Ourlad's Top Draft Prospects

Two weeks ago, we discussed the current top five prospects assuming the Giants were going to finish in that area after a horrendous 2017 first half. Things have not improved, they have actually worsened. They seemed destined for the top five overall and most likely even a top three draft slot. When trying to rebuild a franchise from the ground up, they could be in a worse situation. At least having such a high slot to choose their prospects from can guarantee that whoever their grading sheets spit out as the top players, they will be able to grab at least a few of them. The top five prospects we discussed were Saquon Barkley (RB/Penn State), Bradley Chubb (DE/NC State), Minkah Fitzpatrick (DB/Alabama), Baker Mayfield (QB/Oklahoma), and Calvin Ridley (WR/Alabama). As I’ve been saying, any sort of ranking list at this point is very fluid, especially with this very gray 2018 Draft class. Beyond those five names sit five more that could easily bump their way up into top five overall, and NYG, territory.

#1 Josh Rosen QB/UCLA – 6’4/220

The recent developments regarding the starting QB situation where the all-time winningest signal caller in franchise history has been benched in favor of Geno Smith, a New York laughingstock, is bumping up the likelihood of a quarterback being front and center of the NYG draft plans this upcoming spring. Without a long-term plan in place for the most important position in sports, a rebuild process can’t actually get off the ground. The opportunity to take one doesn’t come around often and when a poor team with no long term QB future is sitting at the top of the draft, the unwritten rule is to use that pick on a quarterback.

Josh Rosen went to UCLA with a lot of hype. He was a blue chip, five star recruit and may have been the most hyped “get” in UCLA recruiting history. He immediately started as a freshman in 2014 and had the look of a nodoubt future top overall pick. His arm, throwing motion, advanced footwork, and poise in the pocket were apparent from day one. He had an incredibly uncommon combination of tools and skills that freshmen just don’t have. Watching him then, and watching him now, can get anyone that understands how difficult it is to play the position to get excited. There is such an easiness to his game, a fluid and overly smooth aura about him. He is tough, hard nosed, and overly capable of making every throw at a high level.