Daniel Jones

New York Giants Could End Up With An Elite Defender And Quarterback In 2019 Draft

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Could the New York Giants find a way to secure Quinnen Williams?

The New York Giants face a dilemma in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Giants have decided to completely rebuild the team. They allowed their starting safety, Landon Collins, to walk in free agency and traded away superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Browns.

This leaves the Giants with holes all over their roster that they will need to fill in the 2019 NFL Draft. Some fans want to see the Giants draft the next franchise quarterback. Other fans want to see the team take an elite defensive prospect. There is a way the Giants could end up with both.

How The Giants Could Get An Elite Defender

The 2019 NFL Draft class is filled with defensive talent. The top defensive prospects in this class are elite, potentially future all-pro players. Players like Nick Bosa, Josh Allen, and Quinnen Williams are being looked at as elite prospects.

These players should all go in the top 5. However, there is a way the Giants could get one of these players with the 6th pick.

One of these players will have to fall due to a team trading up for a quarterback, or a team in the top 3 reaching on a player at a position of need. The Jets have been consistently brought up in trade rumors. If they trade their pick to a quarterback-needy team, such as the Dolphins, that would mean one of these players will fall.

In addition, if a team like the 49ers decide to skip out on one of these prospects, that would cause a defender to fall. The 49ers traded for Dee Ford recently, so it would not be a surprise if they decide they are fine on defense. The 49ers could take wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. They need a receiver, so it would not be surprising if they reached on one.

Assuming the Cardinals draft Kyler Murray 1st overall, the 49ers draft D.K. Metcalf, and the Jets trade away the 3rd pick, the Giants will be able to draft one of Bosa, Allen, or Williams. The top 3 picks will be crucial for the Giants and there quest to draft a top 3 defensive prospect.

The Raiders, more likely than not, will draft one of the elite defenders with the 4th pick. The Buccanneers will probably draft the best player available, however, it is possible they do not take Bosa, Allen, or Williams. The Buccaneers have been linked to linebacker Devin White.

If these possible outcomes happen, the Giants can end up with either Quinnen Williams, Nick Bosa, or Josh Allen. At the very least, they will be able to draft Devin White. These players would be instant-impact starters on the Giants defense and could change the course of the franchise for the next decade.

If the Giants draft a defender with the 6th pick, how will they be able to draft a quarterback, too?

How The Giants Could Get A Franchise Quarterback

By trading Odell Beckham Jr., the Giants were able to acquire the 17th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Additionally, this trade might also allow the Giants to draft their next franchise quarterback. The 17th overall pick will be a key selection for the Giants’ future.

The Giants have plenty of options with the 17th pick. If they want to use it to draft a quarterback, they could stay put and draft the best one available. Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, or Will Grier will be names to watch at 17.

However, if the Giants do not want to stay at 17, they could potentially trade their way back into the top 10 and draft a quarterback. In this scenario, the Giants could end up with Dwayne Haskins and an elite defender- this would be most Giants fans’ dream draft.

If a team does not trade up with the Jets to draft Dwayne Haskins, and the Giants draft an elite defender, Haskins will most likely fall all the way to the 10th pick before a team considers drafting him. The Giants will be at 17 and could potentially trade up to the 9th pick to keep Haskins away from Denver. The Bills hold the 9th pick and drafted their franchise quarterback last year.

According to the Walter Football NFL Draft Value Chart, the 17th overall pick is worth 950 points. If the Giants are looking to trade back into the top 10, it will cost them their 17th pick (950) and their 2nd round pick (530). The 9th pick is worth 1,350 points, so the Giants’ 17th and a 2nd round pick could get the deal done. However, the Bills will have all the leverage, so the Giants might have to throw in a future pick or maybe even a player.

The Giants have a rare opportunity here. They could acquire the face of the franchise’s defense and offense in the same draft. The 17th pick is only 8 spots behind the 9th, so the Bills would not lose out on too much if they traded back with the Giants. If the Bills intend to draft a receiver, the 17th pick will still get them a top 3 receiver in this draft class, and load up on extra draft picks from the Giants. It is a win-win situation.

Imagine a New York Giants roster that features Dwayne Haskins AND Quinnen Williams/Nick Bosa/Josh Allen…

New York Giants: Quarterback Prospects Weigh In At The Combine

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Should the New York Giants draft Oklahoma star, Kyler Murray?

The 2019 NFL Scouting Combine officially began on Thursday, February 28th. On Thursday, the 2019 Draft prospects were officially weighed and measured. All eyes were on this year’s quarterback class.

After NFL teams had their coaches and general managers conduct press conferences on Wednesday, fans and analysts were keeping a keen eye on a few specific prospects. For the Giants, those prospects were Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins.

Giants’ head coach Pat Shurmur committed to veteran Eli Manning Wednesday. However, him and general manager Dave Gettleman both acknowledge Eli’s age. He turned 38 years old in January. As Pat Shurmur said, Eli is “closer to 40 than he is to 20.”

With Eli’s age being a factor, the Giants are aware they need to have a plan for the future. Gettleman and Shurmur both admitted they are thinking about a succession plan and they are scouting this year’s quarterback class. With all this in mind, it is easy to assume the Giants took notes of the quarterbacks’ measurements.

Kyler Murray

Possibly the most intriguing prospect in the 2019 NFL Draft is Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray. Murray won the Heisman Trophy in 2018 as he put up 42 passing touchdowns and 4361 passing yards, along with with 12 rushing touchdowns and 1,001 rushing yards. He is the definition of dual-threat.

Despite his magical 2018 season at Oklahoma, Murray comes with a plethora of question marks. The main one being his size. But Murray answered all questions during his official weigh in and measurements at the Combine.

Throughout Kyler’s college career and this year’s NFL offseason, there has been speculation about Murray’s height. Some predicted he would be measured at only 5 feet 8 inches. However, at the Combine, Murray measured out a little taller and heavier than expected.

Kyler Murray’s official weight at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine is 207 pounds. This is a huge win for Kyler Murray. Many analysts predicted his weight to be closer to 180 pounds. Murray proved today that the Russell Wilson comparisons might not be much of a stretch. He actually weighed in 3 pounds heavier than Wilson did at his Combine.

On top of his surprising weight, Murray impressed scouts with his height. He was measured at 5 feet 10 inches, just one inch below Russell Wilson. He even had some of the biggest hands in the class with 9 and a half inches (bigger than 6 foot 3 inch Drew Lock).

Murray’s weight and measurements might entice a quarterback-needy team to take him in the top 10. After Shurmur’s press conference, some might believe the Giants could be that team.

Dwayne Haskins

Before the 2019 NFL Combine, Giants fans were all in on Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Now the fanbase seems to be split between Haskins and Kyler Murray. Either way, both seem to be great options, and after Combine measurements, Haskins deserves just as much of the spotlight.

Dwayne Haskins had great measurements at the Combine. He has a solid, prototypical NFL body. Dwayne stood tall at 6 foot 3 inches and three eighths. This is the average height for quarterbacks in the NFL. Knowing that Gettleman likes big quarterbacks, this should be music to his ears.

Haskins also weighed in an ideal weight. He was a solid 231 pounds. To compare Haskins’s body type to a notable pro, Patrick Mahomes is listed at 6 foot 3 and 230 pounds. Haskins has nice sized hands at 9 and five eighths inches.

With the ideal size for an NFL quarterback, and his fantastic film at Ohio State, Haskins looks to have a promising NFL career. He has been mocked to the Giants in numerous mock drafts. With a good showing at the combine, the Giants could become even more interested in Dwayne Haskins.

Drew Lock And Daniel Jones

Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins are the two best quarterbacks in the 2019 NFL Draft. There is a strong possibility that both of them are selected in the top 10. However, they are not the only quarterbacks receiving first-round buzz.

Drew Lock from Missouri is the consensus third-best quarterback in this draft class. Some have been lead to believe he might even be selected in the top 15. He is a tall, strong arm quarterback. He is listed at 6 foot 3 and six eighths inches, as well as 228 pounds. Unfortunately, Lock only had 9 inch hands. Some teams might even consider that to be too small.

Duke quarterback Daniel Jones has the ideal quarterback body. He stands mighty tall at 6 foot 5 and weighs in at 221 pounds. He has large hands, too, at 9 and six eighths inches. Not only does Jones have the ideal body, he also has a connection to the Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning. Daniel Jones was coached by Eli Manning’s same quarterback coach. He could be an option for the Giants if they trade back, or if he slides into the second round and the Giants decide to draft another position in round one.

If the Giants choose to draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, they have multiple options. As the Combine continues, the Giants will be keeping a close eye on these players as they participate in drills. Expect to see the Giants conduct formal meetings and interviews with a few of these prospects.

New York Giants: What The Giants Will Be Looking For From Quarterbacks At The Combine

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The 2019 NFL Scouting Combine will begin on February 26 and last until March 4. On Saturday, March 2, the quarterback prospects will participate in their workouts.

Much has been made of the New York Giants’ quarterback position. Eli Manning’s future with the team has been a controversial topic for a couple of years now. After the Giants passed on a quarterback with the number 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, fans are eager to see if the Giants will make up for it in 2019.

After all, Eli Manning is not going to get any younger. He is 38 years old and cannot play forever. Reports indicate the Giants are considering drafting his successor in the 2019 NFL Draft. If that is the case, the Giants will need to pay close attention to the quarterback prospects at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine.

Complete List Of Quarterback Prospects

  1. Dwayne Haskins Jr., Ohio State
  2. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
  3. Drew Lock, Missouri
  4. Will Grier, West Virginia
  5. Daniel Jones, Duke
  6. Tyree Jackson, Buffalo
  7. Ryan Finley, N.C. State
  8. Jake Browning, Washington
  9. Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State
  10. Trace McSorley, Penn State
  11. Gardner Minshew, Washington State
  12. Brett Rypien, Boise State
  13. Kyle Shurmur, Vanderbilt
  14. Easton Stick, North Dakota State
  15. Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
  16. Jordan Ta’amu, Mississippi
  17. Clayton Thorson, Northwestern

The complete list of prospects participating in the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, from every position, can be found here.

During the NFL Combine, prospects will go through measurements, weigh-ins, drills, workouts, and interviews. It is an important week for the prospects trying to cement their draft status.

Weigh-Ins And Measurements

At the NFL Combine, teams take measurements of all the prospects. That includes their height, their weight, their hand size, and their arm length. Some teams look at these measurements as an important part of projecting a quarterback’s professional strengths and limitations. Others consider that to be an outdated form of evaluation.

The Giants are one of the teams that puts emphasis on the quarterbacks’ measurements. They will be looking for a quarterback with the prototypical NFL build. A tall, strong-arm quarterback with big hands is what the Giants like to see.

One quarterback to pay attention to in the weigh-ins and measurements is the 2019 Senior Bowl MVP, Daniel Jones. Daniel is coming out of Duke and is known for having the prototypical NFL body. It is possibly his best trait. Jones is expected to measure about 6’4″. His hands were measured at about 9 3/4″ and he weighed in at 215 pounds.

To put this into perspective: Eli Manning is 6’4″, weighs 218 pounds, and a hand size of 9 3/4″. Daniel Jones basically has the exact body of Eli Manning. Jones was even coached by Eli’s former college coach.

There are clear connections between Jones, Manning, and the Giants. However, talent is more important than body, so Jones will have to prove himself as the most talented quarterback in the draft if he wants the Giants to draft him with the 6th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Drills And Workouts

The fan favorite 40 yard-dash does not mean as much for the quarterback position as other drills do. However, in select prospects, the 40 time is a special drill to keep an eye on.

In 2018, that special case was Lamar Jackson. However, Jackson decided not to run the 40 at the Combine.

In 2019, that special case is Kyler Murray. Murray is expected to run about a 4.40 40 yard-dash. He could set a record time for his position.

The quarterbacks have their own drills, the throwing drills. Last year, Sam Darnold went number 3 overall without throwing at the Combine. So, throwing at the Combine is not extremely important, but it gives prospects a chance to make scouts look again when evaluating their accuracy.

Will Grier out of West Virginia is a prospect to keep an eye on in the throwing drills. He struggled with his accuracy during the Senior Bowl, but the Combine could be a chance to redeem himself.

The Giants likely will not be looking for a speedy quarterback. The 40 yard-dash is not something the Giants will be paying close attention to. For example, Eli Manning ran a 4.92 40 yard dash, and he has been the Giants’ quarterback for 15 years. The Giants prefer an accurate, strong-arm, pocket quarterback who can read defenses and make all the throws necessary. The Giants will watch closely to make sure the prospects they like are accurate and have an “NFL-arm” at the Combine.

Interviews

While these players will be evaluated during their workouts and drills, that is not the most important aspect of the Combine for them. The Giants and all other teams will put great importance on the quarterbacks’ interviews.

Teams like to use the combine as a way to get to know the players. Since quarterback is such an important and complex position, the interview looks to dissect many important traits for quarterbacks.

Teams will ask them questions to see how they can handle the media. They will ask them about their relationships with teammates and coaches, along with their work ethic. Most importantly, the teams will be testing the quarterbacks on their football IQ.

The football IQ they will be testing for in a quarterback is their ability to read defenses, call protections, and understand play concepts. Many teams even give the prospects markers and a white board and pop quiz them on plays and concepts.

A prospect who will need a great interview to secure his spot as a top ten pick is Dwayne Haskins Jr. out of Ohio State University. Possibly Haskins’s best trait is his football IQ. Teams will try to figure out if Dwayne is the real deal in the interview room at the Combine.

Here are a couple of videos where Dwayne Haskins shows off his football IQ and has his throwing abilities analyzed:

New York Giants Reportedly Planning On Drafting Eli’s Successor In 2019

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New York Giants, Eli Manning

In his post-season press conference, New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman revealed he had a “very honest” conversation with quarterback Eli Manning. The topics discussed in this conversation were never officially revealed as it was private between Manning and Gettleman. However, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post recently reported on what was discussed during that conversation.

According to Schwartz, “The ‘brutally honest’ assessment Gettleman promised will not result in parting with Manning, but it will lead to a high-alert effort to find his successor.”

The Giants’ Plan To Replicate The Chiefs’ And Other Teams’ Successes

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs took the NFL by storm in 2018. In his second NFL season, his first as a starter, Mahomes threw 50 touchdown passes. Patrick spent his entire 2017 rookie season sitting behind Alex Smith, learning from the veteran, and preparing to take over as a starter in 2018. The Giants are reportedly looking to replicate the Chiefs’ formula and success this year.

The Giants did something similar to this in 2004. After making a draft day trade to acquire Eli Manning, they sat him behind veteran Kurt Warner to start the 2004 NFL season. However, in week 11, the Giants put Warner on the bench and let Manning take over. Manning had a rough 7 games in his rookie season, but he gained valuable experience.

Eli was much more ready to face NFL defenses in his sophomore season. In his second season, Manning finished among the top five quarterbacks in both passing yards and touchdown passes, while leading an offense that finished third in the NFL in scoring with a total of 422 points. It was the most points the Giants scored in a single season since 1963. The Giants won the NFC East with an 11–5 record, and advanced to the postseason as the #4-seed.

Sitting back and learning to begin their first season has proven to be very effective for NFL quarterbacks. In 2018, Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson started the season as the second-string quarterback. However, when each of them got their chance to play, they proved to be the best quarterbacks on the roster. Both quarterbacks would attribute much of their success to the help they received from the other quarterbacks on their rosters. Mayfield and Jackson were not perfect and struggled at times, but they will likely progress in their sophomore seasons.

Eli Manning has never had to mentor a quarterback before. However, in 2019, it seems like he will play a major role in grooming the successor:

Gettleman has not divulged the details of the “great conversation’’ he had with Manning after the season. It appears as if Manning was told of the plan to bring in a youngster to take his job down the road. No one is asking Manning to be a quarterbacks coach, but the Giants need to know their veteran will embrace the newcomer. By all indications, Manning is fine with that scenario, as he realizes too much losing has gone on and he cannot play forever.

Gettleman’s Quarterback Draft Search

Paul Schwartz’s report came with this valuable piece of information: “The search for the next franchise quarterback will be undertaken in the draft, not free agency.” The 2019 free agent class of quarterbacks is nothing special. Nick Foles is not a young quarterback that Eli could groom and Teddy Bridgewater is not looked at as a franchise quarterback due to injury history. However, there are plenty of quarterback options in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Dwayne Haskins out of Ohio State fits Dave Gettleman’s mold. It is early in the draft process, but based on what we know about Gettleman, Haskins is likely to be the Giants’ top-ranked quarterback on their big board. With the 6th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Haskins could be an option. “The Giants have yet to determine if Haskins should be taken that high and will study him relentlessly in the coming weeks, trying to pick apart every aspect of his game and personality.”

Other top quarterback prospects include Kyler Murray, Drew Lock, and Daniel Jones. Kyler Murray is supposedly not an option for Gettleman, due to his lack of size and his inexperience in a pro style system. Lock and Jones have typically not been looked at as top ten quarterbacks by most analysts. However, that could change with the NFL Scouting Combine coming up in March. The Giants will definitely be evaluating and meeting with the top quarterback prospects.

New York Giants: QB Daniel Jones Improves Draft Chances At Senior Bowl

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The New York Giants drafted

The Senior Bowl is always an interesting game for scouting college players, and the New York Giants organization can gain some valuable information from it now that it’s concluded. Quarterback, of course, is the position that’s getting the most attention at this point, and some of the top quarterback prospects in the draft were able to show off their skills during the game.

Those players include Daniel Jones, who seemed to raise his stock with a performance that included 115 yards and eight completions on 11 passing attempts. Not bad for a game with relatively limited snaps. Jones split time with Missouri quarterback Drew Lock, as well as NC State’s Ryan Finley, but Jones was the one to come away with the MVP award for the game. Pretty impressive for a player that was sitting under everyone’s radar at the beginning of the college season.

“Just showing the poise and showing kind of a comfort in the offense is something they wanted to see,” said Jones, speaking about the NFL teams that were watching the game and following the buildup to it over the past week. During that week of buildup, other players at the position performed better, making it almost a surprise that Jones was able to take the MVP award.

“At times, I’m not sure I did great with that, to be honest. But here in the game, I think I did get comfortable and I got into a rhythm. Hopefully that showed them something and showed them I had the ability to do that and had the resiliency to do that,” Jones continued.

The Duke quarterback was a three-year starter in college who threw for a total 8,201 yards, and 17 touchdowns. That number of touchdowns is rather low for a player that’s being considered as a first round draft pick, but it’s important to remember that Jones hardly had any help. Duke won four, seven, and eight games in his three years as a starter, and Jones never had the support that a player such as Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray or Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins would get.

Jones might not be the man for the Giants, as there’s better prospects to take at number six overall and there’s been concerns over Jones’ consistency this season, but a good performance in the Senior Bowl is one step in the right direction for winning over reluctant scouts. Time will tell whether or not it means anything in the long run.

New York Giants: Comparing Top College Quarterback Prospects To Eli Manning

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New York Giants quarterback, Eli Manning.

Eli Manning has had an incredible and historic career with the New York Giants. He took them to two Super Bowls, won them both, and was named MVP of both games. He holds every passing record in franchise history.

Eli has been the face of the franchise for over a decade. But after 15 years, it might be time to find a new face of the franchise. Eli Manning is one of a kind. He cannot be replaced. But the 15-year veteran is now 38 years old and does not have a lot of time left in the NFL.

When Eli and the Giants decide it is time to move on, the Giants will need to be prepared. The Giants may look to draft his successor in the upcoming draft.

In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Giants have many options for who could be selected to be Manning’s successor. Throughout his career, Manning played as a clutch quarterback who was never afraid to fire a big-time, gutsy pass. Some of the prospects in 2019 are similar to that. However, some of them are much different. The Giants could look for more of the same, or they could look to make a major change at the way their quarterback position is played.

Senior Prospects:

Eli Manning played college football until his senior year. Notable 2019 draft prospects who are seniors include Drew Lock and Will Grier.

In his college career, similar to his NFL career, Manning threw a lot of touchdowns but also threw a lot of interceptions (a 2.3 touchdown to interception ratio). He has the second highest collegiate-career interception total when comparing him to the 2019 prospects.

However, he is also tied for the second-highest touchdown total. Eli threw 81 touchdown passes, as did West Virginia quarterback Will Grier. Grier only threw 23 interceptions, however, compared to Eli’s 35. Grier played a much cleaner game of football (about a 3.5 touchdown to interception ratio), keeping the turnovers to a minimum.

Drew Lock from Missouri is another top senior prospect. Lock threw a whopping 99 touchdown passes in his 4 collegiate years. Through his 4 years, he also threw 39 interceptions, resulting in a 2.5 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio. His ratio is similar to Manning’s, but his high touchdown totals are enough to wow NFL scouts.

Lock also leads the class, Manning included, in passing yards. Lock threw for 12,193 yards, compared to Manning’s 10,119 yards, and Grier’s 8,556 yards. Lock’s higher numbers are due to him playing 50 games, while Grier only played 28 games, and Manning only playing 43 games. However, his number of games played should not undermine the fact that Lock was a highly efficient quarterback in college.

Junior Prospects:

There are also a few juniors who are near the top of the draft board. Those include Kyler Murray, and Daniel Jones. A fan favorite prospect, Dwayne Haskins, is a red-shirt junior. Haskins is considered by many to be the top quarterback in the 2019 Draft Class.

A couple of the juniors in this class also played a clean game with minimal turnovers. Dwayne Haskins and Kyler Murray both have incredible touchdown to interception ratios. Haskins threw 54 touchdown passes to 9 interceptions (a spectacular 6 to 1 ratio). Murray threw 50 touchdown passes to 14 interceptions (about a 3.5 to 1 ratio).

Daniel Jones out of Duke played less of a clean game in college. He threw 52 touchdown passes to 29 interceptions (a 1.8 to 1 ratio). This puts him far below the rest of the 2019 quarterback class and below Eli Manning’s 2.3 to 1 ratio. Despite this, scouts have linked Jones to the Giants because of his connections with Eli Manning.

Daniel has been to several Manning Passing Camps and was coached by the same head coach who helped Eli get ready for the NFL, David Cutcliffe. This connection, plus Daniel Jones‘s ideal height and weight, make him an intriguing prospect to many scouts.

Dwayne Haskins is by far the most statistically efficient quarterback in this class with a 6 to 1 ratio, but all scouts have is a small sample size. Dwayne started only one season at Ohio State. It was an incredible, 50 touchdown season, but scouts wish they could have seen more.

Kyler Murray was also highly efficient with a 3.5 to 1 ratio. However, Kyler Murray also played just one season as a starter. But in that season, Murray won the Heisman Trophy. Haskins came in third place in the Heisman voting, just like Eli Manning in 2003.

What makes Kyler Murray so special is his dual-threat ability. This is something Eli Manning never really brought to the table. Some Giants fans have been banging the table for a while now, crying out for a mobile quarterback to come save the Giants from their terrible offensive line.

A lot of Manning’s struggles over the year can be attributed to poor offensive line play. A mobile quarterback, like Murray, may be able to cancel out a lack of talent on the offensive line. Murray ran for 12 touchdowns in his junior season and picked up 1,001 rushing yards. Manning has gained 560 total rushing yards in his 15 year NFL career.

A dual-threat quarterback would be a major change for the Giants, but it could be just what they need to take their explosive offense to the next level. The read option with Murray and Saquon Barkley could be one of the deadliest plays in the NFL if the Giants drafted Kyler.

New York Giants: Quarterbacks To Watch At The Senior Bowl

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The New York Giants drafted

We know the Giants love to draft players from the senior bowl. Last year’s Senior Bowl MVP, quarterback Kyle Lauletta, was a 4th round selection for the Giants in 2018. In 2017, Giants’ third round pick Davis Webb was the Senior Bowl MVP. They also picked another Senior Bowl standout in the third round of the 2018 Draft: B.J. Hill.

With a history of drafting players who perform in the Senior Bowl, it would not be a surprise if the Giants look to draft another senior quarterback in 2019.

North Team Quarterbacks:

The two most notable quarterbacks on the Senior Bowl North Team roster are Drew Lock and Daniel Jones. They are both projected to be first or second round selections in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The two other quarterbacks are Ryan Finley and Trace McSorley. Neither of them have received first round buzz recently, but they could be mid-round selections that NFL teams will look to turn into developmental players. It is unlikely that the Giants will spend another mid-round pick on a quarterback in 2019, after taking one in 2018. The quarterbacks to watch out of Mobile in 2019 for the Giants are Lock and Jones.

Drew Lock is a senior out of Missouri. In his official Senior Bowl weigh-in, Lock was measured at 6′ 3″, 223 lbs., with a 33.5″ arm length and 9″ hands. On the first day of Senior Bowl practice, Lock excelled.

According to The Draft Network, he was the best of all the quarterbacks. Drew Lock was a statistically great quarterback in his junior and senior years at Missouri. As a junior, Lock threw 44 touchdown passes to 13 interceptions with 3,964 yards. This is certainly his best statistical season. However, Lock played a cleaner game as a senior. He reduced his interception total to only 8 and still added 28 touchdown passes.

Daniel Jones, the NFL prototype out of Duke, struggled in his first practice of the Senior Bowl. He weighed in at 220 lbs. to go along with his 6′ 5″ frame that scouts love. He also has big hands at 9 3/4″ with long 33 1/4″ arms.

Jones struggled with ball placement and timing even during on-air drills, consistently putting balls behind their receivers or forcing them to slow and wait on vertical patterns. Jones improved a little in the 1-on-1s, dropping in a nice corner route for his best throw of the day.

Daniel receives a lot of first round buzz due in part to his former coach. David Cutcliffe is a great quarterback coach who got multiple players ready for the NFL, including Eli Manning and Peyton Manning. Statistically, Daniel Jones will not blow you away. However, he has the prototypical body type and all the physical tools to succeed at the next level, plus the professional coaching.

Ryan Finley out of NC State used to be projected as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2019 draft class. However, after his senior year, he has slipped in prospect rankings. One red flag with Finley is his age. He is 24 years old. That makes him older than all of the first round quarterbacks in last year’s draft, and a year older than second-year pro Patrick Mahomes. However, Finley showed flashes of great play in college. With a great week at the Senior Bowl, Finley’s stock could rise again.

Trace McSorley is an undersized signal-caller from Penn State. He played in a run-heavy offense with Saquon Barkley in 2017. In 2018, McSorley actually threw even less passes for lower statistics. However, he is a dual-threat quarterback. McSorley ran in 11 touchdowns in 2017 and 12 in 2018. In 2018, he totaled an impressive 798 rushing yards. What scouts have seen from McSorley as a thrower is a small sample size. However, his rushing ability is enough to draw him some interest. Trace could use a big week in Mobile to move up the big boards.

 

New York Giants: Head Coach Pat Shurmur’s Son Kyle Could Be An Option At Quarterback

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The New York Giants‘ never-ending quarterback debate will need to find a resolution sooner rather than later. Early-round raft options include Kyler Murray, Drew Lock, Daniel Jones, and Dwayne Haskins.

However, the Giants do not necessarily have to select a quarterback in the first two round in order to find Eli Manning‘s successor. The Giants could potentially find a quarterback in the middle to late rounds. Names such as Easton Stick have been mentioned, but recently, a new one has come up in the mix.

Kyle Shurmur:

The quarterback out of Vanderbilt, Kyle Shurmur, has an obvious connection with the Giants. He is the son of the Giants’ current head coach, Pat Shurmur. Giants fans (and maybe even players, too) would definitely complain about nepotism if the Giants passed on a first round quarterback and chose Kyle in a later round instead. However, Shurmur is a developmental player with decent potential.

One thing that scouts and coaches in the NFL love is a player with a high football IQ. It is common for teams to test players on memorizing playbooks at the Scouting Combine and other events. This week, at the NFLPA Bowl, Kyle Shurmur impressed scouts. He was a late entry in the bowl game, so he did not have as much time to study the playbook as the rest of the players who participated. However, he learned the playbook as well as any of his other teammates and reportedly did a “fantastic job.” This demonstration of a high football IQ could move Shurmur up the rankings for the 2019 NFL Draft.

Kyle Shurmur played four years of college football for Vanderbilt. He struggled in his freshman and sophomore seasons, but showed improvement in his final two years. In his junior year, Shurmur tossed 26 touchdown passes to only 10 interceptions. He also gained 2,823 passing yards with a 57.9% completion percentage. Not a monster season, but a quality season to begin to draw scouts’ attention.

Shurmur’s senior season was by far his best. He improved his passing yardage total to 3,130 and brought up his completion percentage to 62.6%. Kyle also threw 24 touchdown passes to only 6 interceptions. An excellent touchdown to interception ratio which demonstrates Shurmur’s advanced football IQ.

The Giants brought Pat Shurmur in as their head coach for a specific reason: he is an offensive guru. Some consider him a quarterback whisperer because of his work with Nick Foles and Case Keenum in their best seasons. He has a way of getting the best out of his players from the quarterback position. It is possible he could get a lot out of his son Kyle if given the opportunity. Since the Giants would not have to spend a high pick on him, they could draft Kyle Shurmur late in the draft and develop him as their next starting quarterback.

New York Giants: 2019 Quarterback Prospects Light Up Bowl Games

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The College Football Bowl Games began on December 15 and came to an end on January 1. The top three quarterback prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft all played in their own Bowl Games. Each quarterback had a solid performance. New York Giants fans should make themselves familiar with these prospects heading into the offseason.

Duke QB, Daniel Jones:

Daniel Jones, the redshirt junior out of Duke, played an excellent game. Duke faced off against Temple in the Independence Bowl on Thursday, December 27. Duke won the Bowl Game 56-27. Jones had an excellent game to lead his team to victory.

Jones put up 423 passing yards and 5 passing touchdowns with a 73% completion percentage (30/41). However, he did throw two interceptions. Daniel declared for the 2019 NFL draft on New Years Eve. He is an interesting prospect because of his ideal frame (6′ 5″, 220 lbs.) and pro-style traits. He was coached by the legendary David Cutcliffe, the same coach who got Eli Manning ready for the NFL. This makes Jones an intriguing prospect for NFL scouts.

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Missouri QB, Drew Lock

Drew Lock is a senior quarterback for Missouri. Missouri had a disappointing end to their season, suffering a 38-33 loss in the Liberty Bowl on New Years Eve. However, Lock played a good game in which he flashed with NFL level throws. Lock threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions and a 60.5% completion percentage. Drew showed excellent deep-ball accuracy and the ability to make plays outside of the pocket.

Lock has accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl, so expect to see Giants scouts there with a keen eye on him.

Ohio State QB, Dwayne Haskins Jr.

Dwayne Haskins Jr. is the top ranked quarterback prospect in this draft class, and that showed during the Rose Bowl. The quarterback lead Ohio State to a 28-23 victory in the Rose Bowl against Washington on New Years Day. Haskins threw for 251 yards and tossed three touchdown passes in this game, making his season total a remarkable 50.

Haskins is a special prospect because of his advanced mental edge on the field. He knows how to move safeties with his eyes and go through his progressions to find the open receiver. This is something that most collegiate quarterbacks take years to master, but after just one season as a starter, Haskins seems to have this skill near-perfect. Of course, reading defenses in college is much easier than in the NFL. However, this trait shows that Haskins has major potential at the next level.

With Eli Manning coming off his fifteenth season, it is time for the Giants to start looking towards the future. The team needs a plan for life after Eli. Could their plan be found in this year’s draft?