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NFL Draft 2018: Will Giants or Jets land the better quarterback?

By Chris Langone

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins looks to pass during the second half of a game against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Rose Bowl on September 30, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins looks to pass during the second half of a game against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Rose Bowl on September 30, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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The New York Jets and Giants have two of the top picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. With so much quarterback talent, which team will make the right choice?

Both the New York Giants and New York Jets have glaring needs at the quarterback position. For the Jets, the 2018 NFL Draft would mark the third time in the last four years that they would draft a quarterback. The Giants, however, will search for Eli Manning’s replacement after drafting him 14 years ago. The success rate for first-round quarterbacks is low, so which cross-town rival will get the edge come draft day?

The Cleveland Browns hold the No.1 pick in the draft, followed by the Giants and Jets, respectively. This means, in all likelihood, the top three picks in the draft will be quarterbacks. While you may think this common, it will be just the eighth time since 1971 that the first two picks in the draft are quarterbacks.

Barring a trade, the Jets will have to choose from the remaining crop of quarterbacks. While the Giants or Browns could pass on a quarterback, it’s unlikely that either of them will. But if the Jets had their choice, which young gunslinger would they select?

Well, in the latest ESPN mock draft, both Todd McShay and Mel Kiper went with Josh Rosen at No. 3 to the Jets. This would be a solid pick for New York as Rosen is one of the purest passers in this class. If Rosen falls to No. 3, the Jets would be happy with building around him for the future.

However, there seems to be more love in East Rutherford for the polarizing quarterbackout of Oklahoma. Baker Mayfield, who recently met with the Jets, could also be an option at No. 3.

While the Jets would be happy with either of these picks, I think they select Mayfield and hope he succeeds in quarterback-starved franchise.

For the Giants, the last time they had a draft pick inside the top-10 was 2004 — and the result was pretty good. They selected Eli Manning who turned into a two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback and the cornerstone of their franchise. Now the G-Men have a chance to find Manning’s successor and set them up for years to come.

The Jets and Giants are lucky this draft features more than just one or two legitimate quarterback prospects. In fact, there are four prospects that could turn into game-changing players at the next level. The Giants don’t seem to have the same affection for Baker Mayfield as the Jets. It seems they are leaning more towards Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold.

Recently, the Sam Darnold-to-Giants rumors have been heating up and I believe that’s where the USC product will land. Though he would be more of a project than Josh Rosen, Darnold may have a higher ceiling in the long run.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: 6 QB trades make for madness

Giants fans may be upset after passing on no-doubters like Saquon Barkley and Bradley Chubb, but the possibility of drafting the next Eli Manning is too good to pass up.

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