"Make the Case" is back in session on Giants.com.
In this series, we look at projections provided by two draft experts and then ask you, the fans, to weigh in on what the Giants should do in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The Giants currently hold 12 picks, beginning with the 6th and 17th overall selections.
Today, we look at two scenarios: draft a quarterback and then an edge rusher, or vice versa?
In his most recent mock draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. had the Giants taking Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, a Heisman Trophy finalist who set 28 program records and added seven Big Ten records, including single-season passing yards (4,831), touchdown passes (50) and total offensive yards (4,939). At No. 17, Kiper projected defensive end Clelin Ferrell, who left Clemson as only the second two-time, first-team AP All-American, the school's first such player since Terry Kinard in 1981-82. Despite playing only three seasons, his 44 starts were the most by any defensive end/outside linebacker in school history. He is tied with William "Refrigerator" Perry for fourth in Clemson history with 27 career sacks.
Kiper: "I'm sticking with Haskins to the Giants, even though they have a gaping void in their edge rush. I wouldn't be shocked if they didn't take a quarterback in Round 1, though. I gave New York a quarterback at No. 6, which means it has to address its pass rush with its other first-round pick. Ferrell is a prototypical 4-3 defensive end."
NFL.com's Bucky Brooks had the Giants starting with Michigan defensive lineman Rashan Gary, a New Jersey native who played high school football with new Giants safety Jabrill Peppers. Gary was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and racked up 44 tackles, seven for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 12 games in final collegiate season. Brooks then went with Duke quarterback Daniel Jones, who has ties to the Manning family through his head coach. David Cutcliffe mentored Eli and Peyton in college before passing the same wisdom onto Jones, who in 36 career games (36 starts) completed 764 of 1,275 (.599) passes for 8,201 yards with 52 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.
Brooks: "Gary is far from a finished product, but his combination of size, strength and athleticism could make him a star as a versatile edge defender. … Jones could be the perfect successor to Eli Manning based on the Duke product's pedigree (David Cutcliffe, who coached Manning at Ole Miss, coached Jones in Durham for the past four years) and unflappable demeanor."
