I'm not particularly interested in QBs this year but let's include them for this exercise.
How do I define Blue Chip? Extremely high ceiling, very high floor, low risk, great character. At worst you are getting a very good player. Do you have a different definition? Let us know.
I'm thinking there are 3..
Trevor Lawrence
Ja Marr Chase
Kyle Pitts
Chase is tough since he didn't play last year but he has so much tape and had 20TDs that year!
Who are your blue chips in this draft?
I think I agree with this ... now.
THe more I read and watch - the more I like him.
Lawrence
Chase
Pitts
Sewell
Surtain
Those guys are all clean and they are all studs in every way - production, testing, prototype size, comp level, pedigree, etc. A good argument can be made for any of those players to be the first non-QB off the board. I think the NYG would have a real hard time passing on any of the those 4 position players if they unexpectedly fall to them.
Then there are a handful of players close to that group but with 1 or 2 minor knocks - Waddle (injury), Smith (size), Slater (size), Parsons (temperament), Horn, Phillips (injuries).
Top Tier
Pitts
Sewell
Chase
Smith
Surtain
Slayter (IMO)
Next
Horn
Darrisaw
Paye
Vera Tucker
Waddle
Parsons and Farley talented - but serious questions.
I love Smith, and would be delighted if the Giants took him at #11. But applying the criterium of a "very high floor" I'm less entirely certain than for that of a very high ceiling.
WR's due to the nature of their positional play, and usually a more slender build, tend to get dinged often. And "The Slim Reaper" is more slender than most. That said, he's very strong and wiry for his physique, and will likely become even a bit more so in an NFL program. So He should do as well as any, but there is still that concern.
Lawrence
Fields
Chase
Pitts
Parsons
Sewell
Pitts
Waddle
Chase
Smith
Parsons
Surtain
I think all of the offensive players listed will make immediate impacts in the NFL. I think Waddle will win RoY because I think his stats will be as good as the others receiving but his return game is going to win some games too.
In 2019 he averaged 24.4 yards per PUNT return.
You read that correctly. Field position wins games.
Sewell
Pitts
Waddle
Chase
Smith
Parsons
Surtain
So if 4 QBs go top 10 as expected, there's a blue chip available at 11.
Sutain
Horn
Paye
I think O is more loaded than the D.
+1, I’d add Waddle as well.
And I don't see any blue chip Defensive players in this particular draft. Plenty of red though...
There's a video out by Brett Kollmann: Jalean Philllips A terrifying hybrid of The Watt Beothers.
I'm not necessarily an advocate, but after watching the film and seeing the pro day, jaelan Phillips, red flags notwithstanding, has to be in the conversation.
Well worth your time and if I had the skill I would post the video here.
And I don't see any blue chip Defensive players in this particular draft. Plenty of red though...
Agreed. This doesn’t seem to be a particularly strong defensive draft from a top half of the first round perspective. The best pure pass rusher Phillips has huge injury concerns or he would be the lone top 5 defender picked IMO anyway.
Last time we picked in this slot the elite were gone (Samny Watson, Blake Bortles) and the Giants were looking at the leftovers.. Aaron Donald, Odell Beckham jr. and Zack Martin.
Wouldn't surprise me to see a rerun. Good homework now, good coaching afterwards and we're gonna walk out with someone special.
Where it gets interesting is that there are a handful of guys just the other side of the border according to the draftniks, and any one of them could be on the right side of the border for the Giants. Waddle and Smith head the list in my opinion, with Slater and Surtain less so. Is there an edge rusher who could crack the blue chip border for Big Blue? Not likely, but if there is, it's probably Paye. He has blue chip measurables and blue chip character, they may believe the rest can be schemed and coached.
Lawrence
Smith
Surtain
Horn
Pitts
As far as guys I EXPECT to be Pro-Bowlers.
Calvin Johnson is another. Joe Thomas. Last year it was Burrow and Chase Young.