With The First Pick
Fansided

New York Giants: Realistic 2018 NFL Draft options after JPP trade

By Maxwell Ogden

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 24: Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul #90 of the New York Giants during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Giants 23-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 24: Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul #90 of the New York Giants during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Giants 23-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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I understand the trepidation when it comes to selecting Sam Darnold as a franchise quarterback. He has small hands for his position, and while that may be overblown in some regards, his fumbles and interceptions point to that being an actual issue.

With the New York Giants, however, Darnold would have a chance to address his flaws while spending a full season behind Eli Manning.

Darnold has a tendency to turn the ball over, but he also has a track record of pulling his team out of the hole he dug. At USC, he’d routinely answer an interception with a flurry of touchdowns that put the Trojans in a position to win.

If that story sounds familiar to Giants fans, it’s likely because it’s been the narrative for the entirety of Manning’s career—including his two Super Bowl runs.

Darnold is the perfect player to develop behind Manning, due in large part to how similar they are. The knocks against them are almost identical, and the pros on the pro-con list are eerily similar, as well—thus making a mentorship pairing one of an ideal nature.

Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, and Josh Rosen are also options here, but Darnold appears to be the best fit for the Giants based on how they covet Manning.

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