that he selected the best available player. Now, that claim is hard to believe with his selections of Apple and Flowers. But for argument sake, let’s have the Giants keep No. 2 and use that theory though.
Then Gettleman has to likely decide among Allen, Barkley or Nelson. When you peel apart the onion that way, it seem like keeping the pick and selecting Nelson becomes the preferred move.
Stay tuned – it’s sure to change.