Yawn! Bill Barnwell’s 5-point plan for New York Giants

If you follow the New York Giants closely, or any NFL team for that matter, late February becomes the most annoying part of the calendar.

The dead season between the Super Bowl and the NFL Combine is always short on real news, but heavy in rumor and speculation. Right now, the New York Giants are NFL “have-nots”, so they find themselves surrounded by a fair amount of speculation.

The real reason this time period becomes an annoyance comes from the simple fact that national sports reporters tend to hone in on the in’s and out’s of all 32 NFL teams. While I may disagree with New York Giants beat writers from time to time, at least these folks follow the franchise on a regular basis.

As far as the national folks, they are often long on rhetoric, but very short on context. It’s next to impossible to follow all 32 NFL teams closely enough to make comprehensive judgements. They choose to do so anyway.

Last week, ESPN staff writer Bill Barnwell went through his 5-point plan for all NFC teams. When the New York Giants number came around, his observation codified several already over-written story lines.

For example, Barnwell advocates franchise tagging safety Landon Collins. Chances are, unless you’ve been in Siberia since the end of the NFL season, you’ve heard this one before. Ditto with his debate about veteran quarterback Eli Manning.

Yes, we know that Collins is a soon-to-be unrestricted free agent, and the New York Giants are fast coming to the day of reckoning with Manning.

No news here.

Barnwell follows up with his “with the sixth pick” prediction of grabbing Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins, followed by the bizarre “sign Mike Iupati” and concluding with getting help at cornerback.

Where do we start?

Well, let’s go with cornerback.

The CB position actually isn’t as bad as advertised, with a couple of caveats involved. First, 2018 supplemental draft pick Sam Beal spent all of last season on injured reserve after shoulder surgery.

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While he didn’t play a game for Big Blue, he was able to transition into professional football. He’ll be counted upon to start across from veteran Janoris Jenkins.

Can Beal handle the rigors of the NFL?

No one can tell for certain, but he will be given every opportunity to do so. In my book, adding cornerback help falls behind pass rush, safety and linebacker at this point. That’s not to say that NFL teams can have too many productive cornerbacks, and undrafted free agent Grant Haley also factors into the depth conversation as well.

I would put the pass rush situation ahead of cornerback on the defensive priority list by a long shot.

About the quarterback position.

I can see the New York Giants drafting Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State) or Daniel Jones (Duke). I don’t see any other QB high on their draft board, unless I’m misreading things. That means no Kyler Murray (Oklahoma), and no Drew Lock (Missouri) taken on Day 1.

You’ll have to see my next column on quarterbacks to see who I can envision putting on the “NY” cap.

In the end, however, I see Manning coming back in 2019, and the team passing on quarterback in this draft to focus on defensive help. That’s as I write this in mid-February.

As far as Landon Collins, franchise tagging the former Alabama star maybe the taking the easy way out for the G-Men. Now, Barnwell opines that not many Jerry Reese draft picks remain dressed in Big Blue.

To that, I say “so what?”

There are other interesting options at safety in free agency, including Adrian Amos (Chicago Bears), and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Washington Redskins). I think that general manager Dave Gettleman will opt for one veteran (that includes Collins if it makes sense), and he will also draft help at free safety.

Anyone who follows the New York Giants closely knows the fine line Big Blue walks with regard to addressing the contract of the three-time former Pro Bowler. It’s not going to be a simple decision for the front office to make, and I’m glad (for once), I don’t have to make it.

As far a Iupati, it’s an incredibly bad idea by Barnwell. According to Pro Football Focus, the veteran guard played to a 62.9 grade last season on 477 snaps. He played only 70 snaps in 2017.

Signing an injury-prone older player, whose play appears in decline, doesn’t represent the best idea to move a franchise forward. Enough said.

But seeing an offensive line need, marry that with a familiar player, and the story writes itself. Not exactly what I would call an analysis.

Tune in for who I like in the 2019 NFL Draft, but in terms of the Barnwell article – nothing to see here.