Options are abundant if the Giants select a quarterback early in the 2019 draft
The New York football scene is abuzz with discussion about the Giants' decision to pass on quarterback Sam Darnold in the 2018 NFL draft. The Giants, who opted to stick with Eli Manning for another year, have instead selected running back Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 overall pick.
Meanwhile, the Jets, who acquired the pick from the Colts, selected Darnold, a promising young quarterback out of USC. Some people feel letting a top QB prospect slip to the Jets will be a mistake, while others believe the Giants were right to stick with Manning for another year or two.
As the 2018 season approaches, the Giants will enter with Davis Webb and Kyle Lauletta as their quarterbacks behind Manning. Webb, a third-round pick in the 2017 draft, and Lauletta, a fourth-round pick in the same draft, have yet to prove themselves as the heir apparent to Manning.
If neither Webb nor Lauletta becomes the clear frontrunner after the 2018 season, the Giants may consider drafting a quarterback in 2019. One potential candidate is Drew Lock, a Missouri senior who is known for his size and powerful arm. Lock threw for an average of approximately 358.3 yards per game during the 2017 season, but has not yet cracked a 60 percent completion rate.
Another quarterback to watch is Jarrett Stidham, a redshirt junior at Auburn. The NCAA ruled that Stidham, a transfer from Ole Miss, will not have to sit out a year, which means he will be eligible to play in 2018. Stidham guided Auburn to an impressive victory in the 2017 Iron Bowl over Alabama, and a strong campaign by him at Auburn could raise his stock for the NFL draft.
Shea Patterson, another quarterback being considered for the 2019 draft, did not stand out on the stat sheet in his first year starting in the SEC. However, he is expected to win the starting job at Michigan due to his playmaking ability. Patterson transferred to Michigan from Ole Miss this offseason, and will be eligible to play immediately.
The decision to pass on Darnold has caused a rift in the New York football community, with some fans and analysts questioning the Giants' long-term plan at the quarterback position. The Giants will have a chance to preview their rivalry with the Red Bulls in a soccer match, but the real action will be on the football field as the season gets underway.
