Quenton Nelson

What If The New York Giants Traded Back In The 2018 NFL Draft?

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New York Giants. Dave Gettleman, Pat Shurmur

The New York Giants are in the second year of their rebuild. In 2019, New York is once again on pace to finish with a top-ten draft pick. The 2-8 Giants currently hold the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Giants picked 6th overall in 2019 and 2nd overall in 2018. 2020 will be the Giants’ third straight year with a top-ten pick if they continue to lose the way they have. But a recent rumor from Benjamin Allbright suggests that in 2018, the Giants had the opportunity to trade back with the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

In this article, I will be exploring a hypothetical scenario that might have taken place if the New York Giants accepted the Denver Broncos’ offer in 2018. Of course, this is not definite. Everything has a cause and effect and there is no guarantee that any of these hypotheticals would have happened. But this is one scenario that could’ve happened if the Giants traded back in the 2018 NFL Draft.

The 2018 NFL Draft

If the rumor is true, then the Denver Broncos offered the New York Giants the 2018 5th overall pick, the 2018 40th overall pick, and what became the 2019 20th overall pick. Had the Giants made that deal, they would have likely missed out on Saquon Barkley. But they would have been able to fortify their offensive line with already All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson.

Nelson was drafted sixth overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 2018, so it is fair to assume that he would have been available for the Giants to draft with the fifth overall pick. So the Giants would have missed out on Saquon Barkley for Nelson, but they would have gotten a nice consolation prize at running back in the second round.

Nick Chubb would have been available for the Giants with the 34th overall pick since he was actually drafted 35th overall by the Browns in 2018. The Giants would then be picking again with Denver’s second-round pick, 40th overall. The Broncos drafted Courtland Sutton with this pick. Sutton would have been a solid option for the Giants.

Courtland Sutton, Harold Landry, Josh Jackson, Jessie Bates, and D.J. Chark were some of the top prospects available at this pick. Assume the Giants drafted based on need, Jessie Bates would have been a home run selection as the top safety available.

So, had the Giants made this trade, they would have ended up with an All-Pro left guard in Quenton Nelson, a thousand-yard-rusher as a rookie in Nick Chubb, and a rookie safety who totaled 111 tackles with 3 interceptions and 7 passes broken up in Jessie Bates.

The 2019 Offseason

I will be going through this hypothetical scenario under the concept of “ceteris paribus,” meaning “other things being equal or held constant.” So, Odell Beckham Jr. and Olivier Vernon still get traded, and the Giants still draft Daniel Jones and Dexter Lawrence.

The Giants drafted Dexter Lawrence with the 17th overall pick. Some controversy arose with this selection because the draft class still had a top-tier offensive tackle available. With the 20th overall pick, the Denver Broncos selected tight end, Noah Fant.

The Giants had and still have Evan Engram, so it is hard to believe they would have gone the same route as Denver did with Fant at pick 20. Instead, the Giants would get that offensive tackle prospect that they desperately needed then and even more desperately need now.

Andre Dillard was drafted by the division-rival Eagles with the 22nd overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Dillard was the top offensive tackle prospect available and was though to be a premier pass-protector. Dillard has only started three games for the Eagles this season as they are grooming him to take over on the left side when Jason Peters retires, but he would have been a day-one starter on the right side of the Giants’ offensive line.

And this article was not written to be a Debbie Downer or Negative Nancy. I am not trying to criticize Dave Gettleman and the work he has done in the NFL Draft these last two years because I think he has done a superb job. This article was written for fun, as a hypothetical “What If?” situation, the same as “What if Eli Manning remained a San Diego Charger?” so, please, do not attack me on Twitter. This article was also written to point out that trading down in the NFL Draft can reap huge benefits, even if a team is trading only a few picks back.

New York Giants: Saquon Barkley Wins Offensive Rookie Of The Year

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley

After winning the 2018 Pepsi Rookie of the Year on Thursday, Saquon Barkley was awarded twice more on Saturday. Early Saturday afternoon, it was announced that Barkley won the 2018 FedEx Ground Player of the Year award. Saturday evening, the 2019 NFL Honors took place, and Saquon took home an award there, too.

The AP Offensive Rookie of the Year is Saquon Barkley. It was a battle between the number one and number two overall picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. Saquon beat out Baker Mayfield to take home the prestigious Offensive Rookie of the Year award. To win the FedEx award, Barkley beat out fellow running backs Ezekiel Elliot and Todd Gurley.

Baker Mayfield created good competition in the voting for Barkley. But in the end, Saquon won the voting with 26.5 votes, compared to Baker’s 21.5, and Quenton Nelson‘s 2.

Saquon Barkley’s Statistics

Saquon got it done on the ground this year with 1,307 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. This included an average of 5.0 yards per carry on 261 rushing attempts.

Not only did Saquon get it done on the ground, but he got it done through the air, too. Barkley totaled 2,028 scrimmage yards. His 91 receptions were a rookie running back record, and they amounted to 721 receiving yards and 4 receiving touchdowns.

A Piece Of New York Giants History

Saquon is the second New York Giant to win this award in the last five years. He is the third Giants player to be awarded with a rookie of the year award. Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. won the award in 2014. Odell and Saquon are the only two players in New York Giants franchise history to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Lawrence Taylor won defensive rookie of the year for the Giants in 1981.

Highlights From The NFL Honors

The NFL Honors even had Beckham Jr. present Barkley the award (along with the beautiful actress Vanessa Hudgens):

Saquon’s rookie year was full of highlights. To commemorate his historic rookie season, the NFL broke down his top 10 plays of the season:

 

After Norwell Signing Fell Through, NFL Draft Pick Becoming Clear

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With the New York Giants losing out on All-Pro guard Andrew Norwell, plan B must be initiated. Unfortunately, it requires the Giants and general manger Dave Gettleman to address the offensive line through the NFL Draft.

With the No. 2 overall pick, taking either a quarterback or running back Saquon Barkley is atop the list, but now Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson must also be considered at the position.

For any team, taking a guard at No. 2 is plain foolish, so trading back for the Giants would be the most efficient move. In this instance, they can grab their guard for a great price, and they can acquire other picks/players to move forward with.

Just to give you an idea of how great Nelson is, here’s a few clips:

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If the Giants take a flier on the top-rated guard, they would immediately see an improvement on the line. Additionally, we can assume they will also be addressing the line through free agency, where players like Nate Solder, Justin Pugh, Josh Sitton and D.J. Fluker, are all waiting in the looms.

Nelson Draft Profile:

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Nelson is built like a pickup-truck; broad chest and extremely powerful limbs. His power is his greatest attribute. It helps him come out of blocks and move into the second-tier in the run-game. His agility and quickness is impressive as a guard. He’s an intriguing prospect entering the NFL this year. Additionally, he put up 35 reps on the bench press, earning second behind only Will Hernandez.

 

 

Here’s What The Giants Could Do With Quenton Nelson And Ereck Flowers

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The consensus going into the NFL Combine is that Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson is the top offensive lineman coming out of college. He’s listed as a guard, but with his size, the New York Giants should consider him elsewhere.

There’s not a single Giants fan that wants to see Ereck Flowers remain as the starting left tackle in 2018, so what can they do to change that? Well, how about sticking Nelson there instead?

According to a CBS Sports analysis:

“Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame. Sooooo … is Nelson a guard or tackle? Because 6-foot-5, 325 pounds and 33 6/8-inch arms is tackle size. Those numbers certainly lend credence to Nelson’s mauler reputation.”

The mauling guard certainly fit the mold for the Fighting Irish, and any team willing to invest their first-round pick in him will reap the benefits. The Giants will likely find it hard to take him at No. 2, but if they are offered a deal to trade back and remain in the top 6, they could snag him for a steal.

Adding a talent like Nelson would instantly improve the offensive line, especially if Dave Gettleman manages to swing Andrew Norwell to the right side of the fence.

How about this idea:

Since allowing Flowers to continue starting at left tackle is inadvisable, what if they start Nelson at LT and put Flowers at RG? Everybody is talking about Flowers playing right tackle, but what if he was move to guard, where he can’t let edge rushers blow by him on nearly every play.

Something to consider, and it could be a move the Giants experiment with give they take Nelson.

 

 

The Best Option On The Offensive Line For The New York Giants In The NFL Draft

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The New York Giants are in need of offensive line support to complement Eli Manning and their star-studded wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The question is: Who best fits their needs, and who can be an answer on the line for years to come?

With names like Mike McGlinchey, Orlando Brown, and Isaiah Wynn looming in the draft, the Giants have a collection of directions they could go with their No. 2 overall pick.

If they choose to address the offensive line in the first-round, they shouldn’t look further than Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson.

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TEAMS


Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 329-pounds is the top-flight guard.  He’s built like a bull, with a broad chest and power beyond belief. He’s rarely beaten alone on bull-rushes or one-on-one match-ups against defensive tackles. His aggressiveness is unparalleled, forcing defenders back and often taking up two pass rushers at once. Alongside teammate Mike McGlinchey, they provide fearsome double-teams.

Imagine what a line with Nelson and Andrew Norwell could accomplish. It would provide Eli Manning with ample time to throw the ball, and a stud running back to walk all over opposing teams.

Here’s an example of how powerful Nelson is:

Watch as No. 56 comes flying across the screen towards the right to plant an incoming defender into the ground. He simply lowers his shoulder will minimal power and send him pile-driving into the ground.

If you’re interested in watching a compilation of the stud guard, here’s a video of his pure dominance at the college level:

The most enticing aspect of Nelson is his agility and speed at his current size. His lateral movement is pure, which is why he’s able to shift to the opposite side of the line very quickly. His agility contributes towards his immense ability to run-block and stuff defenders at the point of attack. The strength he posses in his legs allows him to move through blocks easily; finding his way to the next level and opening up holes for running backs.

According to NFL.com:

“He’s so unique because he’s big, but he’s not fat. He’s one of the best run blockers I’ve ever evaluated, but he’s not a liability in pass protection Mike Iupati is. He’s also an alpha who can bring and ass-kicking mindset into your position room.” – NFC team personnel executive
In this scenario, the Giants would likely trade back in order to stockpile picks and still grab the best lineman in the draft. If Dave Gettleman decides to take this course of action, the Giants could have one of the most daunting offensive and defensive lines in the game.