This is my take:
Sitting at #2 do the Giants really have to hide their intentions if they are not taking a QB? Only one player comes off the board at #1 leaving the Giants with basically their pick of whatever player they want. By them letting it be known that a QB is not at the top of their board and they are looking at other players sends out notice to QB hungry teams that we are open for business. The teams jockeying for a QB have to hide their intentions, not the Giants. Nothing could have been better than the Jets jumping up to #3 overall. The Jets will take a QB. That is a guarantee. QB’s are not listed in any order or preference for a team.
So out of the 4 top prospects that takes 1 off the board.
Let’s say its Mayfield.
1. Darnold
2. Rosen
3. Allen
4. Mayfield Jets
Now with this in play you have 3 remaining and 3 seats in the top 4. Its all but a certainty that now the Browns will be forced to take their QB at #1 that is if they want to make sure that they get him. So lets say they choose Darnold.
1. Darnold Browns
2. Rosen
3. Mayfield Jets
4. Allen
Ok so now you are down to 2 QB’s. We know the Bills are all in and I would guess that Denver is in also. They can say whatever they want about being content with Keenum but I guess either Josh would be very tempting for a team that really wants a QB that is young and could be their franchise. What are the odds that they both want Rosen or they both want Allen? Who knows? Not our problem. Who’s is going to offer the best package for that number 2? This could play out well for us either way. If the Bills want Rosen and they pay for him (not getting into the details on that) then the Broncos could sit tight and hope Allen falls to them at 5. Maybe the Browns grab Nelson or Barkley? If the Browns trade out and say Arizona or Miami jumps in there then they miss out all together.
1. Darnold Browns
2. Rosen Bills
3. Mayfield Jets
4. Allen (Broncos at 5 or mystery team at 4)
Now if we trade with Denver and we fall back to #5 and the Bills can’t pull off a trade with the Browns we are basically almost in the same position as sitting at # 2 with the only difference being we secured more picks and one of our top 3 selection is gone going to the Browns at 4.
I still believe the Bills would some how get the #4 from the Browns leaving us to select one of our top 3 players at 5.
So the Giants don’t have to send out smoke signals. In fact that could hurt them. They just need to let teams know they are open for business. If by some chance they fall in love with a QB that is still there at number 2 they can forgo everything above and just take him.
To wrap it up I think that this is what the Giants are intending to do. They want to maximize return on their pick. Best case for them is to fall back to 5 and grab an extra 2 and maybe next years 1 and draft who they were going to draft all along.
He then mentioned why he would go QB over RB at #2 and that is if you hit on a QB you can have him for 10-15 years. Hit on a RB you get maybe 6 .5 years, 5 years if you run him heavy.
The problem for the Giants is that they have committed to Eli. If they weren't he would have been gone. I think they look at Eli with a chance to make another run if they can get some things added quickly.
To me in order to make that run and to build for the future is you need players. To get players and be able to afford them you have to be able to draft them. That lends itself to a trade down and acquiring multiple picks in rds 1-3.
I agree that they don't need to send out smoke signals. The Browns are going to do what they're going to do at 1 regardless. The Giants aren't going to fake them out.
The media had a ton of different names at OC. Rarely rarely heard Shula's name out there. Cody Latimer was in the building for 2 days. Never heard anything about it. Same with Patrick Omameh, BW Webb & Curtis Riley.
I'd take everything you hear with a grain of salt. Media has to have stories. Especially about such a high pick.
The entire #2 pick is based on whether the Giants think there's a top notch franchise QB available. If they do, they pick him. If they don't, then the discussion becomes whether a trade haul is worth more than the top guy on their board.
If they love Darnold and Barkley and Cleveland is hoping to get Barkley at pick 4, then the Giants need to put more pressure on Cleveland to hopefully ensue at trade for pick 4. The ideal situation is a trade back with Cleveland. The more questions they have the better for NYG.
Think about Cleveland's position right now. They have a one year rental at QB with Tyrod Taylor and Hyde at RB on a 3 year deal along with Duke Johnson...decent RB's. But if they can secure the QB of the future that they have needed since Bernie Kosar AND the best player in the draft in Barkley, they have all the ammo in early picks to move up with NYG and get both.
Then think about the position the Giants are in.
Cleveland goes QB ( lets say Darnold ) then Barkley. The Jets get Rosen @3. Then we are at 4 with 2 QB hungry teams in the Broncos and Bills. We can trade again, take a QB or Nelson.
NYG doesn't need to broadcast their intentions. It helps to listen to offers but to say you aren't taking a QB doesn't really help your trade value.
The entire #2 pick is based on whether the Giants think there's a top notch franchise QB available. If they do, they pick him. If they don't, then the discussion becomes whether a trade haul is worth more than the top guy on their board.
Or they think that a top notch QB is on their roster already. Then they don't give a damn if a top notch QB is in the draft or not.
#1 pick.
That would be my ideal scenario for the Giants. Now DG gets to see what Cleveland is willing to part with and decide how he wants to build his roster.
Cleveland has to come out of this draft with their top rated QB...that has to be their first pick.
I agree that they don't need to send out smoke signals. The Browns are going to do what they're going to do at 1 regardless. The Giants aren't going to fake them out.
We can draft Mayfield and hold the Jets for ransom and still get Barkley. Genius!
The entire #2 pick is based on whether the Giants think there's a top notch franchise QB available. If they do, they pick him. If they don't, then the discussion becomes whether a trade haul is worth more than the top guy on their board.
This. The goal should be to create the next large window to win as many Super Bowl's as possible, not try to win one in a window that is probably already closed.