Five Takeaways from the NFL Draft

Giants are committed to replacing Eli Manning with Eli Manning

Surprised probably isn’t the right word to describe the emotion watching the Giants decide to mortgage their future on Duke quarterback Daniel Jones. The team said it is still committed to Eli Manning for the next season and general manager Dave Gettleman says the team would not force a pick based off of need. With pass rusher Josh Allen sitting there it just seemed like a team that just gutted it’s defense would quickly grab the Kentucky stud.

After the initial shock wore off, the pick started to make some sense. The team is confident Jones is their guy for the future. A guy who is already very familiar with Manning, after attending his passing academy and watching him workout at Duke University. Jones is very similar to Manning. He carries a quiet confidence with a desire to prove people wrong and leads by example even after tough games.

Seahawks Found Doug Baldwin’s Replacement

One of the biggest surprises was when one of the biggest names coming out of the Combine, D.K. Metcalf, was passed on by every team in the first round. It was incredibly surprising to see the talented receiver fall all the way to the last pick of the second round. Injuries could have something to do with his fall. During the team’s game against Arkansas at the beginning of the season, Metcalf suffered a neck injury that prevented him from playing for the remainder of the season. When healthy, he averages an astonishing 18.3 yards per catch.

The Seahawks would love to get that production with Doug Baldwin’s future in doubt. During the draft, Adam Schefter tweeted that at age 30, there is a real chance Baldwin will have to retire from football. Baldwin is one of the last remaining core members of the 2013 Super Bowl winning Seahawks team. If Metcalf can be the athlete he is predicted to be in the NFL, it will help take the sting out for Seattle fans who have seen some of their favorite players’ careers end way too soon.

Cardinals Officially Have Their Quarterback

The drama is finally over in Arizona. The team drafted Heisman winner Kyler Murray with the first pick in the NFL draft. Josh Rosen was still on the roster at the time, but was traded to the Miami Dolphins the following day. A change of scenery for Rosen seems like just what he needs to prove his worth.

New Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury gets his quarterback that he can mold. The team also drafted three receivers so this is a completely new team for Arizona. It is for the best that all of the drama is over and everyone seems to have won. There was no reason to have a fake quarterback battle during training camp. The Cardinals made their decision that Rosen was not their guy and hopefully he can be “the guy” in Miami.

Kansas City Drafts Like They’re Expecting Tyreek Hill to be Out

While the draft was underway, Kansas City wide receiver Tyreek Hill was learning that a child abuse investigation surrounding him was being reopened after KCTV-5 released an audio recording of a conversation between he and his fiancé. The team has since suspended Hill from any team activities indefinitely.

If Kansas City’s draft decisions are any indication, it looks like Hill will be gone for a considerable amount of time. With the 56th pick in the draft, Kansas City selected speedy receiver Mecole Hardman. Hardman ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He averaged over 20 yards on punt returns in 2018. Sound like anyone?

Panthers Draft Cam Newton’s Possible Replacement

It is highly unlikely Cam Newton doesn’t finish out the rest of his contract with Carolina. Barring any injury or unforeseen trade, Newton will start the rest of the games for the remaining two seasons he is under contract. After that, however, is when it gets interesting.

With the 100th pick in the draft, the Panthers selected West Virginia quarterback Will Grier. Grier is a quarterback with a lot of talent who was a wild card in the draft. There is no chance he will get the starting job over Newton in training camp. He does, however, get to stay close to home and continue getting better. He is a high value backup quarterback who can come in if Newton is physically unable to play at any point, something the team has lacked since Newton became the starting quarterback.