New York Giants: The Highest Upside Quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft

Could the New York Giants take a flier on Tyree Jackson?
Dec 22, 2018; Mobile, AL, United States; Buffalo Bulls quarterback Tyree Jackson (3) looks to pass against the Troy Trojans during the second quarter in the 2018 Dollar General Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Giants might have an iron man in Eli Manning, but they could have THE “Iron Man” in one of the 2019 NFL Draft’s most fascinating quarterbacks. Buffalo passer Tyree Jackson stands at a massive 6’7″ and 249 pounds.

Jackson ran a 4.59 40-yard-dash, comparable to the 6’0″ Trace McSorley, one of the draft’s most athletic prospects. The Buffalo product has an extremely high ceiling as he checks off all the boxes – arm talent, size, strength. His negatives, though, are more fundamentals than physical.

He tends to sprays the ball with minimal accuracy, failing to get into a rhythm from the pocket. His completion percentage was a mere 55.8% last season, as he succumbed to unreliable footwork which was directly correlated to his inaccuracy.

Jackson finished the 2018 season with 3131 passing yards for 28 TDs and 12 INTs. Surprisingly, he only ran for 161 yards, which I expected to be significantly more with his size. However, he did earn seven rushing touchdowns.

New York Giants: What kind of value does Tyree Jackson provide?

If the Giants truly wanted to take a gamble on a passer of this nature, it would have to be deemed a project, as he’s at best a backup without serious development. A player as raw as Jackson would need around three years to get to a level where he can even compete at the NFL level. Despite that truth, his upside is tremendous if he can contain his accuracy and improve his precision with the ball.

Personally, I believe that the Giants should utilize their No. 6 overall pick if they’re keen on selecting a quarterback. They do have 12 picks overall, though, so utilizing a fourth rounder on Jackson as a developmental piece might not be a bad idea.