With the NFL draft around the corner, don’t expect either the Giants or Jets to change their prescribed paths by making a major trade when both of them are on the clock.
Instead, look for both teams to stay the course and draft with a defensive mindset.
For the Giants, all of the talk about choosing a successor to Eli Manning in the opening round with either of their picks (sixth and 17th) will result in selecting a defensive player to further bolster their offseason bargain shopping.
In the final weeks, their posture presumably shifted toward either drafting Missouri quarterback Drew Lock or Duke signal caller Daniel Jones to sit behind manning for a year.
But Giants’ GM Dave Gettleman constantly said that he “wasn’t going to force a pick.” He and the Giants’ brass apparently have faith in Manning and want to see him ride off into the Meadowlands ‘ sunset (or swamps) and take their future leader in the 2020 draft.
Manning hasn’t shown that he is finished a refigured and renewed offensive line should help him this winter. Plus, the Giants desperately need a pass rusher or a steady inside linebacker.
The pick here can range from Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, LSU inside linebacker Devon White, Michigan defensive end Rashan Gray or Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat.
Down the line at the 17th pick, the G-Men could lean toward Michigan inside linebacker Devin Ford, LSU cornerback Greedy Williams, or look at Oklahoma guard/tackle Cody Ford.
Remember, this pre-draft stuff simply is speculation, unless someone has disguises himself or herself as a pizza delivery person and drops a pie or two in their draft bunker.The Giants easily could shock everyone and draft a quarterback – don’t forget Dwayne Haskins – and begin playing him in week five, six-, seven-, or eight.
However, it’s hard for me to see them miss drafting a pair of defensive players.For the Jets, the task is much easier.They will draft a pass rusher they desperately need with the sixth overall pick.
Ohio State’s Nick Bosa appeared to have fallen in their laps when San Francisco traded for Kansas City’s Dee Ford.Yet, recently, reports have the 49ers leaning toward taking Bosa with the second overall pick, and forming potentially one of the more lethal passrush combos in the league.
If that does happen, the Jets will take Kentucky’ Josh Allen to solve their needs.There were plenty of rumblings around that the Jets would trade down to acquire additional picks, but they can’t afford to miss this pick, and Allen is a surefire one by all indications.
Whatever the final outcome, there certainly will be plenty of intrigue surrounding both teams/