It is officially NFL Draft season! Yes, the Superbowl is the final game yet to be played, but for most teams, the draft process continues. This year’s draft is a crucial one for the New York Giants. General Manager Joe Schoen enters a pivotal year three that may be the most important yet. Needs at Quarterback, Offensive Line, Wide Receiver, EDGE, Cornerback, and possibly Safety remains for this roster.
A position where they have some depth, but availability concerns are at Tight End. Darren Waller has proven to be a pro bowl Tight End at his best, but as his worst, injuries have sapped his ability to contribute on the field. Can Waller be replaced with third year Tight End, Daniel Bellinger? Or should the Giants set their eyes on Georgia Tight End phenom Brock Bowers? Is it a good idea to draft a Tight End in the top ten? Let’s look at the pros and cons.
Reasons to Draft Brock Bowers
As a freshman, Bowers dominated the SEC right away. Bowers finished with a program record 13 touchdown receptions during his freshman year. Draft junkies immediately began wondering if he could help an NFL team right away, proving he was the best player on the field at times. The height, weight, and speed from Bowers is a problem for opposing defenses on a weekly basis. Bowers has strong hands and his yards after catch ability makes him a force in the passing game. The Giants regressed offensively last season even with the addition of Waller. Waller finished with just one touchdown and missed five games due to a lower body injury.
Waller was supposed to be an added weapon and security blanket for Quarterback Daniel Jones, but sustained success did not come to fruition. Tight end Daniel Bellinger, in his second season was asked to block more and his receiving totals regressed. There remains optimism that Bellinger can develop into a legitimate receiving threat, as his run blocking is already strength of his. Adding a talent like Bowers would make Waller expendable via a post June 1st cut, saving the Giants over 11 million in cap space. Bowers easily becomes the primary tight end on the depth chart; however, he must improve on his run blocking.
With questions surrounding Darren Waller, unknowns in Daniel Bellinger, an underwhelming free agent and draft class, the Giants would be wise to make Bowers their top priority. The last time the Giants drafted a tight end in the first round was back in 2017 when Evan Engram was their choice. Unfortunately, the marriage didn’t last, and he became a free agent after his rookie contract expired. Ironically, Engram had a career year catching 114 passes and 963 yards last season, his second season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Giants may want to target a top free agent wide receiver, leaving the door open for potential Bowers selection.
Reasons Not to Draft Brock Bowers
The Giants have a huge need at Wide Receiver. Their last true number one receiving option was Odell Beckham Jr., eventually ending in a trade to Cleveland. Wide Receivers, Jalin Hyatt, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayton are all decent complimentary pieces. However, they aren’t legitimate threats at the position. Picking at sixth overall, The Giants have a great opportunity to take players such as LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers, or University of Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze. The obvious need would be more than enough reason to bypass a player like Brock Bowers. It certainly would be understandable if the Giants gave the Waller/Bellinger combination another try.
A high ankle sprain this past season, which required surgery, sidelined Bowers for an extended amount of time. Those injuries can be tricky to monitor and manage. Should the Giants replace an oft-injured player with another player with a prior injury in the top 10? That is a situation worth monitoring. The elephant in the room is the questions surrounding the Quarterback. Poor play throughout the season plagued the offense and it consistently sputtered. A weapon like Bowers might help elevate the offense but concerns at the QB position are hard to ignore. As talented as Bowers is, passing on him for a QB or stud WR might be the more beneficial route for a team starving for better play offensively.
Draft Prediction
The Giants have a difficult time scoring points consistently due to poor Quarterback play. As tempting as a player like Bowers is, the more logical solution would be to target one of the top passers. If the Giants believe in their development of Daniel Bellinger, passing on Bowers makes sense. Bowers tenacity would bring juice to this offense, not seen since the days of Jeremy Shockey. Unfortunately, with the glaring holes on this roster, drafting a Tight End in the top 10 is a lower priority at this stage.
Main Photo Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
