NFL Mock Draft: How Jets’ Sam Darnold trade impacts NY Giants at No. 11
The NY Giants could benefit from the Jets-Panthers Sam Darnold blockbuster trade during the NFL Draft
The Jets finally pulled the ripcord Monday, trading quarterback Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers, assuring that a quarterback will be chosen with each of the first three picks in the NFL Draft later this month, which will certainly impact the NY Giants with the No. 11 overall selection.
Darnold saw a limited market, as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported shortly after the deal was consummated that Carolina was the only suitor for the No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
For the NY Giants, Monday’s trade — along with the blockbuster deals two weeks ago that vaulted the San Francisco 49ers to the No. 3 overall pick — mean one more premier position player could slide down a spot closer to their reach.
Here’s a look at how Monday’s Darnold trade could shape the first 11 choices in the NFL Draft, including the NY Giants’ pick:
1) Jacksonville Jagurs: Trevor Lawrence – QB, Clemson
No surprise here. Urban Meyer drops a potential franchise quarterback into a roster that has been largely transformed during free agency.
2) New York Jets: Zach Wilson – QB, BYU
The Jets sent GM Joe Douglas, head coach Robert Saleh, and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to Wilson’s pro day. It would be a shock if he isn’t the next to audition for the role of New York’s franchise QB.
3) San Francisco 49ers: Justin Fields – QB, Ohio State
Fields’ pro day was impressive, and eased some concerns that evaluators inside the league might have had. John Lynch bet his job, and the 49ers’ future, on landing a franchise QB with the No. 3 overall pick. He better be right.
4) Atlanta Falcons: Ja’Marr Chase – WR, LSU
The most gifted wide receiver in this year’s class lands in an offense alongside future Hall of Famer Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Quite the trio for QB Matt Ryan to try to challenge the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers in the NFC South.
5) Cincinnati Bengals: Kyle Pitts – TE, Florida
The Bengals add a dynamic pass-catching talent with the ability to create mismatches in-line as a tight end, from the slot, or out wide to quarterback Joe Burrow’s arsenal.
6) Miami Dolphins: Penai Sewell – OT, Orgon
By trading back from the No. 3 overall pick, the Dolphins took themselves out of the quarterback sweepstakes, making a tacit commitment to Tua Tagovailoa in the process. After signing Will Fuller in free agency to give Tagovailoa a game-altering weapon, the Dolphins invest in protecting him with the premier offensive tackle in this year’s class.
7) Detroit Lions: DeVonta Smith – WR, Alabama
Detroit replaces Kenny Golladay with Alabama’s Heisman Trophy winning pass-catcher, who produced 1,856 receiving yards and caught 23 touchdowns last season.
8) Carolina Panthers: Jaylen Waddle – WR, Alabama
Carolina has who they believe can be their franchise quarterback, and now must build around him. Following the Chiefs/Bills blueprint of surrounding a young passer with elite weapons, Carolina adds Waddle to an offense that already includes RB Christian McCaffrey, and wide receivers D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson.
9) Denver Broncos: Micah Parsons – LB, Penn State
Watch for Trey Lance here, which would obviously help the NY Giants. However, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur was a believer in Drew Lock in the 2019 NFL Draft, so that could sway the Broncos to add arguably the premier defensive player in this year’s class in Parsons, a dominant and versatile linebacker capable of making players up the middle or off the edge.
10) Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Farley – CB, Virginia Tech
The Cowboys are in desperate need of secondary help, and add the premier cornerback in this year’s class.
11) NY Giants: Rashawn Slater – OT, Northwestern
After signing Golladay, John Ross, and tight end Kyle Rudolph to pair with a returning and healthy Saquon Barkley, the Giants move from adding to quarterback Daniel Jones’ collection of skill players to bolstering the offensive line in front of him. Slater is a mauler, who is more than capable in pass-protection after allowing zero sacks and just four hurries in 11 games in 2019.
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Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.