mastershake

Here's my final mock. This is more aspirational in terms of who I'd like drafted, not necessarily who they will draft. #5: OL Evan Neal (Alternate: OL Ekwonu) #7: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux (Alternate Edge/DE Travon Walker). #36: S Jaquan Brisker, Penn State #67: LB Christian Harris, Alabama #81: TE Charlie Kolar, Iowa State #112: OG Cole Strange, Chattanooga #147: RB Brian Robinson, Alabama #173: DT DJ Davidson, Arizona State #182: CB Marcus Jones, Houston

I'm still hoping for a scenario where we have Carolina competing with Atlanta and/or Seattle to move up to the #5 to take Willis. In that scenario, I think you take the #6 pick from Carolina plus 2nd or 3rd rounder (2022 or 2023). Essentially the Giants get an extra premium draft pick, and still get the player they prefer at #6 (assuming one of the three premium OL are available at 6). Alternatively, if two of the three premium OL are on the board at #5, a trade down with Atlanta at #8 should be considered, assuming they're moving up to take a QB. Again in the end, you still get a premium OL, this time at #7, and they'd likely have to give up a 2nd rounder to us to move up. Then pick Sauce Gardener or Trevon Walker or Thibs with the other pick.

Given the 2022 picks are late 1st and 2nd round, I would want that 2023 Packers pick to be a 1st rounder, in order for me to bite....not a 2nd rounder. Looking at draft value charts (which I know aren't exact and are only a guide) this scenario above would mean the Giants lose a little bit of value, unless the Packers have an abysmal season and that 2nd round pick is 33-38ish.

Yep, exactly. And most likely a rookie lineman as well, which will also be unpredictable. So the evaluation of DJ in 2022 was always going to be "Well, we don't know what DJ is because he never had a great supporting cast." Plus he'll likely get injured again anyway.

Right, I was thinking the same thing. Even if Jones and/or Barkley have a good year, we're not going to pay them.

I still don't get the logic of "We still need to see what we have in Daniel Jones this year." Coupled with "We won't have a good OL this year, so we're not going to have a good offense to support a QB." Kinda weird. What's weirder is trying to ditch Toney after only year 1, when we don't even know what he is, he's on a dirt cheap rookie contract, and might be the most talented offensive receiver on the field for the giants this season. Which is why we should have traded Barkley and traded/or cut Bradberry, and invested in the OL, and started the rebuild now. 2022 is going to be a year where Joe Schoen and Giants management, and a lot of bewildered Giant fans, learn that Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley are not the future of this franchise. I already know this. They apparently don't yet. They'll have to learn the hard way.

Another thing I don't get is Derek Stingley Jr. at CB being rated so high when he's played so few games the last two years. He was brilliant his Freshman year, but played only 10 games the last two years. He has a chance to be good, but some have him going as high as #7-8. I don't see it. Late 1st round maybe at best, but too much risk for a top 10. There's other CB's in this draft who are better, aside from Sauce.

Yes plus very streaky and disappears for whole games at times.

Also, I know he had a less than stellar year versus what was expected of him, but to me Sam Howell seems more NFL ready and plays with more of the anticipatory skill that Pickett currently lacks.

For me, it's Kenny Pickett. While he has a nice arm, mobility, and has made some nice plays, here's what I've observed: - He's slow out of the gates in nearly every game - If his initial/play read isn't there, he's slow to process and move through his progressions (though apparently this is common in young QBs). - Even for the planned play, many of his throws seem late. He seems to be the type who wants to see the receiver open before throwing, rather than playing with the anticipation needed (too much hesitation and indecision at times). - A lot of the nice plays I did see him make came when the OL gave him a lot of time (an unusually long amount of time) to work through his reads. I just don't see top 10 material. Granted, I'm not willing to write him off. He seems like a smart QB, with good traits, intangibles, etc. He could be good in a system that constantly puts him on the move and/or in a position to break the pocket and improvise, but I think he needs a lot of support and coaching before being a good NFL starter.

If we trade out of one of these top three OL, and come away with no OL in the first, it would be a travesty. I'd say only do this if you can get one of Neal, Ekwonu, or Cross, or possibly at least Trevor Penning who also looks like he could be a long time starter in the league. But again, I go back to my original point. Why bet on next year's QB class? There's no telling how good they will be vs this years, and you're in position now to take a QB (Willis, Pickett)...you might as well take them now. Next years QB Class (Stroud, Bryce Young) have their own question marks and aren't guarantees. We might as well start the QB clock now, if not a 1st then perhaps with a 2nd round pick (e.g. Howell, Ridder)

If we trade out of the first, and don't land one of these top 3 OL with either the #5 or the #7, that will be a huge failure. Honestly at the point where you're going to trade the #5 or #7, you're essentially admitting that you're betting on a QB for next year's draft (e.g. CJ Stroud or Bryce Young)...but why? We might as well draft Malik Willis this year at #5 if that's the plan, and then go OL with #7. Start the rebuild now. CJ Stroud and Bryce Young aren't necessary locks at the QB position and have question marks the same as any hyped up 1st round QB. Remember when the Media hyped up Spencer Rattler for this year's draft (he's not even in the draft now), or Tua, or Dwayne Haskins, or Sam Darnold. What makes Stroud and/or Young a better prospect than Willis now? And you're all but admitting you'd have to TRADE UP next year to get one of these two, while right now, you have the #5 and are already in position to get Willis now. Similarly, Josh Allen of the Bills had all sorts of the same question marks as Willis. Fuck it. Draft him. Start the rebuild now.

Linebackers are a really tough evaluation. Tough to project how they'll do in the pros based on what they did in college. In many ways, it's one of the more challenging positions on defense where you literally need to know how to do everything.

Ehh...being surrounded by talent...that can be said for a lot of these players in these big time programs like Alabama, Georgia, etc. If he came to the Giants, he'd have Lawrence and Williams in front of him, among others.

If it's a Blake Martinez type player, i.e. a solid, consistent starter and fixture on defense in this league, drafted in picks 15-32, sign me up as well. Also, I hate to compare anecdotally like this, but look at all the negative stuff people said about Tremaine Edmunds (drafted #16 in 2018), who turned out to be a pro bowler. Weaknesses Instincts are average and relies on athletic gifts Can be a step slow to diagnose Lured by misdirection Will take random downhill paths that trap him in the quagmire Patience is lacking Races ahead of plays and voids his leverage and run fits at times Needs to add more upper and lower body strength Average base strength and high center of gravity create issues holding up at the point of attack Needs to be quicker to punch in order to maintain clearance Mental busts in man coverage hurt his team Takes time to process moving pieces

Yeah Nakobe Dean might be the better of the two. Lloyd is sort of like Blake Martinez. He's not going to blow you away or make the pro bowl or anything, but will be a solid starting MLB in this league.

No joke, I had a dream last night that the Giants didn't draft an OL in the 1st round. I woke up really upset. I really have to get a hobby other than nerding out of the NFL draft, lol.

Honestly I'd be fine with either of these three OL we're talking about, and then any combination of either Sauce Gardner, Travon Walker, Thibadeaux, or Kyle Hamilton. Alternatively, rumor is the Saints may want to move up, so I'd take the #16 and #19 picks for the #7 and instead draft Tyler Linderbaum and the next best player available (maybe Nakobe Dean or Devin Lloyd).

Also lots of indications that Ewkonu might be less pro-ready than some other 1st round lineman, at least at tackle.

How is Cross a project? Everything I'm reading says he's one of the most technically sound. Maybe body type he's not ready?

I like it!

Could have cut him weeks ago to save $12M and re-invest it in one or two capable veteran OL.

https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/05/kansas-city-chiefs-2022-nfl-free-agency-new-york-giants-james-bradberry-reports-refuted/ Report: Chiefs are not interested in trade for Giants CB James Bradberry If true, the NY Media really blew it on this story.

Does that factor in draft picks? Some of the sites who compile the cap information factor in expected rookie contracts, which are standardized.

He's likely not even going to make the roster, so it's a moot point in terms of the cap.