Giants Shock and Awe With First Pick in 2019 Draft

It did not take long into the 2019 NFL draft for the drama and controversy to begin for Giants fans. It started six minutes after the Tampa Buccaneers selected LB Devin White with the 5th overall pick of the 2019 NFL draft. The New York Football Giants were on the clock. Big Blue fans were ecstatic. An immediate need for the Giants was a pass rusher. Josh Allen one of the top-rated pass rushers was on the board. The stars seemed lined up for the Giants to walk away addressing a key need with top prospect. Welcome to NJ Josh Allen! It was an exciting moment. Extra exciting because the Giants also held the 17^th pick of the 1^st round acquired from the Browns with the shocking trade of Odell Beckham. There was a very good chance a top rated QB would be available with the 17th pick. The Giants are in a great position. Fill a desperate need and prepare for the future with a top tier quarterback at 17 or even pass and make a deal for Arizona’s Josh Rosen. As a Giant fan I certainly felt the Giants are finally back!

In the first-round teams are given ten minutes to make their pick. It seems every team uses all their time in this round to make their selection. Perhaps it’s to build up suspense or maybe they are waiting for a last-minute phone call from another team with some crazy trade offer. Either way The Giants were sitting pretty. With the full 10 minutes I thought there was time to fill up my guests’ drinks and bring out some more chips and dip. Maybe even set up a round of shots and why not the Giants defense is set to return to greatness.  As I am filling the drinks, I hear the announcer abruptly interrupt a report Devin White and state the Giants the pick is in. Five minutes barely ticked off the clock. WTF! Well, I guess Giants GM Dave Gettleman is also excited. And why not we're BACK. The legendary Giants defense is BACK!

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces, "with the 6th pick of the 2019 the Giants select Daniel Jones". Suddenly I feel as though the tv is moving away and getting smaller and I begin some weird out of body experience. I thought I just hard it wrong. He didn’t say Josh Allen. I heard it right, he said Daniel Jones. I am stunned not sure what to say or do I curse, I shout and repeat. I am distressed and confused. I must sit down but I can't. I shout and curse some more. I don't know what I am doing. Slowly that all too familiar Giant darkness settles back into my soul. I plop down on the couch staring down at the floor silent and still. Daniel Jones is a solid prospect. Hopefully Eli an stay healthy this season so the Giants won't need Jones this year which will give the kid a chance to get his feet wet. Josh Allen could have started for our defense this season. This was a genuine and immediate need. He could have contributed the first game of this season.

Moments turn to hours then days and weeks before slowly some form of possible optimism starts to replace the numbness inside. Reports start emerging. Phil Simms says Jones would not have been there at 17 and the Giants were right to get the man they wanted. I loved Simms as a player. I have no love for him as an announcer or analyst. But I will take his words here and try to feel positive. There is hope perhaps. For Giants fans born in the 60's there is always hope we were raised on the stuff.  The hope also brings a cautious memory. In my head I start replaying an old comic. Its Lucy convincing Charlie Brown to kick the football. She promises this time she will not pull it away. And just like Chuck I start to believe. But lets face it Eli is getting ready to retire a QB of the future is a definite need for the Gmen. And if you look at Daniel Jones and hear him you might actually think he is the 5th Manning. 

Now we make it to training camp. I am feeling good about this team. There are many positive reports about Jones. Until this morning when I read John Schmeelk's article "Practice Report: Quarterbacks Own the Day" In the article Daniel Jones is quoted,

“I think part of the challenge for me is seeing the defense and understanding the defense. As we’re putting in stuff, they’re putting in stuff, too, so it’s kind of a lot of stuff that I haven’t seen before, and for me it takes me a little bit longer to recognize. So, those are things that require more preparation, seeing it more, and learning from them.”

To most this might sound like nothing more then an honest personal assessment. An open truth about the young quarterbacks transition into the pro level. It would have been that way for me as well except it reminded me of a scouting report I read about Jones before the draft. Suddenly I started experiencing what I imagine Charlie Brown feels when he crashes flat on his back trying to kick the damn football. The bitch Lucy yanked it away again. Its exhausting being a Giants fan but I would have it no other way. So here I lie on the ground trying to catch my breath. Once again trying to restore my hope and optimism as I have done since the late 60's. I will be honest its going to take me awhile to trust again. 

After reading Daniel Jones quote I remembered David Syvertsen from Ourlads NFL Scouting Services assessment of Jones from his "New York Giants 2019 NFL Draft Preview: Quaterbacks" 

"Jones has enough arm strength, touch, and athletic ability. But there isn’t a quick mind here, he doesn’t see everything a top tier QB does whether it is coverage or pass rush based. After a long time scouting him, he is a pass for me."