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About a week to go until the NFL Draft, and there are still plenty of questions about what the Giants are doing.
Here are a few you submitted to SNY:
It seems trading down is wholly dependent on what Washington and Detroit do. Assuming those teams stand pat, and with so many holes to fill, isn't it almost mandatory for the Giants to trade down and accumulate more picks? -- @GaryCWilliams (via Twitter)
I've heard similar takes from a lot of fans, actually. And to be honest, it's really impossible to make it "mandatory" because even if the Giants really want to trade down - and I think they do -- it doesn't mean they'll be able to do it. It takes, as they say, two to tango.
Now, someone will want to trade up, for sure. And yes, the Giants should be making and soliciting calls. But they do have to be careful about trading down too far. Picking up extra picks is nice, but it's not always worth adding picks if they end up losing out on the players they really want. Obviously it depends on the offer, but I wouldn't trade out of the Top 10 if I were them. And honestly, I doubt they'd trade down past the Dolphins at 5 or Chargers at 6.
Should they trade with one of them? Sure. But the offer has to be there and it has to be worth it. If the Dolphins offer a fourth-round pick for the Giants to drop one spot? Sure. Why not? If the Chargers offer a seventh, why bother? So I'd say it's "mandatory" for them to investigate a trade, but that's still not a guarantee it'll happen.
When will Gettleman be held responsible? Drafting the most expendable position in football 2nd overall, whiffing on multiple free agent signings (Stewart, Martin, Bethea, Solder), and the L.Williams debacle all made the team worse. Rebuild has gone backwards and he still gets a pass? -- @fatherpat (via Twitter)
Aside from the fact that I don't agree with all of your analysis on his picks and signings, I don't understand the concept that Giants GM Dave Gettleman hasn't been held responsible or accountable for what he's done. I mean, what do you want to see happen? I guess you mean why hasn't he been fired? But really, how impatient are we?
He's been a GM for two years. He took over a franchise that was bottoming out and about to transition at quarterback. No, he hasn't done a great job and the results in his two years make that clear. You can argue with many moves, but there are some that were very good. He seems to have found a franchise quarterback. Even if you think the pick was bad, the organization is pretty thrilled with Saquon Barkley. And he's completely restocked the defense with young talent.
Yes, he needs that talent to put it together this year. Yes, he needs to finish the work he's started on the offensive line. And you know what? If he doesn't, he might get fired (or nudged into retirement) after this season. But it's unfair and unreasonable to fire a GM - assuming that's what you mean - after just two seasons. That's not enough time to rebuild a struggling franchise. That's the kind of knee-jerk move that bad franchises usually make.
If Detroit takes Isaiah Simmons and Giants can't trade down, is there any discussion about taking Okudah? I see zero buzz on this at least semi-likely scenario? -- @matt4456 (via Twitter)
I'm sure the Giants have discussed it because he's a Top 10 prospect and probably the best corner in the draft, but I don't think it's even semi-likely that the Giants do that. I know everyone loves to hear "best player available" but teams always factor need into their draft picks, and Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah just doesn't fill a big need.
Sure, the Giants could always use corners. But they signed a big-money free agent in James Bradberry, drafted DeAndre Baker in the first round last year and Sam Beal in the supplemental draft the year before. That's a lot of capital already spent at one position. I think they'll add a corner later in the draft. But I'm pretty sure they're likely to look elsewhere in the first round no matter how the first three picks shake out.
Video: The three options for the Giants #4 NFL Draft pick
Putting aside the actual players drafted by the NYG in 2020 (won't know for 3 years if good, bad or ugly), what would you consider a successful draft by DG? - @SeanKron (via Twitter)
That's a tough question, because you're right, we can't really evaluate a draft for three years. Unfortunately for Gettleman, he probably doesn't have that long to wait. He's going to be evaluated based on the team's success this year, which means he needs some players that can help right away.
I guess the best way to evaluate is how he fills needs. I know, I know, everyone takes the "best player available." But of course, that's really a myth. Teams always factor in need. So after watching Gettleman try to rebuild the Giants for two years, I'll be looking at how he fills the remaining holes on the roster - particularly along the offensive line.
And honestly, if he doesn't get an NFL-ready tackle in Round 1 or, at the latest, 2, and multiple young linemen, it's going to be hard for me to like his draft. I think that's the first measure for me: Does he finally get the Hog Mollies he's been talking about for years.
If you were Gettleman and you were told to make the pick that will set the Giants up better in the long run, who would you pick at 4? -- @jackziegler24 (via Twitter)
In case my last answer didn't give it away, and in case you haven't heard me railing about the state of the Giants offensive line for years, that's the way I'd go. It's time to really start rebuilding the offensive line. It's been a disaster for years and the offense just will not get better until it's greatly improved. They wasted the last years of Eli Manning's career because they didn't protect him. Now they'll run the risk of wasting the early years of Daniel Jones and Barkley, too.
Besides, they literally don't have a tackle penciled in for 2021. Nate Solder will probably be gone and Cam Fleming is only a one-year stop gap. That's their biggest long-term need. A tackle for the future will have a much bigger impact than any other player they'll be in position to get at 4.
If the Giants were offered the opportunity to trade 4 and 36 in order to draft Chase Young, would they make that trade? -- @GiantDreaming (via Twitter)
Hell, yes!
For all the Giants' other needs, Gettleman is keenly aware of what a great pass rusher can do for a defense. He would love to find a Michael Strahan to anchor the pass rush. It would change everything about his team. And yes, many believe Young is that kind of player. I think the Giants do, too.
Plus, that price is nothing. The Jets gave up three second-rounders to jump from 6 to 3 for Sam Darnold two years ago. So I'd assume the Giants would have to give up way more than one second-rounder. But if the Redskins are that crazy, and willing to swap spots with a division rival, it would be an offer Gettleman couldn't possibly refuse.