Should the New York Giants trade up for Myles Jack?
By Ryan Disdier
The New York Giants need help on defense, despite making major improvements in the offseason. Would UCLA’s Myles Jack be worth trading up for?
Now, let me preface this by saying I’m usually against trading up in the draft. Teams usually have to give up a lot, and draft picks are precious.
Last year, the New York Giants had a chance, if they wanted to, to trade up and draft Leonard Williams.
Drafting Williams would’ve been a huge get for the Giants. However, Big Blue remained at No. 9, opting to draft Ereck Flowers.
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This year the G-Men will likely once again be in a position to move up if they feel the desire to. While there’s almost no way a guy like Jalen Ramsey or Joey Bosa fall, UCLA’s Myles Jack may slide outside of the top-3.
While trading up is certainly risky, Jack is worth the risk. For starters, drafting Jack would presumably solve the conundrum at the linebacker position that has existed for years. New York hasn’t drafted a linebacker in the first round since 1984, and the lack of stability has been painfully apparent.
The linebacker position has been a revolving door, as the Giants haven’t had a true stud linebacker in quite some time. Antonio Pierce was good, sure. But his best asset was his intelligence, not his athletic ability.
The Giants’ current roster projects a starting linebacking trio of Devon Kennard (good when healthy), Keenan Robinson (average when healthy) and J.T. Thomas (average). That’s not exactly a stellar unit. Drafting Jack would fix all of that.
Jack has athletic ability to spare, as he proved to be arguably the nation’s most versatile player during his time at UCLA. Jack gained most of his recognition for his work at linebacker, but he also played running back for the Bruins. He’s so versatile, in fact, that the Chargers actually see Jack as a safety in the NFL, according to Cameron DaSilva of Fox Sports.
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There are some concerns about the talented Jack, though, as a knee injury cost Jack all but three games of his junior year. CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler discussed what kind of impact Jack’s knee injury may have on his draft stock.
"“He tore the anterior meniscus in his right knee last September, ending his 2015 season and putting him on the shelf for most of the draft process. Jack is moving well right now, but it’s the long-term that several teams are worried about.Although he is moving well right now, there are different levels of meniscus tears and some around the league are worried about the long-term health of Jack’s knee. He won’t be on every draft board, but there will be some teams who are OK with how his knee has responded — the question is what is his value.”"
The aforementioned knee injury may actually allow Jack to slip, but that scenario is unlikely, as his ability transcends any minor injury concerns teams may have.
On tape, Jack displays an impressive explosiveness. He simply flies all over the field. He’s a good open-field tackler, and he has the speed and instincts to succeed in coverage. As an outside linebacker, Jack does a great job setting the edge on run plays. It’s not often that you can say a defensive player has the chance to make a big play any time he’s around the ball, but that’s exactly the case with Jack.
The dude is so athletic that he covered slot receivers in college. You know, slot receivers, AKA the ultra-quick guys like Julian Edelman, Randall Cobb and Victor Cruz.
Jack isn’t just an athletic freak, though. His game is impressively disciplined, and it’s incredibly refreshing to see a player as athletically gifted as Jack also be incredibly technically sound.
One general manager was so infatuated with Jack that he actually dubbed him a ‘faster’ Ray Lewis, according to Pete Prisco of CBS Sports. While the comparison certainly makes sense, Jack told Prisco he didn’t care much for the praise.
“When I hear I am compared to him, I am kind of like, ‘slow down, put on the brakes,”’ Jack said. “I have to earn that. I have to climb the ladder before I can be mentioned with him, my name and his name in the same breath. He’ll be remembered for generations. Everybody knows Ray Lewis. You can’t compare yourself to idols. You want to model your game after it, but comparing me to him is too fast. I want to get there, but slow down.”
Jack’s humility is just another tremendous asset he would offer a team, especially a big market like New York.
In an ideal scenario, Jack’s health concerns would cause him to slide. If he’s there at 10, I think it’s a done deal, as taking him would be the easy option for the Giants. Unfortunately, the Giants will pretty much have to trade up, as there’s almost no chance Jack slips that far.
Now could the Giants realistically trade up to nab Jack? Well, I think the only real chance they have is if Jack falls to No. 5. If Jack’s available at No. 4, forget it, as there’s no shot Dallas trades their pick to help the Giants.
Jacksonville, however, may be interested in moving back to 10, as there would still be plenty of options for the Jaguars. In terms of what New York would have to give up, I think it would resemble the Sammy Watkins deal from 2014. Buffalo surrendered its first round pick in 2014, as well as its first and fourth-round pick in 2015.
It worked out pretty well for the Bills.
If you’re part of the camp that thinks the Giants won’t trade up because it’s ‘not a Giants-like move,’ remember that making those ‘Giants like moves’ has resulted in zero playoff appearances since 2011, as well as three consecutive sub.500 seasons.
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Also remember the Giants went on an uncharacteristically enormous spending spree in free agency, which is reason to believe the front office believes in using big moves to improve the roster. It’s also worth noting that General Manager Jerry Reese is on the hot seat, and his job may be in jeopardy. Making a big, win-now move would make sense for Reese.
Trading up for Jack would solve the linebacker problem, and would give the Giants another big defensive improvement. If the team decides the price is right and the risk is worth it, giving up some draft picks for Jack would pay spectacular dividends.
And I know it’s really insignificant, but recently Jack shared his opinions on New York and the Giants, according to James Kratch of NJ.com.
“I could see myself in this city,” Jack said. “I think I have a personality that fits this city. It’s an immediate city – things happen fast in this city – and it has high expectations. I think I fit the bill for that.”