The New York Giants hold the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Everyone is waiting to see wether or not the Giants will finally attempt to draft Eli Manning‘s successor. However, nothing is set in stone.
This year’s draft class only has a couple of quarterbacks that are worthy of a first-round pick. If the Giants want to take one, they might even have to trade up. However, if they are not in love with one of the quarterback prospects, their best course of action might be to trade back.
Who Might Be Looking To Trade Up?
A few quarterback-needy teams could try to move into the top 10 to get their franchise signal-caller. The Giants could potentially go all-in on Eli Manning, trade back to accumulate draft picks, and build the team around the 38 year old veteran.
That is an unlikely, and probably unwise scenario. A more likely scenario would be if a team jumped in front of the Giants and took the quarterback they want. Thus would then cause the Giants to move back in the draft to get more picks. There are multiple teams who could potentially try to trade with the Giants.
One team that stands out is the Denver Broncos. The Broncos’ general manager, John Elway, has been rumored to view quarterback prospect Drew Lock as his guy. If the Giants do not share the same opinion, they could move back to the Broncos’ 10th spot.
The Miami Dolphins is another team to look out for in the 2019 NFL Draft. They are another quarterback-needy team picking outside of the top ten. They currently hold the 13th pick, which could end up being too far back to select a franchise quarterback. So if there is someone in this draft they want to select, trading up to the 6th pick would not be a bad idea.
The Giants could consider trading the 6th pick to a division rival. The Washington Redskins are going to be without Alex Smith this year due to a gruesome injury. This could possibly mean Smith’s retirement. They need to draft a quarterback to secure their future. With the 15th pick, Washington could look to trade up inside the top 10 and get themselves a quarterback.
What Could The Giants Get For The 6th Pick?
The 6th pick has a value of 1,600 points while the 10th pick has a value of 1,300. In order to add the 300 points of value, the Broncos could throw in a 2nd round pick. The Broncos’ second rounder is the 41st pick, which is worth 490 points, but that is likely fair enough compensation considering the Broncos would be selecting a quarterback.
The 13th pick is worth 1,150 points. In addition to the 13th pick, the Dolphins could trade the 48th pick from round 2 (worth 420 points) and the 141st pick from round 5 (worth 35.5 points) to make this trade. The Giants would then have plenty of draft capital necessary to add depth to their roster.
Washington’s 15th overall pick is worth 1,050 points. With the 15th pick already included, if the Redskins threw in their round 2, 46th overall pick (worth 440 points), and their 3rd round pick, 77th overall (worth 205 points), to total a package worth 1,695 points. The extra 95 points would likely make up for the fact that this is an in-division trade.
Who Could The Giants Draft If They Trade Back?
Trading back into the pick 10-20 of the first round could be of great value for the Giants. On top of the extra 2nd and mid round picks they would receive, they would have the ability to draft a defensive playmaker, or a great offensive linemen. Cody Ford is a player that has been mocked to the Giants and would likely be available if they traded back.
The draft class is filled with talented playmakers on defense. Cornerbacks and edge rushers are abundant. If one of the top-end players slides due to the high volume of playmakers on defense, the Giants could get a draft-day steal.
Edge rusher is one of the Giants’ top needs heading into the 2019 offseason. Montez Sweat is a player that has been mocked within picks 10-20 in recent mock drafts.
Cody Ford, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma
In 2018, Cody Ford played right tackle for the Oklahoma Sooners. He is listed at 6’4″ and 338 pounds. Do not let his large stature fool you. Ford is an agile tackle with the ability to pass protect speed rushers.
Cody Ford’s feet are ??…and he’s listed 346 pounds! This is dominance pic.twitter.com/hmfpClu1YQ
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) December 10, 2018
Cody Ford is a gritty Hog Molly who loves to finish the play strong. Dave Gettleman loves strong, aggressive linemen, and Ford would fit right in with his mold of what an offensive lineman should be.
I like the way @OU_Football RT Cody Ford plays the game. Saw or 4 of these in this game. pic.twitter.com/30imHtgPxm
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) November 8, 2018
The Giants are in desperate need of a right tackle. Ford would be an instant upgrade at that position. And after a few years, Ford could move to the left side once Nate Solder moves on to retirement.
Montez Sweat, Edge Rusher, Mississippi State
Montez Sweat is a freakish 6’6″ 245 pound edge rusher out of Mississippi State. He was very productive in his junior and senior years. He totaled 10.5 sacks as a junior and 12 sacks as a senior.
Sweat’s bull rush is excellent. He has the ability to push linemen and collapse the pocket. He is also able to plug holes in run support with his strength and ability to move the line.
https://twitter.com/DLineVids/status/1040192709347012608
However, Sweat is not a perfect prospect. Montez could improve his bend and flexibility on the outside. He does not have a ton of pass-rush moves, mainly just the bull rush, plus an occasional swim. If he adds another move or counter-move or two, he could be a great player. Check out Sweat’s bullrush on full display at the Senior Bowl:
Montez Sweat is a QB’s nightmare ??? @_sweat9 pic.twitter.com/7mRLllRc8B
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 22, 2019
He might take some time to develop, but Montez Sweat has the potential to be a great player at the next level. He could be a draft day steal if the Giants decide to trade back in the 2019 NFL Draft.