Early Thoughts On the Giants Draft, Round 1
USC's Marqise Lee and Clemson's Sammy Watkins are absolute game breakers at WR. Size, speed, hands, run after catch. They have it all. If the Giants, as expected, lose Nicks they have to replace all that production that will be missing (and has been missing) and the best way to do that will be by drafting a great WR. Lee and Watkins fit the bill.
The other guy who could be there at 12 is UNC TE Eric Ebron. He's another potential game breaker who is already, also, a very willing and pretty effective blocker. The Giants could line him up inline. They haven't had a TE talent like that since Shockey and we saw what happened to Eli this year with an undersized TE who couldn't get deep in Myers.
Now, there are few reasons why I want to get a playmaker instead of a Tackle. First, the Giants biggest problem is not at tackle but at Center and Guards. Baas was a terrible investment, and may be done. Snee is an all time great Giant, but he may also be done. Diehl is done. And the rest of the guys can all be upgraded. I also don't think the Giants would let a rookie LT guard Eli's blindside. Diehl was already declining when Coughlin wouldn't let Beatty beat him out. Plus they just gave Beatty a big deal. Plus, they'd have to move Pugh who has already proven to be a top Right Tackle. Meanwhile, they can and should start fixing the middle of the line in free agency.
People get frustrated when the Giants don't draft for what their egos consider "need." But drafts are about opportunities, not need, and the Giants usually do go for BPA, and, at 12 that's likely to be a playmaker.
posted by Kalel9 @ 1:49 PM
2 Comments:
Nothing drives me more wild than people suggesting to move Pugh inside for whomever the 12th pick would be. Last year was thought to be one of the best offensive line classes in recent memory and Pugh (rookie season alone - not a complete evaluation) looks like he may be the cream of the crop. To expect a rookie to come in and be good enough right off the bat to move him inside would be asinine.
What I could see more realistically is the Giants draft someone like Cedric Ogbuehi whom some say may actually be the best OL in the draft (assuming he leaves early). Ogbuehi played Guard to Luke Joekel and Jake Matthews last year and some reports believe him to be the best of that bunch. You draft him and you have both your insurance in case Beatty cant play to start the year, or you have your upgrade at Guard until Beatty becomes a more economical cut. Ogbuehi aside, many of the top Tackles in this draft could also play guard, they don't necessarily need to come in on day one and play LT or RT.
With that being said I don't want them reaching to draft a Tackle if he isn't the best player available; although the strength of this specific draft class does seem to lend itself to the OT's. I'm no draft expert but I have been reading that this draft is very deep in the mid-rounds at WR. I can't see any issue if we draft to the strengths of the draft with an early OT and a mid-round play-maker. When the strength of the draft also coincides with needs, who can complain with that?
I think if you have a chance to take an elite playmaker you do. And you only, really, ever get those chances in the first round.
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