Taking a look at what a double trade-back scenario could look like for the New York Giants.
Giants’ general manager Dave Gettleman stated this past week that he is open to moving back in the 2020 NFL draft to add more capital.
With needs on both the offensive line and defensive side of the ball, Gettleman and new head coach Joe Judge have to pick through a laundry list of positions that need reinforcement. Offensive tackle is a well-known weakness for the Giants, and protecting their investments in Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley must be a priority. However, passing on a defender like Isaiah Simmons will be difficult.
Ultimately, filling the most holes with quality players should be at the forefront of Gettleman’s mind, and here’s how they could get it done in an unlikely but possible double trade back scenario.
Utah State quarterback Jordan Love is the catalyst in this specific situation, as utilizing him as leverage with a team like the Las Vegas Raiders or New Orleans Saints could be a possibility. Love’s attributes are comparable to Patrick Mahomes coming out of college, but he’s still a raw prospecting who needs development. His talent is good enough to justify teams wheeling and dealing to secure him.
For the Giants, moving back one or two spots with the Miami Dolphins or Los Angeles Chargers is an ideal move, as it keeps them in play for Isaiah Simmons and also adds draft capital to their arsenal of picks. They currently have ten overall selections in the draft, despite four of them being in the seventh round.
If they can manage to trade back with the Dolphins or Chargers, they will already have added capital to their lot, but a double trade back is still on the table with the Saints potentially looking for another passer. Drew Brees is prepared to play the 2020 season with the expectation of retirement after, and Taysom Hill is the only other quarterback on the roster. Adding competition for 2021 should be a priority.
Love offers the most value and allows the Saints to move up without breaking the bank, but other teams could be eyeing his services, meaning the Giants could double leverage their position and move back to pick 24. At this point, the Giants would have a 2021 first-rounder from the Saints and three second-round picks (one from the first trade and another from the second).
This opens up the door for them to draft an offensive tackle like Josh Jones from Houston, and package two second-round picks to move up and grab LSU linebacker Patrick Queen, who has the potential to be a top defensive playmaker in the NFL. With just one year of experience as a starter, he has already shown flashes of brilliance, and a bit more development could see him develop into one of the Giants’ best players.
With the Giant still in rebuild mode, they must add as many pieces to the puzzle as possible, so landing a top-six offensive tackle and one of the best defensive players in the draft is a big haul, not mentioning the additional first-round pick in 2021. While they would have to pass on a top-tier offensive tackle or Isaiah Simmons, the amount of quality and potential this double trade back scenario offers is hard to pass on.
Nonetheless, it’s improbable — yet attractive. Gettleman has never traded back in the draft before, which already suggests the first move is doubtful, but understanding his position and the strength of his coaching staff is imperative.