From: Barbara in NY
The Giants have several receivers whose contracts are expiring and who are becoming free agents: Cody Latimer, Corey Coleman, Russell Shepard and Cody Core. Which of them should the team try to re-sign?
John Schmeelk: All four of those wide receivers contributed to the team in a variety of ways, and bring different skills to the field. One thing that all four have in common is their ability to contribute on special teams. Cody Latimer and Corey Coleman can both be used as return men. Cody Core was one of the best gunners on punt coverage in the NFL last year. Before his injury derailed his season after three weeks, Russell Shepard was a regular on kick coverage.
Shepard also provided a strong veteran voice in the receiver room. Although he is coming off an ACL injury, Coleman is only 25 years old and still has all the athleticism that made him a first round pick in 2016. Latimer provides and outside vertical threat. It will be up to the front office to work with the new coaching staff to decide which players fit their plans and they want to bring back.
From: Daniel in Missouri
Many people have Chase Young going to the Redskins at 2 but I think being as Ron Rivera is a former linebacker, and their defensive line is a strength of their team already, that they will pick Isaiah Simmons. Detroit will then pick Jeff Okudah or trade down with the LA Chargers (who will jump the Dolphins and pick Tua Tagaviola) and Chase Young will fall to the Giants at 4. What do you guys think of these 2 scenarios? Thanks!
Schmeelk: The scenarios you paint above aren't impossible, but there's no way to know what is going on inside those teams' buildings and what their thought processes are right now. The Redskins not only have a new coaching staff but also a new front office, and there is no way to know what they think of the players already on their roster. Even if they do like the defensive linemen in place, they might think Young is such a special player at a premium position that he is impossible to pass up. A team can never have enough pass rushers.
The Lions could provide the first major pivot of the draft. As you surmise, they can select a player like Jeffrey Okudah, who fits their defensive scheme, or they could also trade down, if a team wants to move up to select a quarterback. It's important to remember that in every trade scenario, however, that there needs to be two teams that want to work together on a move. Sometimes goals don't align for two teams to make a trade work.
View the players set to become free agents when the new league year begins March 18.
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