The Athletic, Pro Football Focus make different choices for New York
The New York Giants’ path back to respectability depends largely upon the organization’s ability to find the right young quarterback to take them into the future. In a pair of post-Super Bowl mock drafts released Monday, the Giants get their man.
The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner gives the Giants Miami quarterback Cam Ward at No. 3. Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus gives the Giants Shedeur Sanders of Colorado in that spot.
The interesting thing about both mock drafts is that in each the Giants wind up with their choice of Ward or Sanders. In both mock drafts, edge defender Abdul Carter goes No. 1 to the Tennessee Titans and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter goes No. 2 to the Cleveland Browns.
Here is Baumgardner’s explanation for choosing Ward:
It’s certainly possible New York will have to move up if it wants a choice between Ward or Sanders, but (as explained at Nos. 1 and 2 here) the Giants might be able to sit, wait and have their pick this year.
Ward has never taken a step back on his improvement track from Wing-T prep QB to Heisman candidate. And though there’s plenty of heat on Giants coach Brian Daboll, I’m eager to see him finally get to work with a young passer.
Here is Sikkema on choosing Sanders:
I am all about not passing on better football players to force immediate needs, but mock drafts are also done to predict rather than to copy big board rankings. It feels like the stars are aligning for Sanders to end up in New York, injecting some hope into the Giants’ building.
I don’t know which quarterback is the right choice, or which one the Giants would prefer. I know, though, that this is the idea scenario. Getting a quarterback at No. 3 without having to surrender additional draft assets to do it.
I think, though, that the Titans are going to talk up the idea of selecting Ward enough to make the Giants move up to get the guy they want.
Baumgardner’s mock draft, incidentally, was a three-rounder. I like the results for the Giants much more than I did the seven-round mock draft from Pro Football Network that we discussed on Sunday.
Here are Baumgardner’s second- and third-round picks for the Giants:
Round 2 (No. 34) — Tyliek Williams, DT, Ohio State
This is the proper priority for the Giants. I discussed the need to stop ignoring the defensive line in my look at the Giants’ Super Bowl 60 odds. The Eagles showed, in fact have shown for years, how important a deep rotation of interior defensive linemen can be. The Giants don’t have one — and haven’t really even tried to create one during the Joe Schoen era.
That is a clear mistake.
Here is something else. I just studied Williams within the last few days. Here is something I jotted in my notes as I was watching him:
“This is the kind of DT the Giants always used to draft on Day 2 … Johnathan Hankins, Linval Joseph, Dalvin Tomlinson, B.J. Hill.”
In days gone by, re-stocking the position was always a priority for the Giants. They need to get back to that.
Round 3 (No. 65) — Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville
I have not studied Riley, but this again is a proper priority if there is value on the board. Offensive line would also have to be a consideration here based on players available.
Here is part of a Draft Network scouting report on Riley:
Quincy Riley is an instinctive and physical corner who is best inside the contact window or at depth in zone coverage, where his ball skills, awareness, and intelligence are consistently evident. Riley possesses the physical attributes desirable in a modern perimeter corner with good length, as well. His height allows him to match up well with larger receivers, while his fluid lower half can stick with shiftier, smaller pass-catchers.
Riley touts significant upside in his skill set due to his blend of ball skills, fundamental coverage ability, and alignment versatility. With continued progression in his technique, Riley should intrigue teams in need of a starting-caliber corner at the next level.
