With the Browns likely to take a quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft later this month, the attention is now firmly on what the Giants will do with the very next pick.
Just a year ago, the team entered the 2017 season as one of the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LII. With the acquisition of veteran pass catcher Brandon Marshall and the core of its standout defense in tact, the team seemed destined to at least challenge for a playoff spot. That, of course, was not the case. Marshall and Odell Beckham Jr. suffered season-ending injuries, the defense was not what was expected and the team stumbled to an almost unthinkable 3-13 finish.
Down the stretch, the team even benched longtime quarterback Eli Manning to get a look at Geno Smith. That move seemed to mark the end of Manning’s time in New York, but he is now set to return for his 15th season in the Big Apple. Which puts the team in an interesting spot.
With the No. 2 pick in a draft full of quarterback prospects and a 37-year-old signal-caller at the helm, the logical move would be to snap up a Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen or Baker Mayfield with the pick at let them learn behind a two-time Super Bowl winner.
But the team is hoping that last season was an aberration, and with a new general manager in the fold in Dave Gettleman, the Giants could be looking for a quick rebound in 2018. If that is the route, the team could pounce on Penn State running back Saquon Barkley at No. 2, similar to how the Cowboys took Ezekiel Elliott at No. 4 in 2016, and field a formidable offense. 
With the Giants moving to a 3-4 defense in 2018, the team traded longtime defensive end and unlikely scheme fit Jason Pierre-Paul to Tampa Bay in the offseason. That seemed to signal a move toward N.C. State pass rusher and near-unanimous top defensive player in the draft Bradley Chubb being the target. Chubb himself is more suited for the 4-3, however, and might not reach his full potential in the scheme.
New York could also look to protect Manning with Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, heralded by most draft pundits as a can’t-miss prospect. If that route came to fruition, Nelson could be the target if the team decided to trade back with another quarterback-hungry team craving the No. 2 spot.
So, what do you think? Should the Giants go after one of the top quarterbacks, take arguably the top player in the draft in Barkley, add a dynamic defender in Chubb, fortify their offensive line with Nelson or stockpile assets with a trade down? Take PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section!
Where’s the poll?
They never work on the app for PFR… only the other sites.
Well, the good news is that we have finally found something broke that can’t be blamed on Hue Jackson.
lol
I’d like them to trade Beckham, and trade down and just stockpile picks. Too many holes for them to fill.
Barring a king’s ransom offer, best player available.
Barkley
Why would they waste the highest pick they’ve had in more than a decade on a player whose self-life is 5-6 years? Sure, Barkely likely makes them better for the upcoming season, but he doesn’t put them over the top and make them SB contenders?
The only positions a team like the Giants should consider at #2 overall would be a stud left-tackle (there isn’t one in this draft) or a QB to take over for Eli in a couple of years.
Put it this way…you have the choice to draft Todd Gurley or Carson Wentz…who do you take?
Exactly. Great point and well put.
Then maybe they should trade down. Get 12,22, next years 1, and this years 2 from Buffalo.
Why are the polls not showing on any of your posts with polls lately?? Haven’t been able to vote on any of your posts with polls for a few weeks now. Just shows the link typed out instead of the actual link to click on.
Trade it to Buffalo for a 6th round pick since they beat them in the super bowl like 28 years ago…. just joking for the haters
Or they could trade it to Philadelphia for a 6th round pick and a promise that the Eagles will never again execute a Miracle at the Meadowlands.
Barkley
It’s easy if you think Darnold is a franchise QB then you pick either he or Saquon depending what the browns do. If they take Allen and you think Darnold is a legit QB you still take him.
The reason I feel like they should either take a QB or trade the pick is this: the Giants don’t pick in the top 5 very often let alone top 2. The cost of trading into these spots is astronomical is we’ve seen. I’m a year where QBs are projected to fly off the board in the top 5, capitalizing on that is important. So, if there’s a QB you identify as a suitable franchise QB to supplant Eli, even if he doesn’t play this year, you take him. Or you trade the pick to a team who’s willing to pay the astronomical price to get a QB. If they don’t do one of those two things, they run the risk of needing a QB next year or 2020 and having to pay a ridiculous amount of draft capital to get there. If they take their guy now, he comes at he price of one first round pick. If they wait, he likely costs several times that cost in a future year. If they trade the pick, they at least have extra capital to load up in this draft and/or extra picks next year. Sitting at 2 and taking a non-QB, even Barkley, is not a wise move IMO.
I agree unless they think Barkley will be an elite RB
I don’t think that matters. Take a QB or trade down. I think we’ll see a top 10 team who believes in Lamar Jackson trade down.
You can get elite RBs outside of the top 5. In fact, I think there are a lot of RBs that are taken in later rounds that have big impacts. Le’Veon Bell, Kareem Hunt, Carlos Hyde, etc. we’re 2nd rounders. Alvin Kamara was a 3rd rounder. So for every Ezekiel Elliot, there is a Jay Ajayi. Not saying Elliot is worse than Ajayi, but certainly a starting RB on many teams.
Love all of the nonexistent, “polls”….. Just know when you read, “poll” there is an article with no, “poll”…
Yea I’m to the point where I’m tired of even looking. The last maybe 5 “polls” don’t even have a poll to click on and I’ve brought it up every time but apparently they aren’t reading the comments because they aren’t fixing it.
Transfer to the CFL or XFL
Draft Barkley…or stick with Rashad Jennings
It’s between Quentin Nelson or if Barkley is still there
Swap with Jets and pick up a couple picks. Tell NYJ you’re fielding lots of calls. When you land at 3, see who calls next desperate for a QB. If you don’t like it, pick Nest Available
Barkley.
Trade, they need multiple starters on the line and the defense doesn’t scare anybody anymore.
Barkley is going to be better than Elliot. So while worth it at #2, there’s other RBs that would be satisfactory – Jones, N Chubb. Nelson is a monster at Guard. If they could trade back and still land Nelson or B Chubb go for it.
Giana should take Barkley. BUT!!
I also believe that no QB stands heads and shoulders above the others as far as Darnold, Rosen, Allen. I like Darnold 1A Allen 1b and Rosen after that. Mayfield is a bust. I like Rudolph better than him. I think M. Rudolph or K. Lauletta will be very good. Not sure which one, but one or both will be very good. Got a strong feeling.
The Giants should take Barkley at 1.
Then take the QB at 4 left. There’s only 2 picks alone HAS TO BE THERE. And if Chubb or Nelson or Mayfield go 2/3 then they still have their pick of 2-3 of them. Barkley will be gone by 4 though. And they may even be in position to trade ONE of these pics to acquire a major haul of top picks. But that would have to be a perfect storm. I bet you New England has their eye on Rudolph or Lauletta and they make the right choice. I’d love to see Cleveland take Barkley at 1 and grade 4 to Buffalo for 12 and 22 and next year’s 1st rounder. And maybe even pick up another pick or 2 for more ammo. Draft or of these top OL at 12 and reach on one of these two (Rudolph,Lauletta) and actually HIT it BIG!
Let them sit a couple of years and learn the new game and the new incredibly high speed.
The giants own the second overall pick, the browns own the first and fourth.
Mayfield isn’t a bust, he hasn’t even played yet. He could be a top 10 pick and should get a chance before being labeled a bust
Glug glug glug
Baker = Chase Daniels
Barkley
Wait who was thinking they would be in the super bowl before last year? Going into the year they were maybe on the radar, but it’s a stretch to say Super Bowl. Playoff likely, but super bowl?
Giants will forever regret drafting Barkley. They need Nelson in order for any RB to work anyway
Eagles fan… and I Love Barkley, he’s an all around back, with a good head on his shoulders.. but if I’m giants I’m trading out or going qb. As we’ve seen last few years Eli doesn’t have many years left, and the backup currently consists of Webb.. in a year where a lot of teams are looking for their qb hopeful for the future, they could get a Haul for that #2 pick and help out their current holes. Everyone knows rb can be had later in draft and with the money the #2 pick gets guaranteed, it would make barkley a top 3-5 payed rb in the lg. If he doesn’t pan out they will be hurting from that cap hit. I still think they go qb. But if they get two firsts and not drop too far a trade wouldn’t be a bad idea
So by going QB, are the Giants saying Davis Webb was a wasted pick/bust? I thought he was supposed to be the future?
The Giants or Broncos could be trading out.
I meant Browns at 1-4 and Giants at 2.
1-Barkley Cle
2-Darnold Buff(trade)
3 Rosen Jets
4-Allen Cle
One of the “Big 3” QB’s will be there at 4. Barkley will not. And if NYJ do something crazy like take Mayfield at 3, CLE will have 2 of the 3 to choose from. But, you have to have them ranked all close for this to be your draft approach.
Or trade 4 to BUffalo IF they aren’t already traded up and if they want. And take OL at 12 and reach on Rudolph or Lauletta at pick 22.
If they got 1Barkley 12OL(McGlinchey) 22Rudolph/Lauletta
To me would better than Qb-1and Chubb/Nelson at 4
Although if you do go q.v. at 1 and Barkley is gone at 4.. It’d have to be between Chubb and Nelson. Nelson would sure help the young Qb and young team
Please draft Sequian Barkley
Cant get to the poll
Browns are taking a QB at 1. So everyone saying Barkley is a possibility at 1 needs to take a look at the last two years missed opportunities (Wentz and Watson) and then take a look at the GM history (traded up for Mahomes last year and drafted Kareem Hunt in later rounds).