Have you checked Twitter and Instagram lately? It would seem Giants’ GM Dave Gettleman is in a no-lose position heading into next week’s draft. The team could draft nearly any position player and the Giants fanbase would be okay with it…almost any position.
Dave Gettleman met with the media twice this week. The first zoom conference was with Assistant GM Kevin Abrams at his side to recap the Giants’ free agent moves (of which there were many…20 to be precise). Abrams is the chief architect of the Giants’ salary cap as well as the chief negotiator. As he stated in the zoom session, the team has taken some calculated risks with the salaries, particularly with the larger payouts in 2022 and 2023. Abrams was also the key person credited with keeping negotiations going and completing the Leonard Williams deal at the beginning of the legal “tampering” period, in time to set the team’s sights on the targeted free agents the Giants wanted to pursue.
Gettleman’s second meeting with the media included Giants Director of College Scouting, Chris Pettit to discuss the upcoming draft. This session was intended to discuss the draft talent as it matches up with Giants’ needs, yet say nothing to reveal the team’s true intentions. Per Gettleman, everything is on the table: trade up, trade down, select the best player available. There could be five (5) quarterbacks taken before the Giants go on the clock at #11. Dave quipped, “I’d be happy if there were 10 quarterbacks taken ahead of his pick for the Giants. It is possible that a top 5 draft talent could drop into the Giants’ lap if enough QBs come off the board before them. The consensus Top 5 players in the draft include:
- Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson
- Kyle Pitts, TE Florida
- Penei Sewell, OT Oregon
- Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU
- Justin Fields, QB Ohio State
The Giants have needs for a top pass rusher (Edge/OLB) and can use depth on the offensive line, linebacker and wide receiver (even with the signings of Kenny Golladay and John Ross). Dave reiterated, “You can never have too many good players at any position.” With the top available talent including two offensive linemen, three receivers, a cornerback, and a middle linebacker, whichever one Gettleman chooses will be met with cheers instead of jeers.
However, if the Giants pick an Edge as early as #11, they will be criticized for reaching too high to fill a need. This is where a trade down is a very real possibility. Yet, Gettleman has never traded down in any draft as a GM…not that he hasn’t tried. He shared a story that he had a deal to trade down once, only to have another team draft the trading partner’s player just ahead of the Giants. Deal off the table.
All this points to a very rare situation for the oft-maligned Dave Gettleman. If he trades the #11 pick, moves up to grab Pitts, Sewell or Chase, he’ll be considered a hero. If he trades the #11 pick, moves down, collects a couple of extra picks, and gets one of the top Edge rushers, he’ll be considered a hero. If he stands pat and makes a pick at #11, grabs a top OL, top ILB (Parsons), or one of the top WRs from Alabama (Devonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle), he’ll be considered a hero.
I like Dave Gettleman as a GM. I think he’s done a very good job with the drafts and has a very good free agent record last year and this year. He’s had some misses. But overall, he’s done well. I think he gets a bad rap for no reason. And next Thursday night, he’ll be a winner again. But then, there’s Friday’s and Saturday’s draft picks to bring the boo-birds back out from the fan base.
Exciting times ahead Giants fans.
