Big Blue Huddle

A bit less than New England got for Jones and Chicago got for Fields. If you get it wrong at QB (particularly if you give up assets to trade up for one) then you pay a severe price.

Given that the hit rate in R1 is c. 50% on QB and certainly no better when trading up for one this is the nightmare scenario that we could face this year. Is the worst case outcome worse than more Jones? That is the opinion divider!

No matter what Schoen does/does not do we will need a lot of luck on our side for once to get a good outcome.

They might well think the FA pick up Dante Miller can be the third down/gadget guy.

Brightwell seems pigeon-holed as the ST/sometimes short yardage guy.

Gray did nothing well (run, block, catch) as a rookie but might yet emerge as a viable #2 guy in the rotation behind Motor.

My gut is they will think the big risk/need is a reliable option to be a higher workload RB2 who can carry the load as RB1 if Singletary gets hurt.

Somebody like Allen, Estime (Ceri's beloved choice!) or Isaiah Davis might fit that bill on day 3.

William Joseph shocked me as I was just starting in my draft interest and he was one of my "no way" guys. The least surprising was Saquon as Gettleman might as well have had his name tattooed on his forehead he made it so obvious what he was doing. I was a big fan of AT so I was delighted when we took him.

Tucked away in the medical section of Albert Breer's long Monday Morning SI column today is the nugget that both Nabers and Thomas Jr have shoulder injuries flagged from the combine process that might see one, other or both need surgery after a season or two. It is the only place I have seen this so I thought it was worth flagging here.

Neal or Eluemunor is playing RT this year. I am almost certain we are not taking a T in either R1 or 2. I could possibly see a developmental swing T mid rounds though I think there are bigger needs/better values elsewhere in R3 & 4.

Of course you do. Address a key need, with a great chance to address another with pick 12 then get a player who can help with an extra R3 shot and also stockpile the ammunition to draft or trade for a QB in 2025. No-brainer.

First time round Wellman introduced elements of yoga and the non-martial arts (tai-chi specifically). I suspect his return will see shifts towards more flexibility, bodyweight, resistance and high intensity work to complement traditional lifting more in line with developing trends in other sports. It will be worth watching.

Quote from: MightyGiants on April 19, 2024, 12:06:09 PMIt's funny about Denver.  As an admittedly non-Denver fan, it would seem like the Broncos would be well served by sitting tight and drafting Bo Nix at 12.  He would seem to be the perfect QB for what Sean Payton likes to run.

I thought that as well but their beat guys (including Allbright who is wired in with them) all think Sean Payton is in deep man love with JJ McCarthy. Smoke season of course.

The top 3 were exactly as I expected them to be and precisely in line with my view. I am surprised some are surprised.

A completely dispassionate assessment is Minnesota will win any bidding war to trade up. It might be to 3 but Denver are said to be prepared to sell the farm to move up. I do not see Schoen getting into a bidding war so I have us as most likely to go WR at 6 but more likely to trade down than up. We will find out in 6.5 days!

We will know soon. The Giants need better players. That definitely starts at QB but it applies to pretty much every area of the team. It is not a one year fix. The argument is really about the order things get addressed.

I am coming round to our likeliest option being a trade back to late round 1 (Buffalo and 49ers both reportedly keen to come up into WR range) to add a day 2 pick this year and a R1 2025 pick. It would let us tackle an extra need this year and give us ammunition to go for QB1 or 2 from next year's shallower pool.

This makes sense to me because I think we get outbid in trade up discussions to get QB 3 or 4 in this year's supposedly bumper crop but I do expect us to at least try.

We do not have enough picks to fill all our holes so my priority this draft is emerging with at least two clear stars at positions of need and hoping we can raise the floor a little with the other picks. I would consider a moderate trade back in R1 for eg a proven starting corner and a high enough R1 pick to get another starter.

To me after 35+ years in business it is not either/or. Adaptability matters. Collaboration improves outcomes if it does not elevate consensus as a goal rather than a means to an end.

Many of the most successful CEOs are the most collaborative but are also not afraid to make big decisions and tough calls even if key team members disagree.

For all of Bellichick's dogma he was intensely collaborative with his staff (coaches and front office guys he had a role in recruiting/promoting) within the limits of the processes and structures he designed. In his later years he resisted owner/GM interference to the point he changed that power dynamic.

What we are seeing is billionaire owners and their more easily influenced generation of new, younger GMs trying to go back to the hierarchy Walsh nailed so eloquently. There is less tolerance for outspoken coaches who manage upwards aggressively and resist downward orders equally aggressively.

As so often the right answer is probably in the middle somewhere. Early Bill worked well with Kraft. Parcells and Coughlin worked well with their owners (some GM tension, particularly for TC early days). Andy Reid works really well with Brett Veach.

Quote from: MightyGiants on April 18, 2024, 01:28:02 PMNeil,

I think if the Giants do go QB in round one, it will be 2022 all over again.  The Giants will have Jones on yet another one year prove it situation.

If we take a QB in R1 Jones will have a year to earn himself a decent trade to a team where he will get a chance to compete because unless he either turns into peak Steve Young or takes a massive contract restructure and pay cut he is not here in 2025.

Actions speak louder than words. In free agency we added a guy who can start a few if needed but is not the threat that eg Russell Wilson would be. In a week we will see if we draft a QB R1. If so, DJ is on the way out. If not, DJ is the projected starter even if we take a QB day 2 or 3. We will rehash the same old arguments on here come what may'