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| Alex Trautwig/Getty Images |
By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)
The NFL Draft is quickly approaching, as
we get closer to the primetime opening round April 25th. This will be the first part in the series
where I will discuss the current outlook and needs for the upcoming NFL Draft
for the New York Giants.
The first position I will take a look at
is Quarterback.
At Quarterback, the depth chart for the
Giants goes Eli Manning, David Carr and Curtis Painter. There were no quarterbacks lost in free
agency.
Manning looked like he was on pace for
another great year, throwing for a career high 510 yards in the second week of
the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Through the first seven games Manning three 11 touchdowns and only five interceptions,
three of which came in the first half of that same Buccaneers game, but it went
downhill for a period of time for Manning and the Giants offense shortly after
that.
Manning threw one touchdown against the
Redskins in his seventh game and then embarked on his longest touchdown draught
since 2004, going three games without throwing a touchdown pass but throwing
four interceptions. Speculation ran
rampant that Manning was experiencing a tired arm as he carried the offense on
his shoulders with the running game being stagnant again for parts of the
season. Manning threw one or less
touchdowns in 10 games this past season as well.
Last season was a setback for Manning,
who failed to reach 4000 yards passing and 27 touchdowns for the first time
since 2008. An injury to his top receiver
Hakeem Nicks did not help, as his absence was felt by the whole offense.
As for Carr, he threw only three passes
last season but is a solid backup; having years of starting experience and the capability
to step in for a period of time should Manning ever get injured. Carr’s value to the team comes in practice as
the scout team quarterback, preparing the Giants well according to head coach
Tom Coughlin week in and week out.
Painter will most likely be inactive most weeks throughout the season if
he even makes the Giants roster at all.
The last time the Giants drafted a
quarterback was in 2009 when they took Rhett Bomar of Sam Houston State in the
fifth round. If the Giants indeed take a
quarterback this year, it will be on the developmental variety. Manning will obviously be the starter heading
into next season and for many seasons to come hopefully for the Giants, but he
will not be around forever so the Giants should start looking for someone who
can learn from sitting behind Manning for a few seasons.
An interesting prospect in this year’s
draft is Denard Robinson. Robinson will
not make it in the NFL as a quarterback but can offer some unique help to the
Giants during practice as a person fast enough to emulate the likes of Robert
Griffin III and Michael Vick, two quarterbacks the Giants will face twice
each. Robinson will need to show the
Giants he can offer other things on the field to justify a late round draft
pick, as Jerry Reese does not like to waste picks. An undrafted free agent is the more likely
route for the Giants to take if there is a prospect that catches their eye.
On a need scale of 1-10 at the
quarterback position, the Giants need is a 1.
Manning will be here for as long as he continues to produce being a
2-time Super Bowl MVP and Champion.
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