Articles

 

 

By Michael Stewart

The New York Giants 2018 draft turned out better than anyone would have expected as my final grade was an A-. However; it’s been reported that GM Dave Gettleman had three scenarios inside the Giants draft room that could have changed the entire outcome of the draft for the Giants. Based on reports circulating after the draft, here are  the top three scenarios during the draft that almost happened:

  1. Scenario #1: Gettleman received many offers for the #2 overall pick, and according to Gettleman; only one offer made him stop and think about it. It’s not been confirmed which team peaked Gettlemans interest, but we could assume that the Buffalo Bills could have been that team, based on their need for a quarterback and what they had available in picks. Ultimately, Gettleman resisted the temptation and held onto the pick and later said “Are you going to be upset if you trade back and don’t get the guy you really like, that you feel can really help your football team? Those are things you’ve got to think about when you start trading back”. The Giants wisely selected running back Saquon Barkley over any of the quarterbacks who were not head and shoulders above the other positional players in this draft.
  2. Scenario #2: Gettleman was not only receiving calls, but he was hard at work making calls to every team willing to listen for the services of offensive tackle Ereck Flowers. Reports out of Giant camp indicated that Gettleman was actively testing the waters on day 1 of the draft and until the end of day 3, trying to find a suitor for Flowers. Unfortunately; teams were not interested enough to take on his $2.4M contract and his sub-par performance over the last three seasons. The Giants were reportedly looking for a mid-round pick; which could have netted them either Flowers replacement or another prospect at a different position. Lots of talent was still on the board through rounds 4 and 5; such as offensive linemen Tyrell Crosby, Brian Allen and Will Richardson. Wide receivers Dae’Sean Hamilton, Antonio Callaway and Jaleel Scott, linebackers Josey Jewell and Shaquem Griffin, cornerback Anthony Averett and defensive end/linebacker Josh Sweat.
  3. Scenario #3: Dave Gettleman nearly made a bold move mid way through the 2nd round to trade back into the 2nd round for his intended target linebacker Lorenzo Carter; who was still on the board. Like the first 2 rounds, the Giants waited patiently and watched teams pass on Carter until their selection early in the 3rd round. Similar to the 2nd round, Gettleman handed in the card in record time and selected the talented OLB out of Georgia.

Despite on what could have been if any of these three scenarios played out, the Giants should be very happy with their results. This is by far the best draft by the Giants in over a decade and aside from 4th round pick quarterback Kyle Lauletta, the remaining 5 draftees should contribute and see playing time in 2018. It’s going to be interest and worth watching to see how the Giants handle Ereck Flowers situation during training camp and beyond.  I would imagine that they will give him every opportunity to battle for the right tackle spot against Chad Wheeler and Adam Bisnowaty. Maybe Flowers will come to camp determined and hunger to show everyone that he can be a solid tackle for the Giants. Maybe his absence is just his way of regrouping and re-evaluating his future; or maybe he has broken the last straw with the Giants and it’s only a matter of time before the Giants eventually release him and move on.