Rob Stolzer asks: My head spins with all of the QB draft chatter. Most of what I read is about physical traits, though a good amount of conversation covers processing. That’s really my question: which draft-eligible college QB is the best processor on the field? Is there a way that draftniks quantify this? I look at Brock Purdy. Clearly not the most physically-gifted QB, but the man knows how to read the field. And everyone except SF passed on him. How do scouts and coaches measure what’s between the ears for these guys?
Ed says: Rob, this one feels like a good question BBV draft analyst Chris Pflum to tackle. So, I asked him to do just that.
Chris says: Hey Rob!
The answer is a bit different for someone like me and someone inside the NFL. Those of us on the outside need to define the negative space, as it were, through tape study.
We can watch plays multiple times to get an idea of what the play call is on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, what the other 21 players’ jobs are, and then use that to inform on the QB’s decision making process.
(If we’re lucky, we can track down a playbook that can give insight into how a play in question is designed and taught.)
You can figure out a fair amount by looking at a prospect’s body language as he executes the play. Watching their helmet lets you know how (or if) they’re going through their progressions and whether they’re using eye discipline to manipulate the defense. Hesitation can tell you how comfortable they are with committing or if they can throw with anticipation. Over time you can get a pretty good idea of how a quarterback processes within the context of the games you watch. Of course, that comes with limitation of only seeing the prospect within their team’s offense.
And one thing to keep in mind is that an offense is designed for the whole team and a roster that is refreshed every couple years — not just for a single quarterback. It’s also important to remember that a college coach’s job isn’t to develop a player for the NFL, it’s to win games for his school. So it’s always possible that what a player was asked to do within the college system isn’t everything they’re capable of doing.
Scouts and coaches in the NFL do everything we do on the outside, but also have direct access to the prospect. They can watch tape with them and find out exactly what they’re thinking in the moment. They can put the prospect on the board, teach them a play, and see how they recall it later. Or they can have the prospect teach them a play and get an idea for what they like and how their mind works.
Greg Hart asks: I was reading the Draft Five Rules. I (begrudgingly) agree with you on running backs. I still believe that running backs are critical to keeping offenses moving, eating clock and keeping a dynamic opponent off the field. It definitely gets back to the O-line. (Rule #4). It seems to me that running back by committee makes the most sense. So, what do you think of the current Giants running back room? Devin Singletary looked good in Buffalo, really good in Houston but meh with the G-men. (O-line again) Tyrone Tracy Jr. has great potential and Dante Miller has shown some promise. One back I think they could use is that bruiser short yardage snow plow. Thoughts?
Ed says: Greg, if you read my latest 7-round Giants mock draft you saw that I selected Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon in Round 5. I have no issue with the Giants selecting a running back at some point in the draft. All things being equal, I would address the trenches before taking a back, but there is no reason for the Giants not to add another back if there is one they really like available, particularly on Day 3.
Video Mailbag
There are a handful of questions answered in here. If you don’t see yours answered in print, it might be in the video.
Seth Weissman asks: Ed, I love your mock from today (Sunday, March 23). The Giants are so in need of exceptional talent and since there is no clear cut QB standout, getting Hunter, Booker and Walker, in addition to Shough, seems to be the smartest move. Obviously, we have no idea how the draft is actually going to play out, but if this scenario were to present itself, do you think Schoen would actually go with it? Have you heard anything regarding the Giants having interest in Shough?
Ed says: Seth, I don’t know if the Giants would follow the same path to Shough that I did. I do know that signing Russell Wilson increases the likelihood of them passing on Shedeur Sanders if he is available at No. 3. If they really love Sanders, though, anything is possible.
I know the Giants have had some contact with Shough. I also know that GM Joe Schoen was in attendance Tuesday at the Louisville Pro Day. Schoen chose to attend Shough’s Pro Day rather than go to Texas to watch Quinn Ewers. Read into that what you will.
Douglas Furth asks: Ed, if the Giants draft Travis Hunter, would you use him predominantly on defense or offense?
Ed says: Douglas, before the Giants signed Paulson Adebo I would have said cornerback was the clear answer. Now, I’m not so sure. Earlier in the process, word was that the Giants saw Hunter as a cornerback first and were leery of the idea of him playing two ways. I don’t know if that remains the case.
What do you do if you’re the Giants? If you want him to play cornerback full time, you are benching former No. 1 pick Deonte Banks. I think that would be a hard pill for GM Joe Schoen to swallow. If you want him to play offense full time, you are taking snaps away from Darius Slayton and/or Wan’Dale Robinson.
I think I would use him on offense full time if I were the Giants. They have, to this point, basically brought back all of the pieces from last year’s 31st-ranked offense. Hunter would provide a big-time weapon for Russell Wilson.
Defense, where the playbook isn’t as thick, might be an easier place to use Hunter 20 snaps a game or so against four- or five-receiver sets. Man coverage is man coverage. Cover 3 is Cover 3.
I think that would be my thinking initially.
Nick Falato and I debated this a bit on a podcast Tuesday evening. It is a fascinating debate and I am not sure there is a right or wrong answer.
Philip Robbins asks: Would the Giants have told Jameis Winston before signing him of their intention to sign Russell Wilson? Or, would Winston have assumed he was being signed to be the backup? Would Wilson have been assured of a starting job or told that he would compete for it? Lastly, if they sign a QB in the draft, as seems likely, is DeVito sent to the practice squad?
Ed says: Philip, Jameis Winston has been around the block in the NFL long enough to know how things work when you are in his situation. I would think the Giants would have been honest with him that they were not done adding to the quarterback room, and that Wilson or Aaron Rodgers was still a possibility. Also that drafting a quarterback was still on the table.
Wilson is the starting quarterback. The money (one-year, $10.5 million for Wilson, two years, $8 million for Winston) tells you that. There won’t be a competition. Now, maybe if they draft Shedeur Sanders Wilson will have someone looking over his shoulder pushing for playing time.
Yes, drafting a quarterback would make Tommy DeVito QB4. That could push him to the practice squad, if he clears waivers rather than being picked up by another team. It might also be possible that DeVito says no to a practice squad spot, and just waits for an opportunity on a 53-man roster somewhere.
AJ asks: I have a question about what comes next for the Giants in regards to the draft. With the Giants having the Wilson and Winston show for the year, is it possible that allows them to target someone like Milroe in the 3rd round? A QB with good upside that needs to sit and learn for a year, while allowing the team to draft best available in the early rounds.
Ed says: Yes, AJ that possibility absolutely exists. If the Giants LOVE Shedeur Sanders and think he is their long-term guy, they should take him even with Wilson and Winston on board. If they aren’t convinced, pass on him and take a developmental quarterback later.
David Kanter asks: Let’s say we draft Hunter, adding dynamic WR and CB play, and a round two starting DT. Assume solid Russell play, our free agency pickups pan out, and last year’s rookies continue to develop. What do you see as our roster’s remaining greatest weaknesses?
Ed says: David, in your scenario you didn’t give me anything beyond Round 2 (pick No. 34). The biggest weaknesses, given what you have laid out, are no long-term quarterback of the future and no young offensive line talent to work into a veteran line.
Jeff Jenkins asks: Do you feel that the Giants are done adding to the interior offensive line in free agency? If not, who do you like that is still available? Where would you prioritize the interior offensive line in the draft if the value is there?
Ed says: Jeff, yes, I think they are done in free agency. Could they add someone like Will Hernandez or Brandon Scherff on a low-cost deal? Maybe. I think, though, they need to go into the draft and add a couple of young offensive linemen to the mix. I would have it as a high draft priority.
Bob Donnelly asks: I find it a curious thing that Joe and Brian are essentially running out the same offense as last year. Same starting O line, same receivers, same tight ends, same running backs. Do they really believe that with a healthy AT/ O line and different QB that this offense, after being one of the worst in the NFL in 2024, can compete at a respectable level in 2025?
In your view is that belief arrogance, realistic, overly optimistic or misguided?
Ed says: Bob, I don’t think that was completely the original plan. I think they would have like to add a top of the market guard, but the price tags just made that impossible. I think they probably thought they would be replacing, not bringing back, Darius Slayton.
That said, I think they do believe better quarterback will make a major difference. Brian Daboll talked about that in the 45-point outburst against the Indianapolis Colts. The Giants were 1-9 in one-score and lost a 10-point game to the Cincinnati Bengals. They probably go 5-5 in those game with better late-game quarterback play.
The schedule is different in 2025, but I think they truly believe the pieces they have are better than many think and that the right quarterback can be a real difference-maker.
Ben Fitzsimmons asks: Before last year’s draft, at the beginning of March, I said to a friend the Giants were either going to get a QB in the upcoming draft (last year’s draft) OR get Dillon Gabriel in this year’s draft. Here we are, the Giants need a QB, they don’t want to spend a ton of premium capital on one since they signed Russell Wilson. Yet, not one single word of Dillon Gabriel was mentioned anywhere by anyone. The literal only argument I’ve seen against him is his height which just seems comically dumb to me. I mean he’s the same height as our very own starting QB right now, Russell Wilson, who has had a very successful and respectable career.
Are there any actual, genuine, real reasons to not like Dillon Gabriel? Why is he going under the radar so much? He had one rough game against Ohio State who basically built the Avengers of CFB and purchased a national championship. Other than that, he was great. He’s had strong numbers every year of his college career as far as I can tell.
Ed says: Ben, the reality with Dillon Gabriel is that most scouts look at his size, lack of arm strength, age (24) and modest athletic ability and see a career backup. They don’t see a quarterback who should be an NFL starter.
The NFL.com scouting report says:
Gabriel is an older and smaller QB prospect, but he offers a tremendous amount of game experience and productivity. He operates with poise and confidence from the pocket. His field vision is average, but he typically takes care of the football. He’s capable of playing within the confines of an offense and can create yards with his legs as needed. Gabriel’s accuracy and timing is accurate on shorter throws, but the placement becomes erratic when pushed outside of his comfortable range. He might require a ball-control passing game to help manage his lack of arm talent and keep him from throwing into closing windows. He’s an effective scrambler who is able to elude pressure and make plays outside of the pocket. Gabriel requires a very specific offensive fit, but he’s a gamer with enough good tape to have a chance to become a decent backup.
Chris chimed in with this:
“The projectable stats suggest that he could be very good and potentially the next Russell Wilson. I just have him outside the Top 5 for the Giants because Schoen and Daboll can’t afford to take a risk on a guy who’s short, old, and left handed. It’d be a super hard sell to Mara.”
Someone will draft Gabriel on Day 3 and he will likely have a long NFL career — just not as a starter. He would be an outlier if he turns into a successful, big-time starter. Betting on outliers and using early draft picks on them is not good strategy.
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