EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- All eyes are on the New York Giants with the No. 2 overall pick. It’s a decision that could shape the franchise and determine the ultimate success of the new regime.
The responsibility of getting it right falls into the hands of general manager Dave Gettleman.
He could take a quarterback and be set at the most important position for another decade or more. Or he could settle on a “gold jacket” player such as running back Saquon Barkley or pass-rusher Bradley Chubb.
Gettleman dropped more than a few clues Thursday at his pre-draft news conference.
Quarterback not a necessity
When the Giants general manager was asked if he had to take a quarterback so that he wasn’t in this situation again with a top pick in several years, he simply replied, “Hogwash!” Clearly, he doesn’t feel pressured to find a successor to Eli Manning.
Gettleman admitted selecting a quarterback comes with serious risk. This could affect his decision.
"If you miss on a quarterback, you’ve hurt the franchise for five years,” he said. “It’s a five-year mistake.”
The flip side is if he hits on a quarterback, the Giants would likely be set at quarterback for another decade or more.
This quarterback class is ... ehh
USC’s Sam Darnold, Wyoming’s Josh Allen, UCLA’s Josh Rosen and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield provide the teams at the top of the draft with options. Each brings a unique skill set.
That’s the beauty of this year’s quarterback crop. What fits for one team might not fit for another. Each team’s offensive system and culture matters when it comes to selecting a quarterback from this year’s class.
“It’s a really neat group to evaluate because it’s all different flavors,” Gettleman said. “With the second pick, I’m sitting at Ben and Jerry’s and I got a lot of flavors to look at. They all have stuff. They’re different. I can’t compare it to the ’83 draft, if that is what you’re asking.”
Being able to lift the team appears to be a perquisite for Gettleman. Allen was 16-11 as a starter at Wyoming. Darnold was 20-4 at USC. Rosen was 17-13 at UCLA. Mayfield was 39-8 at Texas Tech and Oklahoma.
This might have come into play with the Giants.
“Who of them has made everyone around them better?” Gettleman said. “That is what you’re looking for in a quarterback.”
Gettleman was asked specifically about Rosen’s love for the game. It has been something that has been questioned. After meeting with Rosen at the combine and privately during a visit, it wasn’t a concern. Gettleman had no doubts Rosen wants to play football.
Some serious Barkley love
There is little doubt after listening to Gettleman that Barkley is well-regarded by the Giants. There would seem to be a good chance he’s No. 1 on their board.
“He’s a tremendous talent. I’m not going to lie,” Gettleman said. “He’s a tremendous talent. Saquon is very gifted and talented.
"He’s one of those guys my mother could have scouted. She could’ve figured that one out.”
Barkley is believed to be firmly in the mix for the Giants at No. 2. His positional value doesn’t appear to be much of a problem, either.
Gettleman selected running back Christian McCaffrey eighth overall last year before being fired by the Carolina Panthers.
“The devaluing of the running back is really a myth,” he said. “You have a great running back, he immediately makes your quarterback better, your offensive line better and your passing game better. That’s the way it is. I don’t believe in it.”
Trade options
Gettleman has admittedly received plenty of calls holding the No. 2 pick in the draft. Although he wouldn’t declare how likely a move is, he did concede that a move is possible. He left open the possibility for almost anything with the Giants' top pick.
“We’ve had calls,” he said. “I’ll admit to that.”
Gettleman’s track record shows that he has never traded back in a draft. He insists that doesn’t mean it’s completely off the table in this situation.
“It just kind of never happened,” he said of trading back in his five drafts with the Panthers. “There was nothing ever meaningful enough to keep me from a player we had that was there for us to take. I guess that is what it is.”
What Gettleman did say was non-negotiable was making a move that involves any of the Giants’ draft picks in future years. He’s not going to do that.
No decision ... yet
The Giants haven’t settled on a player yet. That will not come until they see who gets drafted No. 1.
Their decision has not been made a week before the draft. It probably won't come in the next few days, either.
“How close? You can’t close your mind,” Gettleman said. “You don’t know what is going to happen. We’ll know when we’ll know. I’m not making any decisions before the draft.”