Despite using the No. 6 pick on Daniel Jones last year, if the New York Giants have decided that Justin Herbert is the right fit, they must draft him.
With the No. 6 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Daniel Jones, quarterback from Duke. In a move that surprised many, the team took a shot on the young, unproven signal-caller much higher than most envisioned.
And the young quarterback had a solid rookie season, too. In starting 12 games, Jones unseated veteran Eli Manning en route to throwing 24 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, while going over 3,000 yards. He was not without mistakes or growing pains, but he did show flashes of that demonstrated why general manager Dave Gettleman took the leap of faith.
It seems clear that the Giants have found their quarterback of the future.
Or have they?
This bombshell report has two possible sources. Either a) the Giants are working to generate interest in a trade up for Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. Or b) the team is zeroing in on Justin Herbert as a legitimate quarterback of the future in New York.
If the answer is B, and the team has identified Herbert as a legitimate quarterback for the future, someone they value more than Jones, the team must select him.
This sounds absurd, but nothing about making bold, franchise-altering decisions are safe. Finding a franchise-caliber quarterback remains the most imperative decision a team can make. Just ask the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Ultimately, teams have to trust their personnel evaluation and take a player who can make the team better in the biggest way. If New York has decided Herbert has more potential than Jones, taking him at the fourth pick is a no-brainer decision the team would be foolish to pass on.
Yes, the Giants still desperately need help all over the roster and would need to figure out a trade for Jones, but these are minor considerations in comparison to the risk of missing out on a franchise quarterback.