Jerry Reese's Goal For Tonight's Draft Pick: Don't Fuck It Up
Anyone that has read any mock drafts over the last few weeks knows that the Giants pick is all over the place because the team has plenty of holes to fill thanks to Jerry Reese’s wonderful GM’ing over the years. I can see us basically drafting any position outside of quarterback and it wouldn’t shock me. Reese has said that he would not let his job security, or lack thereof, effect who he picks tonight. But I think we can all agree that’s probably bullshit.
As for the players that have been linked to the Giants, I am really fine with any of them. I was intrigued at the thought of Laquon Treadwell since the Giants receivers behind ODB is a recovering Victor Cruz and a pseudo dumpster fire. But his speed has become a legit question mark and caused him to slip in most of the mock drafts. Any quarterback/offense is obviously better when the offensive line is good. But I feel like this is especially the case with Eli. So drafting Ronnie Stanley or Jack Conklin would help solidify a line that always seems to get banged up and has to move guys out of their strongest positions far too often. As I was writing this, rumors were swirling that the Giants were locked in at an offensive lineman at 10. But those rumors are usually not worth the paper they are not printed on.
As for the other defensive line, Shaq Lawson and DeForest Buckner have come up as Giants on a few mocks. With the Giants signing Olivier Vernon and re-signing Jason Pierre-Paul to create the French Connection, it doesn’t seem like defensive line is the biggest need. But JPP can be gone next year and the biggest reason the last two Lombardi Trophies the Giants won are in East Rutherford are because of Big Blue’s defensive line talent and depth. So I think all of us would be fine with some sort of pass rusher at pick 10, especially since DeMonster turned out to be a DeGoddamBust here in New York.
The most entertaining position the GMen could draft is linebacker, since it has been the position every Giants fan has been begging the team to use a high draft pick on for decades. There is nothing I would love to happen more than to stop hearing that Carl Banks was the last linebacker the Giants drafted in the first round. DID YOU KNOW THAT? All the way back in 1984!
Sorry, I am just slightly annoyed about hearing that fun fact every goddamn year. Anyway, based on the players that could be available at 10, linebacker is not a stretch at all. Leonard Floyd and Myles Jack are two of the names we have heard as potentially going to Big Blue. Based on Reese’s need to hit on this pick, I don’t think he will take a risk on Jack’s knee. I love what I have heard about Floyd and how some Georgia players transition to the NFL.
The only name in the secondary I have seen often is Vernon Hargreaves. Between DRC and Janoris Jenkins, I don’t know if the Giants really need to use a pick this high on a corner. If there was a stud safety that was going to be there at 10, I would have loved it. But I would have also loved it if the Giants didn’t gag away all those games last season and that didn’t happen either.
Sigh.
And then there’s the wildcard. Ezekiel Elliott. Most mock drafts have Elliott gone by the time the Giants pick, but considering that the running back position has been de-emphasized in the draft, it wouldn’t surprise me if he could get to 10. Now the Giants have already spent a ton of money on free agents. The only move that may be frowned upon more for than being a “Winner” of free agency is to select a running back early in the first round of the draft. And I totally get that. My Twitter timeline is filled with people that do not want their teams drafting Elliott, with a few that will be pissed if their teams PASS on him. I am not outwardly hoping the Giants pick Elliott. But my utter disdain for Andre Williams and my, I don’t know, complete lack of feelings for Rashad Jennings makes me think that taking a three-down RB that is likely one of the best players in the draft wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. To be fair, I have been preparing myself for Elliott being drafted since I think he has said he’s wanted to be an Eagle, Cowboy, or Giant during different interviews over the last few months, as he apparently has a bigger hard-on for the NFC East than the TV networks do.
The Giants could also trade down or go completely off the reservation, draft someone that I didn’t list, and make me look like a total asshole. And as I have learned throughout my life, do not discount any possibility that ends with me looking like an asshole. I would be fine if the Giants drafted any of the players I mentioned or if someone fell like crazy for some weird reason (Ramsey, Bosa, or Tunsil). But I truly have no idea where this is headed tonight thanks to the swiss cheese roster Reese has slowly assembled. But I do know that if this class flops this season along with the team, tonight will be Jerry Reese’s last draft as the general manager of the New York Giants. For all of our sakes and his, lets hope that is not the case. Now lets all get ready to welcome this draft pick with open arms and talk ourselves into him being the best player in the draft when we look back in 10 years. And even though it’s not true and I am absolutely terrified, this may be the last time I can say this on draft night.
In Reese We Trust.
Shit.