Monday Reading

Giants

Stapleton The Record: NFL Mock Draft: Art Stapleton looks at who the NY Giants and NY Jets will select

“4. GIANTS: LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Dolphins-Lions trade takes juice out of this spot, so Big Blue sticks with Simmons and waits on OT
Previous: Simmons”

“The more I've gone through the first round, the more I think Giants' trade down possibilities become moot if the Lions make a deal at 3.

Not sure there will be a strong enough offer at 4 from a second team seeking a QB if someone jumps to 3”
“I believe in Isaiah Simmons.
You don't draft Isaiah Simmons at No. 4 overall solely to shut down tight ends as his priority.
Need a better plan than that.
Hopefully Giants fans learn from the 2017 pipe dream that all the offense needed was a seam-busting tight end. I have.”

https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/03/30/nfl-mock-draft-art-stapletons-picks-ny-giants-ny-jets-1st-round/2929275001/

Traina SI.com: Patricia Traina's 7-Round Giants-only Mock Draft
https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/draft/patricia-trainas-7-round-giants-only-mock-draft

Duggan The Athletic: Giants mock draft: Forecasting each of Dave Gettleman’s 10 upcoming picks
https://theathletic.com/1709186/2020/03/30/giants-mock-draft-forecasting-each-of-dave-gettlemans-10-upcoming-picks/?

QB

Lombardo NJ.com: Have Giants done enough to aid Daniel Jones development? How will coronavirus impact second-year quarterback?
https://www.nj.com/giants/2020/03/have-giants-done-enough-to-aid-daniel-jones-development-how-will-coronavirus-impact-second-year-quarterback.html

T

Serby NYP: Giants must make NFL Draft all about protecting Daniel Jones
https://nypost.com/2020/03/29/giants-must-make-nfl-draft-all-about-protecting-daniel-jones/amp/

ILB

Valentine BBV: New York Giants’ LB David Mayo is back where he wanted to be
https://www.bigblueview.com/2020/3/30/21198385/new-york-giants-lb-david-mayo-back-where-he-wanted-to-be-nfl-free-agency-2020

CB

Giants.com: Inside the Film Room: Shaun O'Hara breaks down James Bradberry
Shaun O'Hara breaks down James Bradberry's game tape to analyze the new Giants cornerback (Video)
https://www.giants.com/video/inside-the-film-room-shaun-o-hara-breaks-down-james-bradberry

NFL

King FMIA: NFL Life At A Social Distance, and How The 2020 Draft Might Look
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/03/29/nfl-social-distance-draft-fmia-peter-king/

Breer MMQB: How Coronavirus and Social Distancing Will Affect Teams During the NFL Draft
With the NFL insistent on starting the draft April 23, teams will have to make a variety of changes. Plus, players most affected by pro day and team visit cancellations, how players are dealing with this situation, and thanks to those who are helping us get through these times
https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/03/30/nfl-draft-coronavirus-team-changes-players-affected

ESPN: 2020 NFL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, plus where each team stands after free agency

“28. New York Giants

Way-too-early ranking: 29
Three words: Work still remains. Yes, the Giants signed two significant free agents in cornerback James Bradberry and linebacker Blake Martinez -- and they will help. The Giants then started to fill in around them, but there are still holes all over this roster, with no imposing edge rusher or difference-maker on defense and the offensive line still in need of upgrades at tackle and center. The Giants, under coach Joe Judge and general manager Dave Gettleman, still have a lot of work left to do after the first wave of free agency. More additions are needed, in free agency and the draft.” -- Jordan Raanan

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28954398/2020-nfl-power-rankings-1-32-poll-plus-where-team-stands-free-agency?

Official cap space by teams 1-11 (includes moves officially made):
1. HOU: 49,257,819
2. NYJ: 45,016,813
3. CLE: 43,703,760
4. LAC: 37,553,266
5. TEN: 32,509,301
6. WAS: 31,468,435
7. DET: 31,369,450
8. DEN: 29,819,797
9. DAL: 28,560,313
10. PHI: 27,868,177
11. IND: 26,863,345
Field Yates
⁦‪@FieldYates‬⁩

Official cap space by team (12-23)
12. BUF: 26,539,939
13. JAX: 22,808,288
14. MIA: 22,682,552
15. CHI: 21,798,5871
16. NYG: 19,556,709
17. CAR: 16,832,122
18. LAR: 16,357,084
19. LV: 15,285,765
20. SF: 15,064,239
21. TB: 14,836,167
22. ARI: 14,383,375
23. CIN: 13,657,810
Field Yates
⁦‪@FieldYates‬⁩

Official cap space by team (teams 24-32):
24. BAL: 13,513,779
25. GB: 12,966,433
26. MIN: 12,495,443
27. SEA: 11,317,846
28. NO: 9,237,537
29. PIT: 8,667,814
30. ATL: 7,530,188
31. NE: 891,775
32. KC: 177
Field Yates
⁦‪@FieldYates‬⁩

BALTIMORE
Hensley ESPN Baltimore: New Raven Calais Campbell's biggest challenge is battling age
https://www.espn.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/51874/new-raven-calais-campbells-biggest-challenge-is-battling-age

CAROLINA
Wetzel Yahoo Sports: Cam Newton has proven doubters wrong before. Can he do it again?
https://sports.yahoo.com/cam-newton-has-proven-doubters-wrong-before-can-he-do-it-again-014815052.html

CHICAGO
Biggs Chicago Tribune: Brad Biggs’ NFL mock draft: Who will the Bears take with their 2nd-round picks?

“4. Giants: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

GM Dave Gettleman believes roster building starts in the trenches, and the Giants need offensive line help. Becton has a size advantage over Alabama’s Jedrick Wills.”

36. Giants: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

“The Giants added James Bradberry in free agency, and he’s a big help. But DeAndre Baker struggled at times a year ago, and getting a physical corner in Fulton would help overhaul a lousy defense.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/ct-cb-chicago-bears-nfl-mock-draft-liststory-20200330-rgsrnmbsxrazpbzxnixqhckc54-list.html

CLEVELAND
Bielek Cleveland Plain Dealer: What could a trade for Trent Williams mean for the Browns’ draft plans? 2020 NFL mock draft 6.0

“4. New York Giants: Tristan Wirfs, offensive tackle, Iowa
Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 322 pounds
Positional SPARQ percentile: 99.1.
Dave Gettleman has a decision to make: take Isaiah Simmons or the best offensive tackle available to protect Daniel Jones’ blindside. Wirfs’ outstanding combine performance might have moved him to the head of the offensive tackle class. And if Gettleman believes in Jones as much as he did on draft day back in 2019, they need to give him the best offensive lineman possible.”

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/03/how-trading-for-trent-williams-could-impact-the-browns-draft-plans-2020-nfl-mock-draft-60.html

DALLAS
Archer ESPN Dallas: With additions of Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe, Cowboys' D gains new look
https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4771189/with-additions-of-gerald-mccoy-dontari-poe-cowboys-d-gains-new-look?

DENVER
Keeler Denver Post: John Elway is a veteran cornerback away from Broncos’ scariest defense since 2015
https://www.denverpost.com/2020/03/30/john-elway-price-amukamara-denver-broncos-2020-free-agency-analysis/amp/

NEW ORLEANS
McClaymont The Score: Saints' Payton opens playbook up to Twitter
https://www.thescore.com/nfl/news/1967860/amp

Triplett ESPN NO: Why Saints, Emmanuel Sanders are a match made in 'wide receiver heaven'
https://www.espn.com/blog/new-orleans-saints/post/_/id/33003/why-saints-emmanuel-sanders-are-a-match-made-in-wide-receiver-heaven

SAN FRANCISCO
Ostler SF Chronicle: A Tom Brady homecoming might have been fun, but the 49ers came out winners
https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/ostler/amp/A-Tom-Brady-homecoming-might-have-been-fun-but-15165083.php

Branch SF Chronicle: Now what? The 49ers will look to address several areas in the NFL draft
https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/amp/Now-what-The-49ers-will-look-to-address-several-15164914.php

SEATTLE
Condotta Seattle Times: What’s left on Seahawks’ free agent to-do list? Resolving Clowney’s situation, adding RBs, QBs
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/whats-left-on-seahawks-free-agent-to-do-list-resolving-clowneys-situation-and-adding-running-backs-and-quarterbacks/?

Farrar Touchdownwire USA Today: How Seahawks restarted the Legion of Boom with two fifth-round trades
https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2020/03/30/how-seahawks-restarted-the-legion-of-boom-with-two-fifth-round-trades/

TAMPA BAY
"The tape to us showed he had plenty of arm … an ideal arm for Bruce's system," Licht says of Tom Brady and what he can do for Bucs at age 43 this fall. "We did not see a decline in his arm talent whatsoever." Talks about him playing more than two years in Tampa
Greg Auman
⁦‪@gregauman‬⁩

WASHINGTON
Alper PFT: Ron Rivera: We’ll go into camp believing Dwayne Haskins is the starter

“He’s talked about a healthy Alex Smith potentially being a foil for Dwayne Haskins and left the door open for the team to draft a quarterback in April. The team traded for one of Rivera’s former Panthers quarterbacks in Kyle Allen last week and Rivera put him into the competition pool, although he added that Haskins would go into such a competition in the No. 1 spot.

“That’s what we’re going into camp believing, but they’re going to compete,” Rivera said on WFNZ, via Football Morning in America. “We really like what we have in terms of our young quarterbacks. Kyle a young guy who has a live arm, understands the game, understands how we do things, so I’m excited about what the potential could be.”

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/03/30/ron-rivera-well-go-into-camp-believing-dwayne-haskins-is-the-starter/

Keim ESPN Washington: Former Redskin Chris Cooley joins John to discuss the Trent Williams standoff, Dwayne Haskins progress, what not having an offseason would mean and the first couple of weeks of Ron Rivera's strategy in building a team (Audio)
http://johnkeimreport.libsyn.com/chris-cooley-talks-trent-dwayne-and-the-start-of-rons-first-year

Fortier Washington Post: Redskins sign Ronald Darby, bolstering their depth at cornerback
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/29/ronald-darby-signs-with-redskins/?

Paras Washington Times: Darby deal fits mold of Rivera's prove-it culture
https://amp.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/29/ronald-darby-latest-competition-forward-signing-un/

Keim ESPN Washington: Redskins recap:
Signed: CB Ronald Darby; another low-risk, 1 yr, $4 mill (don't know breakdown yet); talented/athletic/fast but... missed 20 games combined last 3 years. In the mix outside, but if healthy -- a phrase heard too often here -- hard to think he doesn't start.

Colleges/Draft

Schofield Touchdownwire USA Today: Touchdown Wire's mock draft 4.0: Anticipating trades and surprises

“ 4. New York Giants: Tristan Wirfs, OL, Iowa

When general manager Dave Gettleman took to the podium at the NFL combine and told the media that offensive line is the most important position for a young quarterback because “… you can’t throw the ball from your back; I’ve done those studies,” it was clear to me that you could put offensive tackle in Sharpie next to the Giants’ pick in the fourth spot.

Now just which offensive tackle from the “Big Four” is a different question altogether. Between Tristan Wirfs, Mekhi Becton, Andrew Thomas and Jedrick Wills Jr., there are four very solid options for teams that want to address the position.

Wirfs’ potential flexibility up front will make him an enticing option to Gettleman. The first true freshman ever to start at offensive tackle under Kirk Ferentz, Wirfs saw the bulk of his snaps (693) at right tackle, but he also saw 161 snaps at left tackle. Others think his best position in the NFL would be to kick inside to guard. But studying him uncovers an NFL-ready tackle with the athleticism and power to handle either the left or right side. The Giants can slot him in at right tackle and keep Nate Solder at left tackle, giving them and quarterback Daniel Jones some protection up front.“

https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2020/03/30/touchdown-wires-mock-draft-4-0-anticipating-trades-and-surprises/

Davis USA Today: NFL mock draft 2020: How trades could drastically reshape first-round outlook

“4. New York Giants – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville: GM Dave Gettleman has openly communicated that this spot is for sale, but it won't be easy to peddle if Tagovailoa is gone. And given the need to protect second-year QB Daniel Jones while giving RB Saquon Barkley more room to run, the 6-7, 364-pound Becton seems like a suitable option anyway.”

https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/2918471001

QB
Owaczarski Mil JS: Accuracy issues cloud Green Bay native QB James Morgan's draft outlook
https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2020/03/30/accuracy-issues-cloud-green-bay-native-qb-james-morgans-draft-outlook/2928047001/

RB
Edholm Yahoo Sports: 36. Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor
5-foot-10, 226 pounds 
Yahoo Sports draft grade: 5.98
“TL;DR scouting report: Highly productive, blue-collar speed back with elite character but also fumbling, workload concerns
The skinny: A 4-star Rivals recruit, Taylor initially committed to Rutgers before switching his pledge to the Badgers. He earned a starting role as a true freshman in 2017, listed as a co-starter for the first game and then starting the remainder of his games over three college seasons. Taylor set the FBS mark for rush yards by a freshman that season with 1,977, adding 13 TDs and being named to second-team AP All-America team, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and a Doak Walker Award finalist.
In 2018, Taylor followed up his brilliant freshman season with an even better sophomore season. He ran for an FBS-best 2,194 yards (7.1-yard average) and 16 touchdowns in 13 starts, winning the Doak Walker Award, being named unanimous first-team All-America and first-team all-Big Ten and being named MVP of the Pinstripe Bowl a win over Miami (Fla.).
Then in 2019, Taylor repeated as the Doak Walker winner and as first-team AP All-America, rushing for 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns and adding 26 receptions, 252 receiving yards and five more scores.
Taylor, who turned 21 years old in January, declared early for the 2020 NFL draft. He attended the NFL scouting combine and performed every drill, turning in impressive numbers in the 40-yard dash (4.39 seconds), vertical jump (36 inches) and broad jump (10-foot-3). Taylor stood on his testing numbers at Wisconsin’s pro day and only performed a positional workout.
Upside: Absurd rushing production — 12 games with 200 or more yards (high of 321), 19 more with 100-plus yards and only five career games with fewer than 80 yards. Had a 10-yard run (or longer) in all but one career game — only Ohio State in 2017 prevented that (long of 7 yards).
Nose for the end zone — 50 rush TDs in 41 career games, plus five more on receptions. Only two career games with fewer than 70 yards from scrimmage. Never went longer than one game between 100-yard rushing efforts in three seasons.
Consistently faced defenses geared to stop him — saw loaded boxes and heavy fronts. Wisconsin’s passing offenses ranked 92nd (2017), 114th (2018) and 96th (2019) in his three years. Clear workhorse capabilities — 27 career games with 20 or more carries. No back in college football history totaled as many rush yards (6,159) through their first three seasons.
Rare straight-line speed for size — carries 220-plus pounds extremely well and has legitimate sprinter’s burst and acceleration. Don’t let him get to the second level — rarely taken down from behind or beaten to the edge. Gears up with ease — speed appeared to stun opponents at times.
Runs through contact — leave your arm-tackle attempts on the practice field. Wicked stiff arm that can bury would-be tacklers. Determined, hard runner. Doesn’t leave much meat on the bone — averaged more than 1,300 rush yards after contact per season. Outstanding balance — smooth, controlled runner who takes what’s there, plus often a little bit more.
We could have chosen any number of runs from Taylor’s 2019 season — or any of a dozen from his outstanding game against Nebraska — to highlight. But this one gives you an idea of what Taylor can do with the most straightforward attempts. Protecting a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, Taylor just gutted away at the Huskers. He follows his tight end through the hole and powers his way through for an extra 9-10 yards after initial contact:

Operated effectively in I-formation and one-back alignments. Running patience makes him ideal for inside/outside zone scheme but also capable of operating in a gap run system. Waits for his blockers to get into their men and then bursts through the hole. Nice inside running instincts — finds cracks before they develop. Subtle jump cut (really a skip cut) to make people miss. Great peripheral vision to sniff out safeties and linebackers crashing down to take him out.
Made small strides in receiving game, but the team didn’t give him opportunities he needed — targeted 18 times in first six games but only 19 times in final eight contests in 2019. As pass blocker, looked lost as a freshman, passable as sophomore and solid as junior — measurable improvement, even with limited chances. Shows knack for being a capable cut blocker.
Tremendous physical and mental toughness, intelligence, football character and personal character. Carried himself like an ambassador of the program, but teammates praised his humility and blue-collar mentality. Winner who will take on whatever the team asks of him. Ran well in the elements and played through injuries.
Downside: Fumbling remains a bugaboo — went from three fumbles in 2018 to seven in 2019. One fumble every 53.5 offensive touches — alarming rate that’s among the worst among top backs. Lost critical fumble late in upset loss at Illinois. Total of 18 fumbles and eight dropped passes (on 65 career targets) in three years. Not yet adept at switching ball to outside hand and will expose ball to be poked out by opportunistic defenders.
Ton of mileage on his legs — 963 touches over three seasons. Might not be built to last for a 10- or 12-year career as a bellcow at this rate of usage. Benefitted from outstanding run-blocking units with multiple NFL-caliber offensive linemen at Wisconsin — in his three seasons, Badgers’ run-blocking rankings (per PFF) were sixth, first and 10th nationally, respectively, among all FBS teams.
Passing-game contribution was limited. Relegated to checkdowns, screens and flares as receiver. Seldom flexed out or put in motion. Never caught more than three passes in a game. Big-play rate way down as a receiver outside of South Florida game in 2019 — only three catches longer than 30 yards in three seasons and none longer than 36. Taken off field often in obvious pass situations and only asked to pass block selectively — still needs reps in that department.
Lateral quickness is good but not great — 3-cone time of 7.01 seconds. Lacks ideal wiggle and can be a bit tight as a runner. Initial straight-ahead burst good but not great — needs time to reach max velocity. More of a one-cut-and-go runner than an overly imaginative, creative runner who creates magic out of thin air. Will attempt a spin move now and again but often gears down to do so. Vision in the hole appears a little lacking at times.
Wasn’t used on a single special-teams rep over three seasons.

Best-suited destination: Taylor is a one-cut speed back with the size and durability to be a workhorse, preferably in a zone system. IDeally, he’d be paired with a good third-down back early on to reduce the need for those duties, but it’s likely that he can improve his impact in the passing game in the NFL.
Among the teams that could be interested in his services include the Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills.
Did you know: Taylor was an honors student in high school and considered attending Harvard, with an interest in astrophysics, visiting the school three times. He also thought about a double major of astronomy and physics at Wisconsin but ended up as a philosophy major instead. Taylor has said he wants to attend Harvard at some point in the future and earn a Master’s Degree.
They said it: “He’s everything that you would want to [have] in a teammate. That’s where it starts. An unbelievable example of how you approach every day. And it’s impressive what he’s done on the field, and it’s incredibly impressive who he is and how he’s done it, is more impressive to me.”
— Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst
Player comp: This is going back a bit, but Taylor reminds us a bit of Ahman Green. For a more recent comp, he enters the NFL as a healthier version of James Conner.
Expected draft range: There’s a chance Taylor could slip out of the top 50 selections, but we have a hard time seeing a team  like the Steelers — assuming they stay at pick No. 49 — passing on him if he lasts that long. Somewhere in the early to mid-second round feels like his landing spot.”

https://sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/yahoo-sports-top-2020-nfl-draft-prospects-no-36-wisconsin-rb-jonathan-taylor-013614380.html

DT
Weinfuss ESPN: From homeless to top NFL draft prospect: Javon Kinlaw's journey
https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2020/story/_/id/28963125/from-homeless-top-nfl-draft-prospect-javon-kinlaw-journey

Edge

Simpson The Athletic: Julian Okwara is unfazed by the latest obstacle in his NFL Draft journey
https://theathletic.com/1710206/2020/03/30/julian-okwara-nfl-draft-injury-coronavirus/?

History

Giants Birthdays 3-30

Lomas Brown T FA-CLE 2000 NYG 2000-2001 3-30-1963

Former Gators OT Lomas Brown to be inducted into College Football Hall of Fame (3-11-2020)

“Lomas Brown, a former offensive tackle who played at Florida from 1981-84, will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on December 8 along with the rest of the Class of 2020, it was announced on Wednesday.
Brown joins several other high-profile members of the class like Steve McNair, Eric Dickerson and Eric Crouch.
A team captain at UF, Brown started 31 games under coaches Charley Pell and Galen Hall. During his final season in 1984, he was a First Team All-SEC honoree and a consensus First Team All-American selection.

He was part of a talented Gators offensive line touted “The Great Wall of Florida” and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for being the best blocker in the SEC during his final year. The same season, UF’s excellent offensive front, along with quarterback Kerwin Bell, led the team to a 9-1-1 record and the first SEC title in school history, which was later stripped due to NCAA violations committed by Pell and his staff.
After his time in Gainesville, Brown had a lengthy NFL career. He was taken sixth overall in the 1985 NFL draft and played in the league for 18 seasons, playing for the Detroit Lions (1985-95), Arizona Cardinals (1996-98), Cleveland Browns (1999), New York Giants (2000-01) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002).
He became a Super Bowl champion in the final season of his career, winning Super Bowl XXXVII with Tampa Bay.
Brown was a Pro Bowler for seven straight seasons from 1990-96 and was a three-time First Team All-Pro. He also earned three Second Team All-Pro honors.”

https://gatorswire.usatoday.com/2020/03/11/former-gators-ot-lomas-brown-to-be-inducted-into-college-football-hall-of-fame/amp/

Rich Seubert LG/C UDFA-Western Illinois 2001 NYG 2001-2010 3-30-1979

In Memoriam

Cowboy Hill TB FA-1925 NYG 1925-1926 Born 3-30-1899 Died 2-03-1966

Babe Lyon T/G UDFA-Kansas State 1929 NYG 1929 Born 3-30-1907 Died 12-22-1970

Obituary: “Lyon, a longtime resident of Manhattan [Kansas], excelled in two sports while at K-StateM His most notable accomplishments .. came in football where he was the Wildcats starting left tackle for three years. Lyon capped off his collegiate career by being named to the Associated Press, United Press and Topeka Capital All-Big Six teams in 1928. He was chosen captain on the Capital squad. That year he was also named second team All-Western and honorable mention All-America by the AP. ' Lyon started for the Big Six All-Stars against the Southwest Conference All-Stars in a Shrine game on New Year's Day, 1929. After college, Lyon went on to an eight-year pro career. He played for five different NFL teams including the New York Giants, the Portsmouth Spartans, the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Cleveland Indians and the St. Louis gunners. He might have played longer in the pros had it not been for an encephalitis attack which ended his playing career. Lyon stayed in the game three more years as a coach with the Gunners. He was a life member of the NFL ,Alumni Association. As a track man at K-State', Lyon excelled in the shot put. He scored the Wildcats' only first place finish in the Big Eight Indoor meet at Kansas City one year. In winning that event, Lyon bettered the then existing school record of 46 feet. When he finally got out of sports, Lyon used his agricultural degree from K-State by instructing World War II veterans in on-the-farm training for the U.S. government.”