Big Blue Huddle

With only 3 CBs and 1 DT drafted on Thursday night, it shapes up well for the Giants to start Day 2.

If the Giants DO actually want a Guard as an upgrade to what they have, all of them are still on the board, as are all the Safties. That was expected though. There isn't much separation between the top 3 guards, so one of them will probably be there at #47 if they want one.

With the money the Giants have tied up in edge rushers it might be difficult to sign Ojulari after this season. With five guys on the last year of their deal at LB they may go for some depth at Edge/OLB. CB has a similar problem.

For me, getting good CBs and DTs late in the draft rarely happens. McKinstry and DeJean could be the first two picks of Round 2. My preference would be CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri or DT Braden Fiske, Florida State in the 2nd, and hope the Guards keep falling and you can pick op a quality one in the 3rd Round.

By position, the value going into Round 2 remains at WR followed by CB and DT.

I've always liked Slayton because he seems to outplay his ability every season. But the fact that the Giants have not been able to upgrade the position over the last 4 years has made him valuable to the Giants. He'll show up. He'll compete. He will stay healthy or play hurt. He'll be ready when his number is called. I wish we had more wide receivers like that. Maybe now we do. We'll see.

Let's have some fun with this. Assuming they do not trade out of #6, what would be your,

Perfect Pick -

Surprise pick you wouldn't mind -

Dear God, no! -

For me,

Perfect Pick - Odunze/Nabors/Harrison. i.e. - the best WR available

Surprise pick you wouldn't mind - Brock Bowers. A receiver that will make everyone forget about Darran Waller pretty quick.

Dear God. No! - J.J. McCarthy. It simply makes no sense and I'm just not ready for another reset.

I can't help but think of all the guys who never got much of a chance to show their stuff before the portal because they stayed at their school and "waited their turn" like a good soldier. They must be sitting at home thinking, "If only....". 

They have 39 players on a one-year deal or whose contracts end after this season, including 5 LBs and CBs and 4 DEs. The backfield is wide open and if Waller retires so is the TE position. Other than Offensive line where they have 8 guys signed through 2025, they need upgrades for 2024 and bodies for 2025 everywhere. I can't see them packaging picks to move up. To the contrary, I see them trading down and adding picks if they can find a trading partner, or at a minimum staying put and taking best player available over and over again every round. 

They are actually in a good spot. I don't believe they are desperate for anything and for the first time I think they are happy with what they have at O-Line and D-Line. They have starters and experienced backups at every spot in the trenches. They just need to upgrade where they can.

I have no expectations for this draft.

Quote from: Jclayton92 on April 23, 2024, 03:27:11 PMBut why? We have holes everywhere, if we've solved the line, let's solve another problem.

Because its the Giants. Recent history says 4 of these 5 guys will be hurt by October.

I mentioned in another topic how frustrated I was with the Mathias Kiwanuka pick. They already had one of the best defensive lines in football and immediately announced they would be moving Kiwanuka to linebacker. He was a decent player but never had a chance to live up to expectations as a first round difference maker.

I guess it is true. You can never have too many pass rushers. 

The news media for months said the Giants wanted Carl Banks to play opposite from LT. Everyone got that one right.

Honorable mention, I was screaming for the Giants to take Lorenzo Carter in the 2nd round. They took WIll Hernandez in the 2nd and Carter in the 3rd. I'm still try to work out if I got that one right or wrong.

Quote from: TDToomer on April 22, 2024, 10:47:50 AMBB said he was the only rookie he coached that was NFL ready on day 1, not of all time. Barry Sanders held out of training camp as a rookie and had 80 yards or so with almost no practice in his first game.

Barry Sanders' final (Junior) year remains for me one of the most underappreciated performances in college football history. I don't know if he was ready Day one for the NFL. I only know the NFL wasn't ready Day 1 for him.

I'll give you a Day 3 list.

CB - Jarius Moore, CB, Tulane (5th Round)

RB - Dillon Johnson, RB, Washington - the thumper they are missing on short yardage and goal line who can help on Special Teams (6th). Blake Watson at Memphis is another who has all the tools. RBs from Memphis have performed very well at the next level historically.

TE - Tanner McLachlan, TE, Arizona - the Giants have a good group of blockers but their receiving TEs could be upgraded with Waller in limbo. I like McLauchlan a lot. (5th/6th Round)

DT - Jaden Crumedy, DT, Mississippi State. A DT/DE tweener who has the frame to add weight. Quick off the ball and was productive in college. Again, Special Teams help also as an interior rusher on kicks where he has had some success. (6th/7th Round)
 

Quote from: Painter on April 15, 2024, 03:19:12 PMIf ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have Merry Christmas- Don Meredeth.

What say you, Howard?

Cheers!

I'd say the reason the Cubs took so long to win a World Series is because as soon as they realized they had a player who had remarkable talent, they traded him for three guys who didn't.

I certainly don't think it is a "crap shoot" or a "random dart".

For me the one underrated, underappreciated, and undervalued trait is that guys who win in college regardless of who is around them more often than not will win in the pros. Guys like Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Drew Brees, Kirk Cousins, and Brock Purdy don't have the prototypical skill set, but they figure it out. The guys that rocket to the top of draft boards after their Senior year as a shiny new plaything for NFL GMs to consider often.....very often....don't pan out despite being given every opportunity to do so. Dan Marino was a sure fire top 5 pick entering his senior season at Pitt, but with a coaching change and more interceptions than he had thrown in the past, GMs changed their minds his final year in college. That was true of Josh Allen as well, although he didn't slip near as far. Guys who can lead can lead. Take one of them. If you question their leadership, and the willingness of the team to follow them, pass.

Quote from: Philosophers on April 15, 2024, 12:47:43 PMMy question Larry about those stats for Nabers is that he played slot 50% of thr time.  How much production of his came from the slot vs X vs Z?  My gut tells me his slot production is disproportionately higher compared to X or Z.  If true, i think he is less of a fit given Robinson on the team.

I think his ability to line up anywhere is one of his strengths. Wan'Dale took a lot of snaps out wide at Kentucky. With Nabers, they can move everyone around and keep Defenses guessing. And if Waller decides to play in 2024 and can maintain his heath through the season......what's up with that anyway? Is Waller retiring or not?

Quote from: kartanoman on April 13, 2024, 11:30:32 PMWhat are the chances that Schoen already has pick swapping scenario contingency agreements in place with those two teams and, perhaps, a few others?

I would think he does.

Despite the #6 pick, the Giants are not picking where they can historically get a top QB. They are picking in a spot where you can historically get the Best CB, Best Edge rusher/DE, or Best DT. This year you can add Best OT to that list, which is rare. The best one typically goes with one of the top 5 picks. Sixth overall is a bit high to look at other positions, but Best TE and Best WR in the draft are also an option this year.

I just don't like the idea of using the #6 overall pick on the 4th or 5th best QB in the draft. If they take a QB at #6, that is almost certainly what they will be doing.

As for the later Rounds, there is a 2nd round or later WR Pro-Bowler in almost EVERY draft. 

Do the Giants trade down? Minnesota can trade their first and second for the Giants first and second and it works out pretty even. Since nobody trades for an even swap, the Giants will likely want something extra if there is a QB there they do not want and players they do, that they can get at #11.

Oakland seems to be interested in Jayden Daniels only. If he is still there at #6 (unlikely, but possible) there may be a lot offered to the Giants to move down to #13.

I guess the real question is whether the Giants truly believe Daniel Jones is the guy or if they have been telling free agents that to convince the rest of the league they are not interested in a QB. Of course, if Jones doesn't work out, there is no promise that Daboll and Schoen still have their jobs in 2025 to use any extra draft picks they may acquire. They will want picks in 2024. The poker game continues. Two weeks before everyone shows their cards.

As always, the rule for a top 10 pick is not to screw it up. The draft for me starts on Day 2. If the Giants take a QB, I would rather see it after Round 1. Lots of flash and overvalued options in this year's draft at the top of the draft for QB. REAL value in the second and third rounds. Id' go for as many picks as I could get between 30 and 90.