I usually hate speculating on the draft before the Combine (let alone before the National Championship game and the end of the NFL Playoffs). A lot still has to play out, but let's for a moment ponder the line of teams in need of a quarterback that is forming behind the Giants in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Now, this is not a QB-heavy draft...
Last year, according to Walter Football, there were:
- 2 quarterbacks projected to go in the top-25;
- 2 quarterbacks projected to go in the rounds 1-2 range
- 1 quarterback projected to go in rounds 1-3
- 2 quarterbacks projected to go in rounds 2-3
- 2 quarterbacks projected to go in rounds 2-4
- 2 quarterbacks projected to go in rounds 3-5
Five ended up going in the first two rounds.
This year, there are (again, according to Walter Football):
- 2 quarterbacks projected to go in the top-10
- 2 quarterbacks projected to go in the rounds 2-4 range
- 1 quarterback projected to go in rounds 3-4
- 1 quarterback projected to go in rounds 3-5
Additionally, the Giants aren't known for trading back.
But here's what's different this year (compared to last):
Last year, nearly every team that picked from 13-32 (after the Giants) was set with a starting quarterback. There were 3 teams that ended up picking behind the Giants that didn't have a known starter going into the draft and 2 of those 3 traded up to get there (and traded up to get a QB)
- The Jets picked a safety
- The Browns bypassed a QB with their No. 8 pick and traded up later to get Manziel at No. 22
- The Vikings bypassed a QB at No. 9 and traded up to get Bridgewater at No. 32.
This year, on the other hand, I can count 9 picks behind the Giants' at No. 9 held by teams that AT SOME POINT IN THE DRAFT are likely to look hard at their QB board: (Rams at 10, Vikings at 11, Browns at 12, Dolphins at 14, Texans at 16, Browns at 19, Eagles at 20, Cardinals at 24, Broncos at 28). I emphasize "at some point" because the question I'm about to ask does not imply the trade would have to happen in Round 1.
Bringing me to my two questions:
Is this the year the Giants should trade back to a team looking for a QB?
AND/OR
Could this be the year the Giants deal Ryan Nassib?
So 2 #1's for him?
So, if they trade down, it's to acquire more picks. What the other team does with their pick is not their concern.
But, from another team's perspective, you're overrating Nassib's trade value and you'd still have to then find a new backup QB, which is Nassib's current utility to NYG. Imv.
:)
If a team inquires about all-pro QB Nassib and offers a package the Giants feel would be in the best interest of the Giants then Giants reserve the right to act upon said inquiry.
I hate to say it but same with Washington. TC can say he played poorly on specials all he wants but the fact is come draft day they draft on a receivers capabilities as a receiver not as a special teamer. Which means they could pull the trigger on a guy in the 1st three rounds when they can already have the guy they need on the roster and a pick that could be used elsewhere.
And if you say it was preseason it doesn't mean anything, Cruz made this team mainly for the Jets performance. TC knew from that game he couldn't hide Cruz because other teams made it known they'd go after him. Washington and Nassib won every single pre-season game for the Giants in 2014. You can say it's against backups all you want but coming from behind and winning games in the NFL is not a fluke. And again that comes down to the coach and showcasing his players. It's also one of the reasons Mara was frustrated with the Jernigan situation.
I hate to say it but same with Washington. TC can say he played poorly on specials all he wants but the fact is come draft day they draft on a receivers capabilities as a receiver not as a special teamer. Which means they could pull the trigger on a guy in the 1st three rounds when they can already have the guy they need on the roster and a pick that could be used elsewhere.
And if you say it was preseason it doesn't mean anything, Cruz made this team mainly for the Jets performance. TC knew from that game he couldn't hide Cruz because other teams made it known they'd go after him. Washington and Nassib won every single pre-season game for the Giants in 2014. You can say it's against backups all you want but coming from behind and winning games in the NFL is not a fluke. And again that comes down to the coach and showcasing his players. It's also one of the reasons Mara was frustrated with the Jernigan situation.
Ryan Lindley once posted a 99.0 passer rating in a preseason, including leading two comebacks.
Next time anyone tries to hold up a preseason performance by a QB as meaning all that much, remember that.
But if you goons want to jump all over me for throwing Nassib's name out there - I'll play and say I disagree with the idea that Nassib has no trade value.
Most backup QBs in the league have had meaningful experience, and most of those experiences weren't all that great (which is why those QBs remain backups).
Nassib has had no meaningful game experience, sure. But he was a 4th round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft...
So are you saying his 2 years behind Eli Manning have not only made him a worse QB than 2 years ago, but he has no 5th, 6th or 7th round value either? In that case, what QB are we drafting this year guys?
As for trading down, I think that it all depends upon what few players they are targeting at #9. In the unlikely circumstance that all of those are gone and the next group isn't worthy of that selection, I could see us trading down if offered a reasonable deal. To me the scenario is unlikely, but I wouldn't mind trading down for players like Shelton, Stanley, Flowers or Orchard if we really like one of them.
Second, why would we trade Nassib? Having a cheap back up with potential is exactly what I want. We likely don't sign a better back up and if we do, it will cost a lot more money than we pay Nassib. If Manning goes down for anything more than a game or two, our season is over anyway.
The Giants would need to get a 2nd round pick or better to even consider trading him; no team will give them that.
IF a team was willing to part with a 4th round pick (the most I think any team would part with), the Giants would have to replace Nassib with a more expensive veteran backup and / or spend another pick(s) to replace him; makes no sense.
Nassib isn't going anywhere.
As others have said, IF one of the two QBs is still there at 9 (very, very unlikely), sure the Giants should entertain any and all offers.
The only admittedly remote scenario that is at all credible is the Giants being involved in some three team trade where the Giants #9 overall pick is involved in other teams move up and down.
So are you saying his 2 years behind Eli Manning have not only made him a worse QB than 2 years ago, but he has no 5th, 6th or 7th round value either? In that case, what QB are we drafting this year guys?
Quarterbacks are not wine. You don't plant them somewhere for a few years while they get better. If they don't play nobody is trading anything of value for him, and playing him this year made no sense.
He is our backup, and will be again next year. No trade.
IMHO rounds 1-5 you should be trying to hit on starters. 6th & 7th for developmental players.
To the thread topic if they trade down for a deal I hope no lower than the 15th pick if they get great trade value in this draft not just the next.
Nassib once the season was over should have seen the field in the second halves of games if the great record of Eli consecutive starts needed to be maintained. However there was absolutely no reason this guy should not have played in these meaningless games at some point. Even if you don't want to trade him you needed to get a real feel for what this guy can do if called upon.
I think you are being too kind. Why on earth would the Viking draft a qb? Bridgewater had a very strong rookie campaign and gave every indication of a promising future.
I also don't agree that these teams will be looking to take a qb in the first round:
Dolphins - pretty set with Tannehill. He is not elite, but he is top half, even if he has no deep ball (how much of that is OL)?
Eagles - Sanchez and Foles have limitations, but they took Barkley recently
Cardinals - I think it's pretty likely Palmer comes back. I understand it's an ACL, but he's a pocket passer. Although not sure he will be ready for training camp and the early part of the season, I think they are going to stick with Stanton and/or pick up a FA. They are in a win now mode, and not sure they will want to roll with a rookie who is not a top pick.
Browns - As bad as Manziel looks, I don't think they can give up on him this soon and spend another first round pick (multiple picks to trade up) to draft a QB. OTOH, they have other pieces in place that if they had even an average qb under center, they would be playoff caliber. They were almost that this year with Hoyer.