Articles

by Spiro Kasabian @nyspawtsguy_spi

Is Haskins the Right Choice for the Future?

We are now a month out from the 2019 NFL Draft Giant fans.  A draft in which, the New York Giants hold twelve picks, including the 6th and 17th picks in the First Round.  This is setting up to be a monumental draft for the “rebuilding” Giants.  They will have many decisions to make throughout the draft, but the most important one, is whether they will draft their future Quarterback.

The Quarterback that most analysts and fans seem to have pegged going to the New York Giants is Dwayne Haskins, out of Ohio State.  He has the prototypical build the Giants organization craves at 6’3” 220 LBS.  He is loaded with a very good arm and for all intents and purposes, is a great kid with a good head on his shoulders.  He was born in New Jersey and grew up a Giants fan. 

There are pros and cons to Haskins’ draft profile, much like any other QB prospect.  There are things Haskins does well and things he does not.  Let’s delve into them.

Pros:

  1. Above average arm with a solid lower half base that allows him to drive the football.
  2. Good on anticipatory throws.  Can read a defense and go through multiple reads.
  3. Threw for 50 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions in his one and only season at a big-time program.
  4. Does the little things when it comes to making the right plays.  Checks down instead of forcing an interception.
  5. Has shown he can move around the pocket and can make throws on the run when needed.

Cons:

  1. Only one year of tape and experience for NFL scouting departments to use. Small body of work.
  2. Ran a 5.04 40-yard dash.  Not considered mobile.
  3. Mechanics are not consistent right now.  Especially his footwork.  When his feet are not set, he becomes inaccurate.
  4. Has sometimes shown to be too conservative.  Needs to get throws out quicker and trust his offense and talent.
  5. Sometimes floats his deep ball, because the lack of follow through. His ball comes out of his funny because of the lack of ball spin.

The Giants have a serious decision to make on Dwayne Haskins.  The one thing that often gets overlooked is that Ryan Day, Dwayne Haskins’ QB Coach and Offensive Coordinator at Ohio State, coached under Pat Shurmur while working for the Eagles.  They have a relationship, and nobody knows more about Haskins than Day.  The Giants will have great insight on what Haskins can do and can’t do, probably more than any other NFL team.

Dwayne Haskins has his warts, but a lot of his issues are coachable.  He has all the physical traits to be a very successful Quarterback in the NFL.  Will the Giants have enough faith in him to draft him at #6 and let him grow under Eli Manning for a year?  Do Shurmur and Shula think they coach him up? That will be determined in the next month.