In the end it was a no brainer. The New York Giants, sitting with the number two pick in the first round of the NFL draft, had an opportunity to grab what they, and every football expert, thought was the best player on the board. That player was Penn State running back Saquon Barkley. So when the Cleveland Browns selected Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, all that was left for Dave Gettleman to do was wait the obligatory ten minutes before informing Roger Goodell of his decision; a decision, as it turns out, he had made from the moment he became the Giants GM.
To those who say Gettleman should've chosen a quarterback with his pick, I would respectfully disagree. Yes, I know Eli Manning is 37 and, yes, I also know it's been several seasons since he displayed the kind of traits that earned him elite status among NFL quarterbacks. And I'm also painfully aware that teams seldom find themselves in the position the Giants were in to lock in a franchise quarterback. Logic dictates that when you have that kind of opportunity, you cash in on it.
But here's the thing: not one of these four so-called franchise quarterbacks that were talked about as first rounders stood out. All had their good points and all had areas of concern.
For instance, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen was considered the best pure passer of the four, but there were concerns about his health - he had sustained two concussions and missed part of his junior year with a shoulder injury. Then there was his personal makeup - he thinks he's the smartest guy in the room. After he was chosen 10th overall by the Arizona Cardinals, Rosen, clearly with a chip on his shoulder, bemoaned that the nine teams before the Cardinals had made a huge mistake that he would make them pay for. Even in a city like New York, that's too much attitude. Can you imagine him with Odell Beckham, Jr on the same field? There wouldn't be enough oxygen left in Met Life Stadium.
Next up was Sam Darnold, the USC quarterback chosen by the Jets with the number three pick. I thought he was the best of the four, but his propensity for turning the ball over was a huge problem. During his two years at USC - did I forget to tell you he's only 20? - Darnold would often force the ball into coverage leading to interceptions. He also would hold onto it way too long leading to fumbles. Sound familiar Giants fans?
As for Baker Mayfield and Wyoming's Josh Allen, neither of them in my opinion was worth such a lofty pick. Mayfield is only six feet tall and lacks the mental discipline needed for an NFL quarterback. I still can't figure out the Cleveland Browns. They have two of the first four picks in the draft and they end up with the third rated quarterback and the fourth rated defensive player. Go figure. As for Allen, he may have a canon for an arm, but his 56 percent completion rate ranks among the lowest in this class. Well, at least he won't mind the weather in Buffalo.
Put simply there wasn't one Peyton Manning or John Elway among this lot. Hell, I doubt there was even an Eli Manning available. And that's the reason you don't try to fit a square peg into a round hole. Picking a quarterback this high that doesn't pan out can set your franchise back a decade. Just look at how many years the Miami Dolphins have been trying to find another Dan Marino.
Like it or not, star quarterbacks don't grow on trees, but transformational running backs like Barkley can turn a losing team around just like that. Just look at the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott is a talented quarterback who will likely have a long career ahead of him. But make no mistake about it: it's running back Ezekiel Elliott that makes that team go. In his rookie year, the Cowboys went 13-3; prior to his arrival, the team went 4-12. Don't think for a moment Gettleman wasn't aware of that before the draft. Manning might be in the twilight of his career, but with Barkley touching the ball, say 20 or 30 times, it could be one helluva twilight.
Whether you're picking second or twenty-second, the rule is the same: you pick the best talented player on the board. Period. That's what Gettleman did when he chose Barkley. It's why the Giants are a much better team today than they were yesterday.
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