by Adam Nadelli @adamnardelli
At the NFL Combine general manager, Dave Gettleman said the Giants are open for business, meaning they’re willing to trade out of the 4th spot if the price is right. Let’s look into some possible trades that would make sense for the Giants.
The Chargers:
The bolts have been a popular team mentioned when it comes to who the Giants could possibly trade back with. This could be logical considering they have the 6th overall pick. Pick #4 might be too late for the Chargers to get the QB they really want. This is where the QB frenzy will start and the Chargers and the Giants have traded before. ie: Eli Manning & Philip Rivers
The Jags:
However, a team not mentioned quite as much is the Jacksonville Jaguars. With them having the 9th and 20th overall picks, this could give them the ammo to move up to 4 and grab that QB they need.
I’m sure not every Giants fan would be in love with moving back to the 9th pick and I can understand why. However, if the Jags were willing to part with 9 and 20 this would allow the Giants to address some of their biggest needs with some of the draft’s premium players.
At 9 the Giants would almost be guaranteed to get one of the draft’s top offensive tackles. The consensus is there are four top offensive tackle prospects: Jedrick Wills from Alabama, Tristan Wirfs from Iowa, Andrew Thomas from Georgia, and Mekhi Becton from Louisville.
It would be very surprising to see all four prospects gone by the 9th pick, and choosing one would help shore up one of the offensive tackle spots, an area of uncertainty for the Giants. Nate Solder’s contract isn’t sustainable long-term considering his age and play, and the starting right tackle spot is currently up in the air.
At 20 the Giants would potentially be able to get one of the top linebacker prospects outside of Isiah Simmons. Linebacker has been an issue for the Giants for years, as most fans know, and it’s time to invest a premium pick like 20th overall at the position.
TOP LB available mid to late 1st Rd.
According to NFL Network Draft expert Bucky Brook’s positional rankings (you can use whatever draft analyst you want), Zack Baun out of Wisconsin, Kenneth Murray from Oklahoma, and Patrick Queen from LSU follow Simmons as the draft’s top linebackers.
If you look at as many mock drafts as I do, one of those players is almost always available by the time the 20th pick rolls around, sometimes two or three of them. Obviously mock drafts don’t guarantee a player will be available by a certain pick, but it at least gives a good basis as to .
All three of these prospects have the speed and athleticism to excel in coverage, something the Giants have desperately needed at linebacker for what seems like decades.
Pass Rush available mid to late 1st Rd.
Two of the top pass-rush prospects could also be had at pick 20: AJ Epenesa of Iowa and K’Lavon Chaisson from LSU. The Giants are at their best when they consistently get after the quarterback and adding one of the draft’s best edge defenders wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize for trading out of the 4th pick.
If you’re all in on the Giants trading back and getting more picks, look no further than Jacksonville. A team that has become largely irrelevant over the past three seasons could use two top 20 picks, and that’s exactly what the Jaguars can provide.