New York Giants: Offensive line over quarterback in 2018 NFL Draft
The New York Giants head into the 2018 NFL Draft with a few needs, and they should consider drafting an offensive lineman with their first two picks.
The New York Giants have a franchise quarterback on his last leg in Eli Manning. Armed with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, many expect New York to take their next man under center. Maybe the Giants should step back, evaluate their situation, and use the NFL Draft to fill the key holes of their roster for the next franchise quarterback before actually selecting that player.
Manning was a major piece to winning two Super Bowls for the Giants. Maybe he should be allowed to go out on his own terms. They are in a position to draft the heir apparent, who might be a project quarterback, and start fixing their offensive line with their first two picks.
The Giants don’t have enough cap room to make deals for offensive linemen in free agency. According to Spotrac, including the projected rookie pool for draft picks, they only have a little more than $15.1 million in cap space before roster cuts and signing their own free agents. That’s not enough to even make a tiny ripple in the water of free agency.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah released his top 50 prospects for the 2018 NFL Draft. Nos. 2 and 44 on the list are very intriguing. Notre Dame offensive guard Quenton Nelson and Pittsburgh offensive tackle Brian O’Neill should intrigue the Giants, and they should consider them on their boards.
Nelson is undoubtedly the best offensive lineman in this draft. He led the way for one of the best running games in the country, and he’s a quality pass protector too. O’Neill is a work in progress, but has the ability to become a good left tackle, given the right offensive line coach. He’s a converted tight end, and the athleticism from being a tight end shows. He just needs to get stronger.
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While the Giants had many issues last season, the protection up front was where they lacked the most. As such, New York should look to address those issues while Manning is still standing before jumping the gun on a quarterback.