This is the final mailbag before the draft. I've taken a rapid fire approach to get to as many of the questions as possible. All draft questions in the mailbag that were not repeats have been answered!Â
Before I get to specific questions, I received many queries about trade down scenarios with specific teams. There's no way to know whether other teams want to trade their draft capital to move up in the draft. Just because a trade works on the trade chart does not mean the opposing team would want to make that trade. It takes two to tango in these situations and trading back is a lot harder than people make it out to be. .
On to your questions.
Michael in South Carolina: Especially if he moves down from #4, do you think it's possible that Gettleman will find a way to trade up at some point in the draft? I just can't see him using more than the 10 picks he'll start with.
John Schmeelk: It's important to remember that despite having 10 picks, the Giants' only have multiple picks in the seventh round. Those provide little ammunition for other teams to swap picks with the Giants and slide down in the draft. If Gettleman picks up multiple picks in a first-round trade down, anything is possible.Â
Terae in Pennsylvania: If Giants take an offensive tackle fourth overall and a center at 36th, what position of value should they address at pick 99?
John Schmeelk: Teams draft players not positions. There's a chance there won't be a center worth the value of the 36th overall pick. Perhaps the Giants try to trade down from 36 to pick up a selection between 50-80. It is difficult to predict at what positions there will be good value when the Giants select at 99 overall in the third round and 110 overall in fourth round. The wide receiver class is extremely deep, so the Giants may be able to find a player there around pick 100. Nickel cornerbacks are not generally drafted high, so a good inside cornerback might be available there, too. Perhaps the team would want to take a developmental offensive tackle? It is very difficult to tell.
Ian in Pennsylvania: Do you think the Giants should draft an OT and a Center with their first 2 picks?
John Schmeelk: If the value is right, why not? Improving the offensive line helps every aspect of a team. Solidifying the line also puts Daniel Jones in the best possible situation to show the type of quarterback he can be in the NFL.
View photos of every player projected to the Giants in mock drafts one week ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Robert in New York: I have been reading about the Giants taking a long look at Justin Herbert. If they thought so highly of Jones that they made him a high selection last year, why are they even considering Herbert? Could they possibly have a behind the scene deal with some team where they pick him and then trade him to another team for one or two established players?
John Schmeelk: The Patriots, for example, interview the top quarterbacks in every draft, even if they aren't in position to select them. Other than the team liking the player, there are other reasons to interview them. If he becomes available later via trade or free agency, the interview process gives insight into the player. Those interviews might also give insight into how to game plan against that player in the future. Some teams also interview players to show other teams that they would consider picking them to entice a trade-up. A player is rarely drafted and then traded later. An agreement on a trade would be completed before the pick is made.Â
Albert in New Jersey: What is the time limit for each selection info the first round and must teams discussing a trade up or down be granted extra time to work out the details?
John Schmeelk: Teams have 10 minutes to make first round selections. According to reports, the league office has indicated they will stop the clock if they have to in order to help teams complete a trade. The second round has seven minutes between picks. Rounds three through six are five minutes per pick, and round seven is four minutes. Expect most trades consummated on draft night to have largely been worked out prior to the team going on the clock to avoid issues.
Brian in New York: If the Giants trade down, can the Giants insist/specify as part of the deal that the team moving up not select one or more specific player(s) with the #4 pick?
John Schmeelk: No. Once the new team owns the pick, it is free to select any player they want.Â
Jerry in New York: Rather than trying to find a trade partner at #4, how about moving back from #36?
John Schmeelk: As we get closer to the draft, your scenario seems to be the more likely one given the hefty prices to move at the top of the draft. The Giants will have to hope there is a player available at #36 that another team covets enough that they are willing to move up to get him. There is a huge gaping hole between the Giants second round pick (36th) and third round pick (99th), an area of the draft where a lot of future starters are selected. The group is heavy with wide receivers, safeties, cornerbacks, linebackers and the draft's tight ends. Sliding back somewhere in the 50's could net an extra third round pick.
Bruce in Missouri: Will the Giants take the best available player or take the best available player at a specific position?
John Schmeelk: The Giants will take the best player available. If there are multiple players at different positions with very similar grades, then the team's positional needs come into play.
Scott in New York: Should the Giants consider a trade packaging their 99th and 110th picks to get an early third round or late second round pick?
John Schmeelk: NFL teams use different point systems for trades. Using the trade chart found at profootballreference.com, the Giants' slots at 99 and 110 are worth 176 points, which is worth the 82nd or 83rd overall pick in the draft. It isn't a very large jump for losing the chance at drafting two players.Â
James in Mississippi: What round could you see the Giants taking a wide receiver in the draft?
John Schmeelk: The wide receiver class is extraordinarily deep. There's a fair chance that the top player on the Giants' board in the second, third or fourth rounds could be a wide receiver. It is just a matter of if/when they decide to pull the trigger. There are also a lot of different types of available receivers, including some bigger players in the middle rounds who could provide Daniel Jones a strong red zone target.
Billy in New Jersey: Let's say the Giants trade down with another team before the draft begins. Would it be put out in public that 2 teams made a draft trade or do they have to wait until one of those teams is on the clock?
John Schmeelk: If the trade is filed with the league and made official, it would be made public. Two teams can agree to the terms of a trade to be made official later without telling the league office, in which case it would not be reported unless it leaked to the media. Neither team would be bound to the trade in this scenario.Â
Paul in New York: Is there much tape of Tristan Wirfs playing against Chase Young since they played each other every season?
John Schmeelk: Good question. Since the Big Ten is split in half, East and West, the two schools haven't played one another since 2017 when both players were freshmen. Young played only seven defensive snaps in that game. Unfortunately, there isn't any film of the two playing against each other.
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