The wheels of NFL free agency are still spinning. The 2016 NFL Draft is inching closer. With those things come plenty of questions about the New York Giants and their plans. Let's see if we can answer some of them in this week's Big Blue View mailbag.
@bigblueview Will we trade Ryan Nassib to move up in the draft?
— Steve Jones (@JonesStejon27) March 11, 2016
Ed says: This question comes up every year, and I still don't get why. Who are they going to trade him to? What has Nassib done to convince any NFL team to give up draft choices to get him? Anything is, of course, possible. The reality, though, is that over the years I have never been told of any team expressing interest in Nassib, nor have I ever seen reports that any team has done so. No one is beating down the Giants' door asking for the guy.
@bigblueview #bbvmailbag any chance that we sign a 3rd pass rusher like Jason Jones or a FS Walter Thurmond?
— Shawn Drayton (@smoovve5) March 11, 2016
Ed says: I doubt we will see any more defensive end signings. The Giants will give Owa Odighizuwa and Kerry Wynn chances, and maybe fortify in the draft. As for safety, they are looking but there are reports that Thurmond might retire.
@bigblueview Since the FA Safety pool is shallow at best, especially if Weddle has no interest in NYG, Do you see them trading for a safety
— lino (@salinobarragato) March 11, 2016
Ed says: Who would they trade for? What would they give up? Teams don't generally trade starting-caliber players. The more likely plan seems to be signing a veteran like Chris Conte, Rashad Johnson or someone else off the second tier of free agents, then seeing if one of their young guys -- Nat Berhe, Bennett Jackson, Mykkele Thompson -- will develop.
@bigblueview no reason to shy away from drafting another pass rusher with the tenth pick in the draft, right? You can never have too many.
— Nick Taylor (@ntaylor1025) March 11, 2016
Ed says: Of course. Remember back in 2006 when the Giants raised eyebrows by drafting Mathias Kiwanuka despite not having an obvious place for him to play. The biggest thing people sometimes misunderstand about the draft is that it isn't necessarily about the upcoming season, it's about trying to collect good players you think can help you for several seasons to come. Thus, you take the best players. Ideally, the best player matches a current need but that doesn't always happen. In terms of a pass rusher, remember that Jason Pierre-Paul is on a one-year deal. If you want to protect yourself for the future and you think a guy like Shaq Lawson of Clemson can be a big-time pass rusher then you go ahead and take him even if you don't necessarily appear to "need" him right now.