With the NFL draft quickly approaching, the New York Giants are trying to determine what their strategy is going to look like as teams move up and down the draft order. After the Atlanta Falcons traded Matt Ryan and signed Marcus Mariota to a two-year contract on Monday, Big Blue’s plans may have shifted slightly.
With Malik Willis (Liberty) and Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh) coined as the top two quarterbacks in the draft class, the Giants have an opportunity to leverage one of their two first-round picks in a potential trade, landing them more draft capital.
Teams in the mid-first round like the New Orleans Saints may view one of the two quarterbacks as a solution moving forward, but the Giants were on hand for Kenny Pickett’s Pro Day on Monday. Why is this important?
Nine QB coaches have RSVPed to the @Pitt_FB Pro Day, where @MoveTheSticks’ top QB Kenny Pickett will be throwing: #Falcons, #Panthers, #Lions, #Saints, #Giants, #Eagles, #Seahawks, #Titans, #Commanders.
Full coverage coming on @nflnetwork!— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) March 21, 2022
Pickett is an interesting player that features undersized hands, but stands at 6’3″ and 220 pounds, an adequate frame. With NFL footballs a bit bigger than the college football, that factor may play into team’s decisions.
However, I don’t believe the Giants are seriously looking at a quarterback this off-season to draft, but rather getting a feeler on what competitive teams are thinking.
Pickett absolutely crushed his Pro Day, which is a great thing for general manager Joe Schoen. If clubs begin to fall in love with Pickett as a prospect, the Giants can already start leveraging teams against one another, driving up the price to move up to acquire the star Pittsburgh quarterback.
Just spoke with an NFC assistant GM, discussing Pitt QB Kenny Pickett’s Pro Day: “He showed it all. Huge arm, athletic, quick strike ability. No way he gets out of the top 10. Maybe sooner. We love him.” @kennypickett10
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 21, 2022
Last season, Kenny finished 3rd in Heisman voting, tallying 4,319 passing yards, 42 touchdown passes, and seven interceptions. With five years of experience at the collegiate level, Pickett has the mental capabilities and physical qualities to become a great NFL quarterback.
With his draft stock rising, the Giants could look to the Atlanta Falcons, Panthers, or Saints to move back and acquire more capital. A trade with the Saints may land them a 2023 first-rounder, whereas the Falcons may be willing to offer up their second-round pick in exchange for the 5th selection, leapfrogging Carolina.
Nonetheless, with teams finally falling into place, Schoen must be excited about the prospect of how the quarterback market is shaking out.