I can do it because I have done it.
Just to be clear, it doesn’t happen often, but being rejected is not all that rare.
Franchise-type quarterbacks, or at least legitimate, winning starting quarterbacks, can be identified and selected after the first few picks in a given NFL draft.
The rush to go No. 1, or No. 2 or No. 3 overall, is usually too tempting for a general manager to ignore.
This is why players in this position are over-analyzed and grossly misevaluated than players in other positions.
It would be unwise to believe much of what team executives say at this time of year, but Giants general manager Joe Schon has said it often, and it would be unwise to ignore that message.
He argues that while the top of the draft is always a fertile place to shop when it comes to finding quarterbacks, it’s not the only aisle with quality on the shelves.
Schoen cited the 2017 draft as an example of restraint yielding positive benefits.
Only one quarterback was drafted in the top nine that year, Mitchell Trubisky, and the Bears went with the No. 2 overall pick, but it turned out to be an unfortunate choice.
The Chiefs took Patrick Mahomes at No. 10, and the Texans took Deshaun Watson at No. 12. Both teams won gold medals there.
A more obvious example of gems being mined deep in the draft occurred in 2012.
It was clear that Andrew Luck would go to the Colts with the first pick, but injuries were the only thing that prevented Luck from achieving lasting stardom and perhaps Hall of Fame status.
Robert Griffin III was selected as the No. 2 pick for the University of Washington that year and quickly became a big hit, his run-pass skills making it difficult for opposing defenses to deal with, but his lithe frame getting the better of him.
“Even with the Andrew Luck draft, some of the best quarterbacks selected in that draft are still playing,” Schoen said recently at the NFL’s annual league conference in Orlando. “[Ryan] Tannehill was still last year’s starters, Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins. They weren’t just one or two like Robert Griffin.
“I think the quarterback position is probably the most important position,” one GM said in a meeting. “It’s the most important position in sports. Given the difficulty of playing this position, I agree. I don’t disagree with your opinion. Yes, it is very important in the process. Again, this is an inexact science and you should do as much homework as possible to eliminate any room for error and make the best decision. I will try.”
The Giants were not involved in acquiring a quarterback during Schoen’s first two years overseeing the draft.
They’re not going all-in this time, but they’re probably sniffing around, not just sniffing, to add to a room that includes Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito and others. .
The Giants, who have the No. 6 overall pick, will hold out and acquire their top-rated passer, as Caleb Williams, Jaden Daniels, and Drake Maye could be left out with the first three picks. Not in a great position.
JJ McCarthy is a high-profile prospect who could break into the top 10 or drop a few spots.
The Giants only have six picks left this year after trading one of their two second-round picks to acquire defensive end Brian Burns in a deal with the Panthers.
They don’t have much of a draft right in 2024 if they want to move up to get a quarterback.
With history as a guide, Schoen’s assessment of the 2012 draft is a hat off to a smart team with a great coach and the ability to develop talent to find a quarterback outside of the top five or 10.
Tannehill played No. 8 for the Dolphins that year and was a starter for most of 11 seasons with Miami and Tennessee, compiling an 81-70 record. He is currently looking for his next team.
This draft also unearthed Wilson in the third round with the Seahawks and Cousins in the fourth round with Washington.
Both are prolific players and will be starters at new teams in 2024, with Cousins going to the Falcons and Wilson going to the Steelers.
After all, both were draft steals.
Are there any talented players outside of the first round this year?
The next quarterback tier, Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), Bo Nix (Oregon), Michael Pratt (Tulane), Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) and Jordan Travis (Florida State), will be in the second round. These are players who are likely to advance. And some of them will be in his third day of this draft (rounds 4-7).
If you want to make fun of them, make fun of them, but no one looks down on the 49ers’ Brock Purdy. He finished last at No. 262 in 2022 and was cemented as a starter for the NFC’s Super Bowl appearance a few months ago.
