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“Tank for Trevor Lawrence” is a trickling mantra among some fans (and critics) of the New York Giants, and as I’ve alluded to previously, it’s entirely too soon for that nonsensical way of thinking.
No, second-year quarterback Daniel Jones is not playing particularly well over the past three weeks, but there’s no one in NFL history who would excel in similar circumstances.
The Giants’ offensive line can’t pass protect or run block, the running game was lacking even before the loss of Saquon Barkley (knee), the wide receivers can not create separation, the tight ends are under-performing and the team is near the league lead in dropped passes.
That’s a pretty rough combination for a young quarterback who has started just 16 NFL games.
But here we are, four weeks into a season that didn’t have a proper training camp, was devoid of a preseason and sees the Giants trudging through the transition to yet another head coach — a first-time head coach — and the second offensive systems of Jones’ young career. And what are we doing? Talking about blowing it all up again for Trevor Lawrence.
With the No. 1 overall pick in Draft Wire’s most recent mock, the Giants select, yes, Mr. Lawrence.
Yes, the Giants just spent a top-10 pick on Daniel Jones in 2019, and the team definitely has bigger problems on both sides of the ball. But nothing he’s done so far, nor his potential ceiling, are anywhere near enough for the Giants to pass on a prospect like Lawrence. Last year, the Arizona Cardinals proved that moving on from a young quarterback for a better one can be the best decision a team ever makes. If they can get a massive haul to trade down, that would be ideal, but if they stay here, it’s gotta be Lawrence.
As general manager Dave Gettleman said previously, if you miss on a first-round quarterback you set your franchise back 10 years. Even if Lawrence were a lock to find success in the NFL (and he’s not — no one is) that means the Giants would have wasted two years and then potentially two more future years as Lawrence develops.
Would Giants fans actually have the patience for another two and a half years of rebuilding? The fact that they’ve given Daniel Jones just 16 games before calling for his head would suggest not.
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