Kyler Murray

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: How Kyler Murray Could Revolutionize the Giants’ Offense

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As we proceed through the NFL combine, it’s important to take note of the influential players that could be targeted for the New York Giants. Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray lands in the target category, as his immense athleticism and fundamentals offer the Giants a potential franchise signal-caller.

Ahead of the combine, analysts expected Murray to fall under 5-foot-10, but he clocked in at 5’10” 1/8 inches. He also weighed about 17 pounds heavier than his playing weight in 2018. I would anticipate that he will likely drop back down to around 195 pounds in the NFL, as his game is built around mobility.

One of the most attractive aspects of Murray is his ability to improvise. The idea of Murray featuring alongside Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr. is simply jaw-dropping — speed, power, athleticism. The trio screams playoffs, and the RPO benefits of having Kyler as the starting quarterback could be too enticing to pass up.

Giants’ head coach Pat Shurmur stated in regard to Murray:

“Times have changed — quarterbacks come in all shapes and sizes.”Russell Wilson won a Super Bowl. You have to look at the total player, look at his productivity and look at whether he fits. They need to be productive, make good decisions, throws the ball accurately and on time, lead their team to victories. We, as coaches, have to use their skill sets to the best of their ability to try to get the most out of them.”

At the college level, Murray looked like the real deal. His ability to scan the field and make difficult throws was apparent, but often times he would leave the pocket when receivers were open. He resorts to running when he feels there’s nowhere to go with the ball, which isn’t a bad thing, but at the NFL level, he could take a beating from more physical and sizeable opponents.

The Giants’ next franchise QB needs to have all the tools:

The Giants will not only be looking for a quarterback that has the tangible attributes to succeed but also the intangible. Several weeks ago we saw an interview with Murray that was blatantly disrespectful – slouching, not answering questions, etc. What can we expect from him after a tough loss? Will he be able to handle himself professionally or will he hide from the lights?

These are all questions that the Giants and other NFL teams will be asking themselves come draft time. There’s no question that his skill-set is remarkable and offers one of the greatest returns, but can he lead a team of men and not college students? It’s certainly possible.

New York Giants: Head Coach Pat Shurmur Is Committed To Eli Manning

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With the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine taking place this week, the New York Giants’ staff conducted interviews on Wednesday. The hot topic surrounding these interviews was, of course, the Giants’ quarterback position. The Giants were asked about their plans for the position in 2019 and beyond. The Giants would not reveal too much about their plans beyond 2019. However, head coach Pat Shurmur made one thing clear: Eli Manning “is back.”

What Coach Shurmur Had To Say About Eli Manning

This is not the first time coach Shurmur has said to the press that he wants Manning back in 2019. But for the first time all offseason, we heard a definitive answer. Rather than saying he wants Eli back, Shurmur said “He’s back.” There is a big difference between the two.

Coach Shurmur is confident Eli can still compete at a high level. He does not blame Eli for the Giants’ 5-11 season. Shurmur thinks that if the rest of the team plays better, Eli will too.

“I think Eli can help us win games, and he proved, when the players around him started playing better, that he can play at a very high level and help us win games,” Shurmur said. “So, yeah, at this point I want Eli back.” – Pat Shurmur

Despite this, Shurmur did not rule out the possibility of adding another quarterback to the roster in the offseason. The Giants will be doing their due diligence on the 2019 Draft Class to try to identify a franchise quarterback. In fact, Shurmur made it clear he has already started evaluating the top prospects at that position.

What Coach Shurmur Had To Say About 2019 Quarterback Prospects

When asked about Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins, Shurmur admitted that he has already watched every single play from both of the prospects’ junior seasons. Both prospects only started one season in college, so there is not too much film for the Giants to evaluate. But Shurmur has already watched every play from Haskins’s and Murray’s careers.

Regarding Murray’s controversial height, Shurmur did not seem too unsettled by it.  He noted that Murray’s height did not seem to effect his ability to throw the ball in college. Shurmur pointed out a key statistic during his press conference: “For a sub-6-foot player, he only had five balls batted down.” Shurmur is willing to look at quarterbacks of all shapes and sizes.

“Times have changed. Quarterbacks come in all shapes and sizes. … Russell Wilson won a Super Bowl, so I think you’ve got to look at the total player, you’ve got to look at his productivity, and you’ve got to look at whether he fits. And I think we as coaches then will use their skillsets to the best of their ability to get the most out of them and win games.” – Pat Shurmur

Both Shurmur and general manager Dave Gettleman floated the idea of a quarterback succession plan. They both made note of “the Kansas City Model.” What they were referring to was how the Chiefs groomed league MVP Patrick Mahomes. They drafted him in 2017, had him sit a full season and learn behind veteran Alex Smith, then promoted Mahomes to the starting quarterback job for 2018.

Mahomes went on to throw 50 touchdown passes and win league MVP while leading his team to the AFC Conference Championship game. The Giants would love to have similar success. If the Giants are confident in one of the 2019 Draft’s quarterbacks as a franchise guy, they will not hesitate to draft him and groom him behind Manning.

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: Kyler Murray Officially Chooses Football Over Baseball

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Kyler Murray was college football’s best player in 2018. He won the Heisman Trophy in his first and last year as a starting quarterback. The dual-threat signal-caller posted 4,361 passing yards and 42 passing touchdowns. In addition, Murray rushed for 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Despite all this, it has been unknown wether or not Kyler Murray would play in the NFL. In June of 2018, Murray was drafted to play in the MLB by the Oakland A’s. Last month, Murray declared for the NFL Draft, leaving the door open for him to pursue football if he so chooses. Last week, Kyler committed to participating in the NFL Scouting Combine, adding further speculation to what his future plans were. But on Monday, Kyler Murray made it clear what he will choose to do.

Kyler Murray announced via Twitter that he is committed to playing in the NFL:

How This Benefits The Giants:

With plenty of fans and analysts predicting the Giants will select a quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft, this is big news. Even if Kyler Murray does not fit the Giants’ mold for a quarterback prospect, another quarterback in the draft pool could be extremely useful for the Giants.

With Murray now in the mix, along with Dwayne Haskins, quarterback-needy teams will be competing with each other to get their guy. If someone looks at Murray as their guy while the Giants look at Haskins as their guy, then the Giants have a higher chance of landing Dwayne Haskins. Teams might trade up to select Murray, but that means just one less team trying to take Haskins away from the Big Apple.

Kyler Murray Highlights:

Kyler Murray is an extremely talented football player. He is a quick runner and accurate passer. His biggest flaw is his size. Scouts will be paying close attention to Murray’s weigh in at the Combine. He was listed at 5’11” in college, but some believe he is closer to 5’8″.

Despite his lack of size, Murray displayed pure skills through the air and on the ground in his Heisman Trophy-winning season.

In the College Football Playoffs, Kyler displayed an elite ability to throw on the run:

Against Texas, Murray displayed extreme speed. He should light it up at the combine:

If the Giants added Kyler Murray into the offense with Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr., it could be lethal. If he is able to progress at the next level and prove his size is not an issue, Murray will have a great career wherever he goes.

New York Giants: Kyler Murray To Participate In NFL Combine

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This probably won’t mean much for the majority of fans, but for those who want to go in-depth in studying prospects ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft, it should be noted that Kyler Murray is going to attend the Combine. The report was originally broken by Adam Schefter.

Murray is frequently linked to the New York Giants but is the second quarterback associated with the team’s draft this year, with the majority of predictions saying that the Giants will take Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. instead.

The combine will be a good chance to see just how Murray stacks up physically, with his athleticism being one of the traits that helped him win the Heisman Trophy in what will end up as his final college season last year. Murray reached the just over 1,000 yards mark on the ground by finishing with 1,001 rushing yards, and his speed and agility helped him score twelve rushing touchdowns for his team.

But as a player coming from a spread offense, NFL scouts will also be watching to see if Murray can throw the ball like an NFL quarterback, a trait that is generally associated with the pro-style offense rather than Oklahoma’s, which is closer to the air raid system.

Some have predicted Murray to go as high as number one overall, but the predictions have changed wildly as the offseason has continued and others have said that Murray could go as low as near the bottom of the first round, or out of the first round entirely. It seems like it would be a mistake for the Giants to spend the sixth overall pick on such a player, but still, it’s a possibility that has been entertained by analysts who see the team taking a quarterback not named Dwayne Haskins.

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: Top Quarterback Prospect Might Not Meet Gettleman’s Criteria

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The 2019 NFL Draft class has a few quarterbacks near the top of the big board. Many New York Giants fans have been eagerly waiting for their team to make the move of drafting a quarterback for a couple of years now. Giants quarterback Eli Manning has regressed with age. He turned 38 earlier this month, and was noncommittal regarding his future with the Giants.

All these factors lead Giants fans to believe that general manager Dave Gettleman will draft a quarterback with the 6th pick in the draft in 2019. Fan favorite quarterback Kyler Murray sits near the top of the board. However, there may be some reason to believe Gettleman is not interested in the Heisman Trophy winner.

Gettleman’s Criticism For Spread Offenses

Last offseason, Dave Gettleman participated in a very telling interview discussing quarterbacks. As general manager of the Panthers, in 2013, Gettleman signed Colby Cameron from Louisiana Tech as an undrafted rookie. Gettleman considered that to be a bad decision because of Cameron’s inability to run a pro-style offense.

“He was in that spread no-huddle system [in college]. I felt awful for the kid, but in August our quarterback coach was still in the huddle with him helping him make the huddle call. This kid was a three-and-a-half-year starter at a Division I school.”

It is important to Dave Gettleman that his rookie quarterbacks have the ability to run a pro-style offense. Dave has six key traits he looks for in quarterback prospects. He calls them “Quarterback 101 through 106.” These six traits are making a huddle call, identifying a mike linebacker, making a protection call, taking a snap from center, calling an audible and throwing a hot route. Many college quarterbacks are not required to do this, especially when playing in a pro-style system.

The issue with Kyler Murray is that he ran a spread, college-style offense. He almost never took snaps from under center. He typically always had the additional help of getting plays from the sideline and did not have to make a huddle call.

These could be red flags for Dave Gettleman. When the combine takes place in February, Dave Gettleman will certainly look to interview Murray and try to find out more about his abilities to run a pro-style offense.

A Pro-Style Prospect That Gettleman Might Enjoy

One prospect near the top of the draft board who played in a pro-style system is Dwayne Haskins. Haskins played one season as a starter at Ohio State University and absolutely lit it up. He threw 50 touchdown passes to only 8 interceptions. Haskins playing in a pro system could mean Gettleman likes him as a prospect and will consider drafting him in 2019. In the following video, Dwayne Haskins demonstrates his ability to call protections, make pre-snap reads, and read defensive coverages like a professional quarterback would:

 

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.

Opinion: Why The New York Giants Should Take Kyler Murray No Questions Asked

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Typically my writing is predominantly about the Yankees or Knicks, but today I’m wading into deep blue waters for one reason — KYLER MURRAY. This is a plea for Dave Gettleman to make the choice that will transform the New York Giants and avoid wasting the primes of Barkley and Beckham. I believe there are two sides of this argument, those that see Murray as the best player in the draft and those that are wrong.

I have spent most of the last decade of my life as a transplanted New Yorker living in Seattle. In that time I’ve watched a too short, deep ball tossing, third round pick totally change a teams culture. So many of the knocks on Murray mirror what was said about Russell Wilson, it’s like nobody learns from their mistakes.

I keep reading how Doug Flutie is the closest comp to Murray when Wilson is the same height and plays a similar style.

What makes Kyler Murray so special?

Murray has a big arm, good touch and accuracy on intermediate passes. He also makes good decisions and does not turn the ball over. Are these traits sounding familiar at all? Oh, and Murray took Oklahoma to the 4 team national championship playoff so along with the physical traits he’s also a winner.

The other contenders to be drafted if the Giants take a QB are Dwayne Haskins who led Ohio State to one of their most disappointing seasons in recent memory, and Drew Lock who could maybe be Blake Bortles if he reaches his potential. Or the Giants could skip the middleman and just sign Bortles if/when Jacksonville releases him. He and Eli can have a competition in the spring and the Giants can start looking at QBs at the top of the 2020 draft.

If you add Murray and his ability to extend plays and take shots downfield to the Giants offense you have a nightmare for opposing defenses. What d-back can cover Beckham and Shepard for 6-seconds? And a linebacker or safety on Engram or Barkley? There will be big play opportunities all over the field, and if defenses don’t keep someone in to spy Murray he is perfectly capable of gouging them for huge gains with his legs.

Look at what Lamar Jackson did for the Ravens and none is still sure if he can even throw a forward pass consistently.

The wrong decision can set the Giants back a decade and kill the prime years of two of the most special talents the team has ever seen. Kyler Murray has every trait you would want in a QB other than height, and in the new NFL with spread offenses, RPO’s and quarterbacks being moved out of the pocket the height concern is overblown.

I mean he even has the same baseball background as Wilson and Mahomes, who credit some of their more creative tosses and flips to it. Not to mention the fact that unless the Giants plan on magically getting Orlando Pace and Jonathan Ogden their quarterback wont be spending much time in the pocket anyway. C’mon Dave, swing for the fences in April and bring the best quarterback in the draft to NY, draft Kyler Murray.