The New York Giants have multiple gaps to fill this season and only one first round draft pick – it’s easy, therefore, to get into debates about what position would help the team the most. The line is the most pressing need on offense, after the Giants drafted Daniel Jones last year but had a hard time with keeping quality players in front of him to protect him. On the other hand, the defense still needs a real pass rush.
Many believe that the Giants need to pick between these two needs and that if they spend their first round pick on an offensive lineman, they won’t be able to improve the defense or vice versa. And this take seems reasonable enough. There’s only so many marquee players to choose from, and a lot of them will be gone in the top fifteen picks. However, there is a scenario where the Giants can get another piece to help their team and still acquire a player in the top ten with their draft pick.
That’s the scenario laid out in the most recent CBS Mock Draft, which has the Giants trading their pick to the quarterback needy Jaguars for pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue and moving down to the ninth spot to select Mekhi Becton, an offensive tackle that has been mocked to the Giants since the end of the season.
Yannick Ngakoue to the New York Giants on draft day?
Jacksonville jumps up to No. 4, and @ryanwilsonCBS brings a QB to Duval. pic.twitter.com/rM7eQnXHo6
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) April 6, 2020
In four years in the league, Ngakoue has never had less than 8 sacks and is one of the more consistent pass rushers available right now, either in the draft or in a trade. He’s been mentioned as a name connected to the Giants for a while now, but a deal would likely wait until draft night.
Becton, on the other hand, is one of the top three offensive line prospects in the draft and would potentially provide the immediate step up in protection for Daniel Jones that the Giants are looking for.
Is this a good deal for the Giants? It looks like one, as it addresses a couple of needs in one draft. However, it remains to be seen if Jacksonville would accept such a deal. The Giants, after all, look like the winners if this prediction really did happen.