The New York Giants are in a perfect position at fourth overall. They have the opportunity to land an elite draft prospect, but they are also sitting ahead of numerous quarterback-needy teams that might be looking to trade up to draft their signal-caller.
The Giants, at fourth overall, sit ahead of teams searching for a quarterback, such as the Miami Dolphins (fifth overall), the Los Angeles Chargers (sixth overall), and the Oakland Raiders (ninth overall). The Dolphins and Chargers are widely expected to trade up for a quarterback if they must.
Securing Two First Round Picks:
The Giants can capitalize on the Chargers’ and Dolphins’ needs for a quarterback. Miami holds three first-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft: fifth overall, eighteenth overall, and twenty-sixth overall. The Chargers only have the fifth overall pick in the first round, but they also have the thirty-seventh overall pick (second round).
Miami and Los Angeles are both likely to target the best quarterback available, expected to be Tua Tagovailoa. The two teams may compete for the right to draft Tua. The Giants can capitalize on this competition by creating a bidding war for the fourth overall pick.
It would make sense if the Chargers wanted to leapfrog the Dolphins and draft the quarterback they want before Miami has a chance to. They would only need to move up two spots to get in front of Miami. That should not be too expensive of a trade, right? Well, guess again.
In addition to the premium prices that teams pay to draft quarterbacks, the Giants have the leverage to secure additional picks from the Miami Dolphins. New York could tell Miami that Los Angeles has offered the sixth overall pick and the thirty-seventh overall pick for the fourth overall pick, which they plan to spend on the quarterback that the Dolphins want. This would force Miami’s hand and get them to cough up the twenty-sixth overall pick to outbid Los Angeles and win the fourth overall pick.
The Giants, after trading the fifth pick to the Dolphins, would move back one spot and still be able to draft whomever they wanted to draft with the fourth overall pick. In addition to drafting that player, the Giants now hold an additional first-round pick, twenty-sixth overall. This would be the ideal draft-day trade for the New York Giants.
Addressing Positions Of Need:
In this ideal scenario, the Giants move back one spot and still get the prospect they wanted to draft with the fourth overall pick. They could even trade back further and stockpile more picks. I digress, however, and shift focus on whom the Giants could draft in this scenario. Most likely, the pick at fifth overall would be Clemson do-it-all linebacker, Isaiah Simmons.
Simmons perfectly fits the Giants’ defense and would be an X-factor for years to come. But how would the Giants address their other positions of need, such as edge rusher and offensive tackle? Well, now that they own the twenty-sixth overall pick (and have owned the thirty-sixth overall pick), New York can fill one of those needs in addition to landing superstar Isaiah Simmons.
The twenty-sixth overall pick could be used to draft a player such as AJ Epenesa, Zack Baun, or Yetur Gross-Matos, all first-round EDGE prospects. Or, they could spend the pick on offensive tackles, such as Lucas Niang or Josh Jones. One of those tackles might still be available with the thirty-sixth overall pick if they decide to wait and draft an EDGE at twenty-six instead. If the Giants are feeling aggressive and convicted towards a specific offensive tackle, they could even package twenty-six and thirty-six in a trade to move back inside the top-twenty or top-fifteen.
In this scenario, the first two rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft could look like this for the Giants: Isaiah Simmons, AJ Epenesa, and Josh Jones OR Isaiah Simmons and Andrew Thomas OR Tristan Wirfs, Kenneth Murray, and Justin Jefferson.
While this is the ideal Draft-Day trade scenario for the Giants, do not count on this happening. Dave Gettleman has never traded down in a draft before, and there is no guarantee that the Dolphins or Chargers would be willing to trade up for a quarterback. All we can do, as fans, is hope. This would be a perfect scenario for the New York Giants, so we can hope it our pipe dream comes true, but it likely never will.
The 2020 NFL Draft might be get delayed, but that will only give us all a bit more time to break down prospects and create mock drafts. The New York Giants will need all the time they can get to prepare for this crucial draft. They hold the fourth overall pick this year and will need to hit a home run in order to turn this team around. But what would that home run, ideal draft look like for New York?
Round One, Pick Four: Chase Young, Edge Rusher, Ohio State
In the ideal mock draft for the Giants, they will land the best player in the entire 2020 NFL Draft class. Chase Young out of Ohio State University is exactly that. The 2020 Heisman Trophy finalist recorded 16.5 sacks in 12 games this past season. In order for this to happen, quarterbacks will have to be selected with each of the first three picks in the draft.
The Bengals will select Joe Burrow, pretty much everyone believes that to be true at this point. But what will the Redskins do? Easily, they could take the best player in the draft, Chase Young, and move forward with Dwayne Haskins as their quarterback. However, there is growing speculation that Washington will either trade the second overall pick to a quarterback-needy team (like the Dolphins) or spend it on a quarterback of their own. That quarterback would be Tua Tagovailoa.
After Joe and Tua will have to go Justin Herbert. The Lions hold the third overall pick and it seems likely that they will trade down. The Chargers, Colts, Dolphins, Buccaneers, and Panthers are all teams that might be willing to move up for the opportunity to select the Oregon gunslinger. If these three quarterbacks get drafted all in a row, Giants fans will be filled with joy as Gettleman sprints to get the card in and proudly draft Chase Young.
It is no question that the New York Giants have holes all over their roster. The defense is especially talentless. However, New York desperately needs to upgrade their offensive line as well. Nate Solder has seen his play decline in recent years and the Giants’ 2019 right tackle, Mike Remmers, is a free agent and is unlikely to receive an extension.
It is time for the Giants to invest draft capital into their offensive line. In 2018, they secured starting left guard Will Hernandez in the second round. Now, in this ideal mock draft, the Giants will secure their starting right tackle in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Austin Jackson out of USC might not be there by the time the Giants are on the clock in the second round. However, the same was said about Will Hernandez in 2018. In the Giants’ ideal 2020 mock draft, Austin Jackson slides just a few more spots and falls right into New York’s lap.
It would be easy to mock select wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Giants here. Whether it would require them to trade up or not remains to be seen. However, recent reports indicate that the Giants will be prioritizing wide receivers in free agency. They plan on focusing their draft picks on the defense. After stealing Chase Young with the fourth overall pick and securing an offensive tackle in round two, ideally, New York will shift its attention back to the defense in round three.
Also, in an ideal world, the Giants would still own the sixty-eight overall pick. However, after trading for Leonard Williams in 2019, they do not own that pick anymore. So, instead, the Giants will use trade up from their compensatory ninety-ninth draft selection in order to select an athletic coverage linebacker.
Many fans will be hoping and praying that the Giants’ first pick is Isaiah Simmons. I believe it should be, as long as Chase Young is not available. But this year’s draft class is rich in linebackers, and Troy Dye would be a solid option for the Giants in the third round.
Troy Dye is an Oregon linebacker with excellent athleticism and coverage-skills. He is the right player to pair with David Mayo, the Giants’ run-stopping linebacker that just received a contract extension. But New York would likely have to trade up to secure this linebacker.
The New York Giants have limitless options and possibilities heading into the 2020 NFL Draft. The class has depth in positions that the Giants need. If all goes well, New York should be able to secure a multitude of core players to build this team around in the future.
The 2020 NFL offseason is about to heat up. Free agency begins next week and the NFL Draft will take place next month. For the New York Giants, it will be another crucial offseason with work towards rebuilding a talent-thin, 4-12 roster. Luckily, New York holds the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, a valuable asset for a rebuilding team like the Gmen.
What Is The Fourth Overall Pick Worth?
According to the 2020 NFL Draft Trade Value Chart, the Giants’ fourth overall pick is worth 1800 points. To put this in perspective, the first overall pick is worth 3000 points. The fifth and sixth overall picks are worth 1700 and 1600 points, respectively. The thirty-second pick is worth only 590 points (Draft Tek).
Early second-round picks are worth around 500 points. So, in most cases, the Giants’ fourth overall pick is worth a first-round pick and a second-round pick. However, it is well-known that NFL teams are willing to overpay for the luxury of drafting a quarterback. With multiple noteworthy quarterback prospects available in the 2020 NFL Draft class, the value of the Giants’ fourth overall pick is likely to be inflated.
What Can The Giants Get For Fourth Overall In 2020?
The Giants are in prime position to turn their team around with the fourth overall pick in 2020. They have two choices: select an elite prospect who will change the team, or trade the pick for a haul of draft capital to find starters and depth pieces.
Some of the prospects they might be able to select include Isaiah Simmons, Jeffrey Okudah, Mekhi Becton, Andrew Thomas, Jedrick Wills, Tristan Wirfs, or possibly even Chase Young. The Giants might be able to secure a defensive playmaker, or stalworth offensive tackle to protect Daniel Jones for the next decade.
There will be many teams looking to trade up in the 2020 NFL Draft. Some of those teams will be looking for quarterbacks, which means they will be willing to give up more than the fourth pick is worth to draft their signal-caller. Those teams include the Miami Dolphins who hold three first-round picks, including fifth overall, the Los Angeles Chargers who hold the sixth overall pick, and possibly even the Oakland Raiders who hold the twelfth and nineteenth overall picks.
The Giants have a plethora of enticing options to choose from. It will be hard for Dave Gettleman and company to mess this one up.
The New York Giants are picking fourth overall in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. This is their third straight season picking inside the top-ten. It is a crucial draft that general manager Dave Gettleman needs to get right in order to keep his job.
There is one name that keeps getting linked to the Giants at fourth overall: Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons.
This is the beginning of a new article series here on Empire Sports Media. This new series, the NFL Draft Profile series, will feature breakdowns of notable draft prospects to create a profile that summarizes and highlights the prospects’ top strengths and weaknesses.
Granted, I am not an expert draft analyst. However, in this article, I will be breaking down Isaiah Simmons as a prospect after watching hours of his film and using credible draft analysis from various sites such as NFL.com, Pro Football Focus, and The Draft Network intertwined with my own analysis. I will use the expert analysis to cross-check and cross-reference. I will use it to confirm or deny what I have seen on film. This article will also be accompanied by a YouTube video.
Stay tuned for plenty more Draft Profiles by myself and others on Empire Sports Media leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft. And if you have any feedback, critiques, or questions, you can reach me on Twitter: @Anthony_Rivardo. Also, check out the YouTube video that accompanies this article featuring a film breakdown here.
Top Strengths:
Before I get into Isaiah Simmons’s Top Strengths, I will list my grades on Isaiah’s traits/skills after watching and taking notes on hours of Isaiah’s game tape:
Play Recognition: 9
Ability to Cut Through Traffic: 7
Effort/Motor: 9
Consistent Tackler: 9
Speed to Get to the Sideline: 10
Effective Blitzer: 7
Coverage: 8
Overall: 8.4
As can be seen from these grades, Simmons is an elite athlete with high football IQ. However, he has some work to do as a true linebacker and could afford to put on a bit more size to help with his strength and ability to fight through contact. If you want to try making your own scouting profile on any NFL Draft prospects, check out John Chapman’s NFL Draft Scouting Rubric here.
Now, to discuss Isaiah’s Top Strengths:
Athleticism:
Isaiah Simmons completely dominated the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. He nearly broke the internet with his running back-level forty-yard dash time of 4.39 seconds, which was the best time by a linebacker by far. Isaiah also recorded the second-best broad jump by a linebacker at 11’0″ and the tied-third-best vertical jump at 39″.
These numbers should come as no surprise to anyone who watched Simmons play at Clemson. Isaiah demonstrated this speed, explosiveness, and athletic superiority time and time again during his collegiate playing days. Take this interception by Simmons as an example:
Simmons was playing safety here and started in the middle of the field. The opposing quarterback attempted to fit the ball to the receiver down the right sideline, but Simmons’s incredible speed and range allowed him to get all the way to the sideline to make the interception. Linebackers should not be able to do such a thing. In fact, linebackers can not do such a thing. Only Isaiah Simmons can do such a thing. This play perfectly leads us into Simmons’s next Top Strength.
Coverage Ability:
As seen in the video above, Isaiah Simmons has the speed/athleticism to cover the entire field. He demonstrated elite coverage ability from a linebacker over and over again at Clemson.
This play below is a perfect example of Isaiah’s ridiculous man-coverage ability. Simmons went stride for stride with now-NFL receiver Myles Boykin, got his head turned around and used his length to reach over Boykin and bat the ball down. He was in perfect position throughout the entire route and gave the receiver no chance to make a play on the ball:
Isaiah Simmons is a FREAK. Insane that a 6-4, 230lb linebacker can do this. He has game-breaking speed and sticky man-coverage for his position. A name to keep an eye on ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft. #Giants#GiantsChat#GiantsPridepic.twitter.com/8t7M1RzTui
That play is only one example of many impressive man-coverage snaps from Isaiah Simmons. His man-coverage shined in the following games for reference: Clemson versus Notre Dame 2018, Clemson versus Virginia 2019, and Clemson versus Ohio State University in 2019 (despite one bad play in man-coverage at the end of this game, he was consistently lock-down throughout the game).
There are times, I noticed, where Simmons gets a little lost in zone coverage. For reference, in Clemson’s game against Texas A&M in 2018, Simmons let up two big plays in zone coverage. The second of the two plays was a crucial 3rd and 8 with 2:22 left in the 4th quarter where Simmons lost the receiver (who sat down in Isaiah’s zone) in his peripheral vision and allowed him to make the reception for a first down and gain all the way down to the one yard-line.
(To cross-check and support what I saw on tape, I looked at scouting profiles of Simmons on The Draft Network. Kyle Crabbs listed “Zone Coverage Anticipation” as Isaiah Simmons’s “Worst Trait.”)
Isaiah Simmons is an excellent prospect and has elite man-coverage ability. However, after watching hours of his game tape, I have noticed that he could use some work polishing up his performance in zone coverage. Still my pick for the #Giants at 4.#GiantsPride#GiantsChatpic.twitter.com/O4hu2KWAh6
Simmons was inconsistent at times in zone coverage (though far above-average for his position), but he was consistently elite in man coverage, especially for a linebacker. His coverage ability is comparable to that of a safety, which leads us to our next Top Strength.
Versatility:
Isaiah Simmons played over 100 snaps at five different positions in the 2019 CFB season. According to Pro Football Focus, Simmons played 100 snaps at strong safety, 116 snaps at outside linebacker, 132 snaps at free safety, 262 snaps at slot cornerback, and 299 snaps at inside linebacker.
There is no other player like Isaiah Simmons. He can play every position on defense and he can play them all better than most prospects. Typically, a linebacker excels in one area and can be a bit of a liability in other areas. That is not the case with Isaiah Simmons. He is an X-factor in pass coverage, has above-average pass-rushing capabilities, and is impressive in run defense.
The 2020 College Football National Championship Game was a perfect demonstration of Isaiah’s versatility:
People, watch this video. This is INSANE. Simmons made PBUs in man coverage blanketing TE Thaddeus Moss, he got a sack as a Blitzer off the edge, and got a TFL as a true linebacker. This is the definition of versatility.#Giants#GiantsChat#NYG#GiantsPridepic.twitter.com/VSzUKuqQ1k
As stated in his top strengths, Isaiah Simmons is an unbelievably versatile football player. He played nearly every position on Clemson’s defense. But, moving around the defense so often means that Simmons played a limited number of snaps at his NFL position of linebacker.
In 2019, Simmons played less than 300 snaps at inside linebacker (299). Ideally, you would like to see a top-ten linebacker prospect have more experience playing the traditional inside linebacker position. However, for teams with clever defensive coordinators, this is not a big deal. The best coordinators will build schemes around the players, not plug players into roles/positions in a scheme and try to make it work.
Potentially Difficult Skillset To Translate To The Pro Game:
Isaiah Simmons’s versatility is rare. It is one-of-a-kind. Typically, when NFL fans refer to a player as a “Swiss Army Knife,” they are describing a versatile safety that has the ability to play in the box as well as in deep coverage. But Simmons is the exact opposite of that- he is a versatile linebacker with the ability to play deep coverage.
Simmons made the transition from safety in 2017 to linebacker in 2018 and excelled in his new role. He built on an impressive 2018 season in 2019, solidifying himself as a linebacker and demonstrating a rare skillset. But there are some who still question what his role in an NFL defensive scheme will be and whether he will play more linebacker or safety.
We have seen some “do-it-all” safeties find success graduating to the NFL: Jamal Adams and Derwin James are perfect examples. However, we have seen others struggle and fail to translate their skillset to the professional game: examples include Jabrill Peppers, Mark Barron, Deone Bucannon.
Isaiah Simmons is larger and stronger than every single one of those players, though. He has linebacker size at 6 feet 3 inches, 238 pounds. But even that is something that Simmons could improve on.
Could Afford To Add Some Strength:
The average weight of an NFL linebacker is roughly 244 pounds. Simmons is close to that number but should work towards matching that weight.
Occasionally, tight ends are able to handle Isaiah Simmons and shove him out of the way. Yes, I stated above that Simmons is 238 pounds, heavier than Roquan Smith. So it might not necessarily be a weight thing.
His game is more finesse than power, which is fine, but gaining some strength and bulking up a bit more could serve Simmons well.
Do not get it twisted though, Simmons can demolish running backs as a blitzer (GIF via PFF):
Recap:
To put it simply: the good severely outweighs the bad when analyzing Isaiah Simmons’s strengths and weaknesses. There are questions regarding his efficiency in zone coverage, what his role might look like in an NFL defensive scheme, and if he has the strength to dominate against professionals. However, the potential upside with a 238 pound 21-year-old that can play nearly every position on defense is far more encouraging than the flaws are discouraging.
Isaiah Simmons should get serious consideration from the New York Giants at the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He could transform their defense with a new versatile skillset and provide stability at the linebacker position that the Giants have not had in over a decade. There are plenty of other options for the Giants, which I will break down soon, but at this point, it is hard not to put Simmons’s name at the top of the list.
Once again, if you have any feedback, critiques, or questions, you can reach me on Twitter: @Anthony_Rivardo. Also, be sure to check out the Isaiah Simmons Draft Profile video on YouTube where I go more in-depth and do some film breakdowns. Let me know via Twitter or YouTube which prospect you want me to break down next.
The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine wrapped up this week with plenty of impressive performances from the draft’s top prospects. The New York Giants are picking in the top-ten for the third-straight year. This year, the Giants own the fourth overall pick and are in prime position to land an elite prospect or a haul of picks in a trade back.
There have been plenty of different prospects linked to the Giants in various rumors, reports, and mock drafts. One name that keeps coming up is Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons, especially after the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. Simmons lit the Combine up and should be a top target for the Giants in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Isaiah Simmons completely dominated the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. He nearly broke the internet with his running back-level forty-yard dash time of 4.39 seconds, which was the best time by a linebacker by far. Isaiah also recorded the second-best broad jump by a linebacker at 11’0″ and the tied-third-best vertical jump at 39″.
Simmons’s incredible Combine performance is shooting him up, draft boards. Analysts are saying that there is no way Isaiah should make it past the fourth pick. The New York Giants hold that pick and rumors suggest that they are interested in taking Isaiah Simmons fourth overall. For a long list of reasons, they should.
Why He Should Be The Pick At Fourth Overall
The Giants do not need a quarterback. They have their franchise guy in Daniel Jones. Scratch Tua and Herbert off the list. Chase Young is unlikely to fall outside of the top three, so scratch him off the list, too. The Giants could still go a few different routes with the fourth pick. They could address a pressing need and take one of the top offensive tackle prospects. But there are a couple of elite defensive talents that should be available when the Giants are on the clock.
Isaiah Simmons, out of Clemson, is one of the elite defenders that should be on the board fourth overall. In fact, he should be at the top of the board.
The above quote by Isaiah Simmons at the Combine this week perfectly summarizes why he is such a valuable prospect. The best teams in the league are relying heavily on pre-snap motion and versatile tight ends with excellent blocking abilities. It is extremely difficult to find players to match up against tight ends like Kittle and Kelce. Safeties might be able to cover them, but they probably cannot fight off their blocks in run-defense. Linebackers might be able to get the best of them in run-defense, but they typically do not have the speed to cover these versatile tight ends. Isaiah Simmons has the speed, the coverage ability, and the strength to do this from the linebacker position. He will be a real X-Factor for whichever team drafts him.
Isaiah Simmons is the definition of versatility. According to Pro Football Focus, Simmons played over 100 snaps at five different positions in the 2019 CFB season. He is a positionless player with the talent, skills, and athleticism to excel at whatever position he plays.
The Giants would hit a home run by selecting Isaiah Simmons fourth overall. He has the highest ceiling of any defender in the draft class. Simmons is an elite talent that would fill a massive position of need for New York. Isaiah Simmons’s rare versatility, such as his 8 sacks and 3 interceptions in 2019, makes him the top target for the Giants with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The New York Giants have limitless options heading into the 2020 NFL offseason. They have over $70 million to spend in free agency and the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. With the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine taking place this week, rumors are starting to heat up around the NFL.
A few new rumors surround the New York Giants, too. According to Matt Lombardo of nj.com, Dave Gettleman is “very serious” about trading back in the 2020 NFL Draft. Also according to Lombardo, the Giants’ draft target, if they trade back, will be Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown.
Will The Giants Trade Back?
Trading down might be a reliable option for the Giants, but is it a real possibility? General manager Dave Gettleman has never traded down in a draft before. He recently received heavy criticism for this by NBC Sports’ Peter King in his latest “Football Morning in America” column:
A GM who has made 45 picks has never traded down to accumulate more picks from any of the 45. That is borderline negligent. Maybe not even borderline. I am incredulous about that. As I documented last week, GM John Schneider of the Seahawks used last year’s 21st overall pick and traded down six times to accumulate six picks, one of whom was wide receiver DK Metcalf, who, as it turned out, produced better value than a 21st pick in most drafts as a rookie. And four other players from the trade played for the Seahawks last season. Trying to not make too much of that, but wow. Just wow. – Peter King, NBC Sports
Dave Gettleman fielded questions from the media on Tuesday at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. He was asked about the potential of trading down from fourth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Dave Gettleman responded, saying, “We’re open for business.” Matt Lombardo’s report seems to back up Gettleman’s statement.
The Argument Against Derrick Brown
Matt Lombardo’s report regarding the Giants’ consideration of trading down came as no surprise. The shocking part of the report is the Giants’ apparent interest in targeting Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown.
The Giants have already invested quite a bit into their defensive line. They spent a first-round pick on Dexter Lawrence II in the 2019 NFL draft and traded their 2020 third-round pick for Leonard Williams ahead of the trade deadline. These two moves combined with the talents of Dalvin Tomlinson and BJ Hill make it confusing as to why the Giants would be targeting yet another first-round interior defensive lineman.
Derrick Brown Stats and Highlights
Derrick Brown might be an interior defensive lineman, but he is not your everyday IDL. Brown is a monster. He is one of the top prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft class.
If Leonard Williams walks in free agency, drafting Derrick Brown makes more sense. But even if Williams stays, Brown would make the Giants’ defensive line a dominant unit.
In his 2019 senior campaign, Derrick Brown was unblockable, recording 54 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks. This was after putting up 48 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks as a junior.
That’s two straight seasons of consistent, elite performance from Derrick Brown. Brown is a phenomenal run-stuffer and a decent pass-rusher. Combining his talents with that of Dexter Lawrence would create maybe the best young defensive line in the NFL.
But is it wise for Dave Gettleman to spend another first-round pick on an interior defensive lineman? Eventually he will need to start investing in other positions of need. And, after this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, it might be hard for the Giants to say no to an elite talent like Isaiah Simmons if he is on the board at fourth overall.
The NFL has yet to release the list of compensatory draft picks for the upcoming NFL Draft, perhaps due to the proposed rule in the new CBA regarding core veterans, but no one is for sure.
An interesting aspect of the proposed CBA that NFL players will vote on: The compensatory pick calculation would be revised to exclude many “core veterans,” including those who sign 1-year deals making less than $1.75 million. The hope is it allows players to sign more quickly.
The league usually awards the picks before the NFL Combine, which is ongoing as we speak. The New York Giants have a lot to gain in this draft in which they are projected to have nine selections. They will have seven of their own picks plus three possible compensatory selections.
The Giants have the fourth overall pick in Round One and Pick #36 in Round Two. They traded their third rounder to the Jets (#68) in the Leonard Williams deal but are expected to receive a third round comp pick (#101?) for losing Landon Collins in free agency last March.
They own their picks in rounds four through seven (#s 110. 151, 183 and 219), have the Saints’ seventh rounder from the Eli Apple trade and are in play to receive two more compensatory sevenths for losing Josh Mauro and Mario Edwards in free agency last year.
There is still the possibility that general manager Dave Gettleman trades back in the first round for more draft capital, but we’d have to see that to believe it.
The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off this week with the 2020 NFL Draft just around the corner. This will be another crucial draft for the New York Giants as they are once again picking inside of the top-ten. This year, New York holds the fourth overall pick and is in prime position to trade down to a quarterback-needy team to accumulate a king’s ransom of draft capital.
Trading down might be a reliable option for the Giants, but is it a real possibility? General manager Dave Gettleman has never traded down in a draft before. He recently received heavy criticism for this by NBC Sports’ Peter King in his latest “Football Morning in America” column:
A GM who has made 45 picks has never traded down to accumulate more picks from any of the 45. That is borderline negligent. Maybe not even borderline. I am incredulous about that. As I documented last week, GM John Schneider of the Seahawks used last year’s 21st overall pick and traded down six times to accumulate six picks, one of whom was wide receiver DK Metcalf, who, as it turned out, produced better value than a 21st pick in most drafts as a rookie. And four other players from the trade played for the Seahawks last season. Trying to not make too much of that, but wow. Just wow. – Peter King, NBC Sports
Peter King makes some fair points. Trading down is a proven strategy that reaps significant benefits. The 2018 Indianapolis Colts can attest to that. Many Giants fans are pounding the table, begging Dave Gettleman to finally trade down in 2020. For those fans, there is reason to believe that he just might do it this year.
The Giants are “Open for business.”
With the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine kicking off this week, Dave Gettleman fielded questions from the media on Tuesday. He was, of course, asked about the potential of trading down from fourth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Dave Gettleman responded, saying, “We’re open for business.”
This was Dave Gettleman admitting that he is open to trading down in 2020 and that it is a real possibility this year. He also said, “Whatever we do is gonna be in our best interest.” Gettleman also conceded that the likelihood of a trade down is higher this time around, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
New head coach Joe Judge is also open to the possibility of trading down in this year’s draft:
“Whatever the scenario that comes to be that’s best for the Giants, if that’s trading back, we’re open to listen,” Judge said. “We don’t have to do anything, but we’ll listen to anything.” – Joe Judge, via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post
Despite making it clear that the Giants are open to trading down, Gettleman also cautioned that there is risk involved with such an action:
“Trading back has its danger,” Gettleman warned. “We’re at four. Let’s say you trade back to eight. There’s only four players we like, what if they’re all gone? Now what are you gonna do? Are you gonna trade back again? You can trade yourself back out of good players but, we’re open.” – Dave Gettleman, via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post
So the Giants are “open for business.”
Well, kind of. Dave Gettleman still seems to be pretty skeptical of the whole trade-down concept. It looks like the franchise is open to it under specific circumstances.
However, I wouldn’t bet on a trade down from fourth overall at this point. Regardless, it is an incredibly strong draft class this year. The Giants will be landing an elite prospect at fourth overall if they decide to stay put. But maybe they will land an elite prospect, and a few extra draft picks after trading back. Time will only tell.
One of the biggest questions going into this pre-draft process was whether or not Heisman Trophy winner and National Championship MVP Joe Burrow would be willing to play for the Cincinnati Bengals, the team who holds the top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on April 25.
The answer is now known. He’s ready to “talk ball” with whichever team drafts him.
Joe Burrow asked if he would pull an Eli Manning. “I haven’t really thought about that… I’m going to try to be the best player I can be for whoever drafts me.” pic.twitter.com/IS3gCrGryz
That solves one of the three slots ahead of the New York Giants, who select fourth overall. The Ames, Iowa native was thought to be on the fence about playing for the Bengals, and it was being bandied about that he could do what Eli Manning did in 2004 when the San Diego Chargers insisted on selected him with the top pick.
Instead, Burrow will play for whoever drafts him, and that will likely be the Bengals at No. 1. The Washington Redskins hold the second pick followed by the Detroit Lions and the Giants.
In an alternate universe, the Giants could receive some divine intervention by the Redskins and Lions trading back with teams seeking a quarterback, allowing Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young to fall into their lap.
Burrow will not throw this week at the NFL Combine and Young will also not participate in drills. The two seem confident they can only hurt their draft stock by participating. They would rather work out individually for teams or through a the more-controlled process of a pro day.
The 2020 NFL Draft is right around the corner. The Draft will begin on April 23 this year. In preparation for the NFL Draft, the NFL Scouting Combine will begin this week.
The Combine is a crucial part of the draft process. Teams finally have the chance to meet and interview this year’s prospects. The New York Giants are picking fourth overall in this year’s draft and will have their pick at some of the top prospects in the class. With the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine about to kick off, let’s take a look at three of the top prospects to keep an eye on for the Giants in 2020.
Isaiah Simmons
One of the draft’s most hyped prospects is Clemson’s do-it-all linebacker, Isaiah Simmons. Simmons played nearly every position on Clemson’s defense and is an exceptional athlete.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic said, “They might rename the combine after Isaiah Simmons after he is done with it.” According to Albert Breer of MMQB, one college scouting director forecast to Breer that Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons will run in the low 4.4s, and his “jumps are gonna be nuts.”
Isaiah Simmons is going to test extremely well in the Combine drills this week. He has the speed, size, and athleticism to drop jaws. Simmons has been linked to the Giants on many occasions, so expect them to keep an eye on the draft’s top linebacker.
Tristan Wirfs
According to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, the New York Giants are “in love” with Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs. Wirfs is already expected to be one of the Giants’ top targets in the 2020 NFL Draft. But with a strong performance at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Tristan could make himself a must-draft target for the Giants who have a severe need at offensive tackle.
Tristan Wirfs is expected to dominate the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. He is a mammoth of a human being, standing at 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 322 pounds. Despite this, Tristan can move at a somewhat rapid pace. He is expected to run a sub-4.9s 40-yard dash. He would be only the fifth offensive tackle ever to accomplish this feat and the only offensive tackle to run a sub 4.9s while weighing 322 pounds.
Tristan Wirfs has been described as a “300-pound man that moves like a dancer.” But he also moves weights like ragdolls. Tristan broke Iowa’s hang clean record with four reps of 450 pounds last year. Wirfs is sure to impress during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine and could make his way surging up teams’ draft boards.
Mekhi Becton
The Giants are in the market for an offensive tackle. Tristan Wirfs is undoubtedly one of the top options for the Giants in the 2020 NFL Draft, but there are others. Another offensive tackle to keep an eye on at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine is Mekhi Becton.
Mekhi Becton is a massive human being. He is maybe the definition of the term “hog molly” that general manager Dave Gettleman is known to use. The Lousiville offensive tackle towers over the competition at 6 feet 7 inches. He also weighs in at a humungous 369 pounds.
Becton’s size is rare. But, what makes him so unique is the athletic ability he has combined with his otherworldly stature. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com described Becton as an offensive tackle with an “enormous frame complemented by surprisingly nimble feet and functional athleticism to handle either tackle spot.” The Giants could draft Mekhi Becton to play left tackle or right tackle depending on how much they do or do not trust Nate Solder.
The Giants will be able to find a franchise building block in the 2020 NFL Draft. But that all starts with the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. This is a crucial step in the draft process, and these three players will need to live up to expectations and impress New York if they want to get selected fourth overall.
