The New York Giants are evaluating the field of quarterbacks ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, so that must mean they’re ready to move on from Daniel Jones after just one season, right?
That story certainly causes enough panic to sell, but no… That’s probably not steeped in any sort of reality.
The Giants are evaluating the quarterback field however, and they’re doing so in order to guarantee that their draft board is set properly — just as all of the other 31 NFL teams will do leading into April.
“We evaluate every position, because you want to set your board the right way,” general manager Dave Gettleman told reporters on Tuesday. “If you don’t evaluate everybody in the draft, whether people perceive you have a need at that position or not, your board is not right, and if your board is not right, you can’t maneuver properly. Your board has to be right. You have to evaluate everybody and give them the full schmear. You don’t just want to be cursory, ‘Aw yeah okay, he’s going in the first round. Here’s his grade.’ No. You evaluate them because it’s the only way you can operate.”
That doesn’t necessarily mean the Giants won’t draft a quarterback. After all, they’ve taken a quarterback in each of the previous three drafts and four of the last seven. On top of that, there is an obvious need for backup quarterback or two, so why not take a potential flier on one in the mid-to-late rounds?
But at No. 4 overall? That seems highly unlikely, although Gettleman wouldn’t necessarily rule it out.
“Best player,” he said. “You want to use unrestricted free agency to put yourself in a position so that you can draft the best player. More often than not when you draft for need, you’re going to make a mistake.”
Will the best player on the board at No. 4 be a quarterback? If it is, will that lead to Gettleman trading back for the first time in his entire career? Or would the Giants actually take another first-round quarterback?
They’re leaving their opinions completely open, but don’t bank on the Giants moving on from Jones or bringing another first-round quarterback into the fray. The team has much more pressing needs and you can all but guarantee an offensive tackle, edge rusher or trade at No. 4.