Dave Gettleman

New York Giants: Andrew Thomas Selection Is Another Gettleman Gamble

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We finally know which player the New York Giants will welcome into their lineup this season, and once again, the answer surprised many. Andrew Thomas of Georgia was the one that the Giants front office was the most confident in, and the team selected Thomas at number four overall rather than trading down or taking a player rated more highly by the media and other teams with needs in the offensive line department.

But, just like the Daniel Jones pick last year, this one will come with some controversy. Like Jones, Thomas isn’t the player that was popularly linked to the Giants – the more popular narrative was that the Giants’ connections to Alabama would win out and they would select dominant Crimson Tide pass rusher Jedrick Wills.

However, taking Thomas at number four overall will likely turn some people who would have been fine with the pick into critics. It’s another gamble from general manager Dave Gettleman. When everything is all said and done after the next couple of seasons, the pick might look good, and like a time when the Giants have actually hit rather than missed in the Draft. Because the team took Thomas as high as he did, though, there’s a higher chance that things won’t turn out that way.

After all, taking a player in the top five rather than trading down and taking the same player slightly later raises expectations. Thomas isn’t generally viewed as having as much upside as Jedrick Wills or Mekhi Becton, making it harder to justify taking him at the spot the Giants selected him at.

That’s not to say that Thomas isn’t worthy of being taken high in the first round by the Giants. He was one of the first prospects the team showed interest in scouting wise at the position, and his college numbers rival that of other top offensive line players in this year’s class.

But it looks like the Giants could have gotten more and still drafted Thomas, which will push expectations up for him this year.

Dave Gettleman was already widely said to be on the hot seat going into this season, with most not even thinking initially that the Giants would keep Gettleman around this year. It was a surprise to see Gettleman back for another year, and a decision of the team owners which was met with controversy. This decision will just add to that.

Likely, Gettleman will hope that Thomas performs to those now increased expectations this season. Not only because the success of the Giants will depend on, among other things, a good offensive line. But because his job is also on the line now that the Giants have spent a top five pick on his gamble.

New York Giants trade-back rumors picking up steam ahead of NFL Draft

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New York Giants, Joe Judge

The New York Giants could execute a trade back tomorrow night in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft!

Before Clemson standout defender Isaiah Simmons became the favorite pick for the Giants in the 2020 NFL draft, most people believe trading back would be the ideal scenario. That initial instinct and gut feeling hold true months later with the NFL draft on Thursday night.

The reality is, the Giants have too many holes to allocate the fourth overall pick toward a linebacker who needs a creative coach to unlock his potential. Protecting their investments in Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley should be the priority. Still, general manager Dave Gettleman believes in the theory of selecting the best player on the board at all times.

He recently stated that you cannot have too many great players at the same position, which I would argue against considering the Giants have a turnstile at left tackle and a lack of starting quality at specific defensive positions.

Plugging the most holes with first-round caliber talent seems to be the most efficient way for the Giants to complete their rebuild, which would suggest a trade back. Recent reports and rumors indicate that the Miami Dolphins could be looking to leapfrog into the top five to select either a quarterback or offensive tackle, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

However, other reporters have also indicated that Gettleman is keen on moving back and adding draft capital to his arsenal of picks. Ideally, the Giants could still land Simmons and a quality offensive tackle, but it would take moving back up into the first round to do so. It is also possible that Gettleman takes a tackle in the second round, considering his positive history drafting lineman.

“Not only do you have to ask yourself if you picture this guy in a gold jacket,” Gettleman said Monday night to season-ticket holders during the Giants NFL draft preview show. “You also have to ask, ‘Is this guy I’m thinking of taking at four worthy of being the fourth pick of ANY draft?’”

He’s one of the best evaluators in the trenches at the general manager position. Ultimately, we won’t know what will happen until the very last moment, but all signs point toward a potential trade back, which in my opinion, would be the best-case scenario.

Despite rumors indicating Gettleman could make a move, he’s never done so in any of the past drafts he’s managed.

“I haven’t traded back, because I have seen teams trade their way out of really good players,’’ Gettleman said.

Luckily, even if he does move back a few picks, he will be in line to land a really good player.

New York Giants: One Final 3-round Mock Draft to End Them All

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New York Giants, Josh Jones, Houston

Here’s one final three-round, New York Giants 2020 NFL Mock Draft to end them all:

We have heard every scenario the New York Giants could possibly take in the upcoming draft on Thursday, and most of them benefit the team significantly, while others ignore essential positions. General manager Dave Gettleman has one final season to prove his rebuild is working, and the foundation he has laid can propel the Giants to success.

However, it starts with the first round and which player can add the most value.

Round 1 (4th overall):

When you invest two top-10 picks into a quarterback and running back, it would be malpractice to avoid bolstering the offensive line. Gettleman has done a decent job plugging free agents and draft picks into the offenses protection scheme, but they ultimately need more reinforcement.

Left tackle Nate Solder was a turnstile in 2019, and Gettleman admitted as much. Replacing him in the draft could very well be how the Giants instill their faith In Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley.

Alternatively, they would have to pass on Isaiah Simmons, who would add an incredible playmaker to the defense. The ideal scenario would be to trade back, and that is exactly what the Giants do with the fourth overall pick, moving back with the Los Angeles Chargers at number six, who falls for the Justin Herbert trick.

Not only do the Giants acquire another second-round pick, but they are still in play for Isaiah Simmons or an offensive tackle. Either way, they get an incredible player who will benefit the team tremendously moving forward.

Since Simmons is still on the board and Gettleman is a master offensive line evaluator, the Giants take the best player available.

PICK 1: Isaiah Simmons

Round 2 (picks 36 & 38):

The Giants still need to find a tackle, and adding a second-round pick from the Chargers allows them to pair the number 36 and number 38 selections to move up into the first round. Luckily, they were able to land Houston tackle Josh Jones, who is a fringe tier 1 tackle. This means they will have to pass on Jedrick Wills, Andrew Thomas, Mekhi Becton, and Tristan Wirfs, but they still land a fantastic player who has developmental upside. The Giants walk away with Simmons and a new tackle for the future in the first round, the best possible scenario.

PICK 2: Josh Jones

Round 3 (no. 99):

Considering the Giants still have four seventh-round picks at this point, packaging them to move up a bit isn’t a terrible idea.

However, Alabama DE/OLB Terrell Lewis remains available at number 99. While he did have an injury-plagued 2018 campaign, he was expected to be a top selection in the 2020 draft. Lewis is a talented pass rusher that ultimately was dealt a bad hand, but he has plenty of locked potential and could be a developmental piece moving forward. The Giants are high on Oshane Ximines, but they desperately need pass rush help, and Lewis can offer something as a rotational player in 2020.

According to NFL.com:

“He was a second-team All-SEC selection in 2019 after racking up 31 tackles, 11.5 for loss, six sacks and two pass breakups in 11 games (three starts).”

PICK 3: Terrell Lewis

The New York Giants need to deal with one massive question mark on offense

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New York Giants, Nate Solder, Jon Halapio, Mike Remmers

There’s one position on offense that needs to be dealt with this offseason for the New York Giants.

If there’s any spot on the Giants’ roster that incoherently weak, it’s at left tackle, despite former offensive lineman Shaun O’Hara stating:

“I still think Nate Solder has some good football left, and I am not just talking about one year,” O’Hara said, via Giants.com. “He could play another two or three years and you could keep a guy at right tackle. . . I think some of his best football is still in him.”

Based on his production the last two seasons, O’Hara has no choice but to be right. He couldn’t possibly allow more pressure and sacks in one year if he lost a leg. His 11 sacks allowed was the 2nd highest in the NFL, further justifying the logical reasoning that he’s the Giants’ weakest link on offense.

However, with Tristan Wirfs out of Iowa gaining steam among the Giants brass, it’s possible Solder could be moved over to the left side as soon as this upcoming season. Having played the position in his rookie year, the former Patriot has the knowledge and experience but hasn’t featured on the right side in quite some time. It’s always possible that Joe Judge might be able to spark that competitive nature and help him return to form.

Solder has been dealing with some personally traumatizing experiences — his child having cancer and driving to Boston for him to receive treatment. Battling the emotional toll of your child fighting a deadly illness and preparing to play football at a high level is incredibly difficult.

Nonetheless, the Giants cannot continue to risk the health of their quarterback year-in and year-out, which suggests a switch to the right side could be realistic. If Gettleman drafts an offensive tackle, plugging him in at left tackle, they could finally stabilize a shaky front-five.

Leaving Solder at his traditional position could be problematic and even devastating, which leaves us wondering — is Gettleman willing to risk the health of his franchise quarterback?

New York Giants: 2020 Will Not Be Dave Gettleman’s First Virtual Draft

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New York Giants, Dave Gettleman

The 2020 NFL Draft will kick off this Thursday, April 23rd. The world pandemic coronavirus has halted the sports world and greatly altered the format of the NFL Draft. This year’s draft will be like no other, taking place in a completely virtual format with NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell announcing the picks via a webcam in his basement.

This is a new, challenging experience for the thirty-two NFL teams. The traditional draft format has become the routine standard for the league. Changes to this standard have created uncertainty and anxiety around this year’s draft with teams fearful of online hacks and technological miscues. But the New York Giants seem to be at an advantage this year.

Dave Gettleman’s Virtual Draft Experience

In his previous stint as general manager of the Carolina Panthers, Dave Gettleman conducted a draft via the web once. Now, with the Giants, he will do it again.

At the time of the 2014 NFL Draft, Dave Gettleman was a proud father witnessing his son’s college graduation. For this reason, he opted to draft remotely. Gettleman conducted Carolina’s 2014 draft via Skype. This is similar to how the Giants will handle the 2020 NFL Draft, likely through Zoom or Skype, and with all front office members separated from each other in their respective homes.

According to ESPN, Gettleman “flawlessly” ran the draft remotely. The 2014 report states that he “helped make the team’s final three picks from a hotel room in Massachusetts.” He even made a draft-day trade from his hotel room. Maybe the surfacing of this report will put to rest the internet’s jokes about the Giants’ GM being too old and out of touch for the draft’s virtual format.

“It works. They got to see my handsome face and I got to see theirs. The process was really the same. It really was.” – Dave Gettleman on conducting a draft remotely through Skype, via ESPN.

The virtual aspect of the 2020 NFL Draft should not waiver fan’s confidence in Gettleman and the Giants. He has strung together two impressive draft classes in a row for the Giants. These last two draft classes should instill fans with all the confidence they need heading into this week’s crucial draft where Gettleman will once again be making picks from a remote location.

New York Giants: The double-trade back that could solve Big Blue’s problems

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New York Giants

Taking a look at what a double trade-back scenario could look like for the New York Giants.

Giants’ general manager Dave Gettleman stated this past week that he is open to moving back in the 2020 NFL draft to add more capital.

With needs on both the offensive line and defensive side of the ball, Gettleman and new head coach Joe Judge have to pick through a laundry list of positions that need reinforcement.  Offensive tackle is a well-known weakness for the Giants, and protecting their investments in Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley must be a priority. However, passing on a defender like Isaiah Simmons will be difficult.

Ultimately, filling the most holes with quality players should be at the forefront of Gettleman’s mind, and here’s how they could get it done in an unlikely but possible double trade back scenario.

Utah State quarterback Jordan Love is the catalyst in this specific situation, as utilizing him as leverage with a team like the Las Vegas Raiders or New Orleans Saints could be a possibility. Love’s attributes are comparable to Patrick Mahomes coming out of college, but he’s still a raw prospecting who needs development. His talent is good enough to justify teams wheeling and dealing to secure him.

For the Giants, moving back one or two spots with the Miami Dolphins or Los Angeles Chargers is an ideal move, as it keeps them in play for Isaiah Simmons and also adds draft capital to their arsenal of picks. They currently have ten overall selections in the draft, despite four of them being in the seventh round.

If they can manage to trade back with the Dolphins or Chargers, they will already have added capital to their lot, but a double trade back is still on the table with the Saints potentially looking for another passer. Drew Brees is prepared to play the 2020 season with the expectation of retirement after, and Taysom Hill is the only other quarterback on the roster. Adding competition for 2021 should be a priority.

Love offers the most value and allows the Saints to move up without breaking the bank, but other teams could be eyeing his services, meaning the Giants could double leverage their position and move back to pick 24. At this point, the Giants would have a 2021 first-rounder from the Saints and three second-round picks (one from the first trade and another from the second).

This opens up the door for them to draft an offensive tackle like Josh Jones from Houston, and package two second-round picks to move up and grab LSU linebacker Patrick Queen, who has the potential to be a top defensive playmaker in the NFL. With just one year of experience as a starter, he has already shown flashes of brilliance, and a bit more development could see him develop into one of the Giants’ best players.

With the Giant still in rebuild mode, they must add as many pieces to the puzzle as possible, so landing a top-six offensive tackle and one of the best defensive players in the draft is a big haul, not mentioning the additional first-round pick in 2021. While they would have to pass on a top-tier offensive tackle or Isaiah Simmons, the amount of quality and potential this double trade back scenario offers is hard to pass on.

Nonetheless, it’s improbable — yet attractive. Gettleman has never traded back in the draft before, which already suggests the first move is doubtful, but understanding his position and the strength of his coaching staff is imperative.

Should the New York Giants go back-to-back offensive lineman in 2020 NFL Draft?

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New York Giants, Dave Gettleman

Taking a look at why drafting back-to-back offensive lineman could make sense for the New York Giants:

One of the more problematic factors for the Giants over the past few seasons has been their offensive line. Former general manager Jerry Reese did very little to plug quality starters into their protection scheme, despite allocating several high round picks toward the unit.

Players like Weston Richburg, Ereck Flowers, and Justin Pugh were all part of his diabolical plan to solve an everlasting problem. Unfortunately, none of those players ended up being even close to Pro Bowl quality.

Since Dave Gettleman took over for Big Blue two years ago, the Giants have still struggled to protect their quarterback in Eli Manning and now Daniel Jones. With the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, they have plenty of quality draft capital to reinforce the unit and give Jones the protection he needs to succeed.

With options like Jedrick Wills, Andrew Thomas, Tristan Wirfs, and Mekhi Becton available at the top of the first round, the Giants are plush with prospects to choose from.

However, spending the fourth overall pick on an offensive lineman could be a misusage of resources, specifically since Gettleman has never spent a first-round pick on the OL.

Recent reports have indicated that Gettleman is looking to develop parameters for a potential trade back next Thursday in the first round. If he can find a team willing to swap picks, the Giants would gain more capital and still have the opportunity to land a top-tier tackle or linebacker, Isaiah Simmons.

If Gettleman is really keen on piecing together the offensive line once and for all, he can use his first two picks to solidify the group. As mentioned before, the tackle prospects available portray ample value, and the second round could offer players like center like Matt Hennessey from Temple or Cesar Ruiz from Michigan. That would solve their left tackle issues and center, previously owned by John Halapio and Nate Solder in 2019.

This will ultimately move Solder over to the right side where Mike Remmers previously featured, protecting Jones’ blindside and solidifying a line that forced Manning into retirement.

While it may not be sexy to draft two consecutive linemen, it would give the offense a foundation to build off of and allow Giants management to focus purely on the defense moving forward.

New York Giants: Dave Gettleman Says He Will Seriously Consider Trading Down

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New York Giants, Dave Gettleman

The 2020 NFL Draft is less than a week away. The New York Giants hold the fourth overall pick, their third straight season picking inside the top-ten. General Manager Dave Gettleman is heading into his third draft as GM of the Giants and needs to put together a strong class in order to keep his job.

Gettleman and company are ready for the virtual NFL draft. Working from home will be challenging, but Gettleman assured the press today that he is fully prepared to draft from home and communicate with his team via a virtual medium.

During his conference call with the New Jersey beat writers today, Dave Gettleman was asked about the possibility of trading down in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He made it clear that trading down is a real possibility this year.

Will The Giants Trade Down?

General manager Dave Gettleman has never traded down in his entire career as a GM. He is known as a “stick-and-pick” GM. But that could change this year. Gettleman has not ruled out the possibility of a trade down this year. He has actually made it pretty clear that trading down is something the Giants want to do.

“Something I will very seriously entertain.” – Dave Gettleman on trading down in the 2020 NFL Draft

The Giants are not going to wait for teams to call them, looking to move up to fourth overall. Instead, Dave Gettleman is going to hit the phones himself, stating, “I’m gonna make the calls.” Gettleman also stated that he hopes to have trade parameters of any potential deal for the fourth overall selection in place before the Giants are on the clock. So if the Giants do decide to trade down, expect to hear that news break in the coming days, rather than moments before the pick is in.

New York Giants: Two LSU Defensive Prospects That Make Sense In A Trade-Down Scenario

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The New York Giants hold the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. For now… And maybe forever. But the opportunity still exists for New York to trade back and grab extra draft capital. General manager Dave Gettleman stated in February that the Giants are “open for business.” He admitted that the team is open to trading down from fourth overall but he also indicated that they do not want to trade down too far.

Gettleman does not want to trade back and compromise the talent-level of his first selection in exchange for additional picks. He only wants to trade back if he can ensure himself a top-tier prospect. But there are two LSU defensive prospects available in the later parts of the first-round that could be home-run selections for the New York Giants if they do decide to trade down.

Patrick Queen, LB, LSU:

If the Giants do not take Isaiah Simmons at fourth overall, why not take the next best thing? Simmons is not the only linebacker in this class who excels in coverage- Patrick Queen out of LSU does, too. Benjamin Solak of The Draft Network described Queen as: “A highly adept zone cover defender who overlaps short zones with ease and makes high-quality plays accordingly.”

Patrick Queen is an athletic inside linebacker, considered by most to be the second-best in this class. He ran a 4.5s 40-yard-dash at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine to go along with his impressive 18 bench press reps. Queen might be a bit undersized at 6 feet tall and 229 pounds. But he more than makes up for his size with his intensity.

Patrick Queen has a high motor that never seems to turn off. He racked up 85 total tackles in 2019 including 3 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. He also added an interception against top-tier quarterback prospect Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama:

If New York selected Patrick Queen it would have to be after the first twenty-or-so picks. So they would have to be trading down pretty far to make Queen an option. There is a chance he slides into the second round but that is highly unlikely. A trade for Patrick Queen that makes sense: acquiring the ninth and twentieth overall selections from Jacksonville in exchange for fourth overall. The Giants would be moving back five spots, still able to draft an offensive tackle at ninth overall. Queen would then be a strong option at the twentieth overall selection.

K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU:

There is another Louisiana State product that could make sense if the Giants trade down. Dave Gettleman made it clear this week that the Giants are “not in position” to acquire a “25-sacks-a-year guys.” But he also pointed out that “we haven’t gone through the draft yet” and assured that the Giants “will just keep building it.”

Enter K’Lavon Chaisson: a 20-year-old athletic specimen out of LSU. He did not run the 40-yard-dash at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, but if he did he would have ranked amongst the fastest at his position. Chaisson made life difficult for opposing offensive tackles in the SEC with his explosive burst off the edge and quickness to get to the quarterback. He stands tall at 6 feet 3 inches and weighs in at 254 pounds with lanky 32 and 1/4 inch arms.

Most draft analysts regard K’Lavon as the second-best edge rusher in this draft class behind only Chase Young. The Giants desperately need a stud, primary pass-rusher off the edge and if they trade down, K’Lavon Chaisson could be that prospect. The LSU edge rusher put his athleticism to good use, dominating the competition for 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss en route to a National Championship.

K’Lavon Chaisson is projected to be a mid-first-round draft pick. He has been commonly mocked around the fifteenth or sixteenth overall selection so New York would have to trade back pretty far for Chaisson to become an option.

New York Giants: Could Dave Gettleman really select Derrick Brown with the 4th overall pick?

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New York Giants, Derrick Brown

Auburn DT Derrick Brown has been connected to the New York Giants, but is it realistic?

Whenever Gettleman or Joe Judge jumps on the phone to give the media their dose of smokescreen, everyone seems to forget Derrick Brown was once linked to the New York Giants earlier in the draft process.

Brown is a stud interior defender from Auburn, praised for his immense qualities in stopping the run and plugging holes in the trenches. His undeveloped pass rush is also a positive Gettleman is likely looking at. Still, the reality is, the Giants have far too many needs to allocate more resources toward a defensive tackle.

This offseason Big Blue franchise-tagged Leonard Williams for a nudge over $16 million and drafted Dexter Lawrence in 2019, suggesting that Brown is not in their plans, but is there a chance he could be?

Interior DTs have always enamored Gettleman, and Gettleman’s draft in 2013 attests to that, as he drafted Star Lotulelei and Kawaan Short back to back in the first two rounds. While that was a long time ago, it’s clear he prefers big bodies, which can also push the pocket and log sacks as the season progresses.

Brown is a unique prospect and one of the best players in the upcoming draft — his incredible combination of size and strength makes him a plug and play starter in the trenches. He’s quick off the LOS and fills holes with ferocity. His ability to draw double teams and use his massive arms to clear blockers allows linebackers to jump up and stop runners in their tracks.

Now, you can make the argument that Dexter Lawrence, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Leonard Williams are all similar players and offer matching qualities, to a degree. That’s the primary reason Brown to the Giants makes little sense unless Gettleman is trying to sell high on one of those players.

Williams is on the franchise tag, so expecting any other team to want him at $16 million per season is blasphemous, so we can rule that out. Tomlinson had a stellar 2019 campaign against the run, and he’s a cheaper second-round selection going into a contract year. Replacing him would be ludicrous unless they extended him first to guarantee team control, and Dexter has immense potential as a sophomore in 2020.

From all angles, drafting Brown doesn’t make sense, and with a laundry list full of needs, Gettleman shouldn’t have any positions other than offensive tackle and linebacker on his mind.