Shedeur Sanders has been flirting with the NY Giants for a hot minute. He publicized linking up with WR1 Malik Nabers in the Big Apple before the Heisman ceremony. Then, he wore cleats clad in Giants colors at the Alamo Bowl. There’s been a quiet confidence exuded by his demeanor throughout the draft process that signals he’s headed to New York with the 3rd pick. Or higher if they trade up to grab him with reassurance. The franchise appears to reciprocate this affection, too. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though.
Cam Ward has more than earned the right to tussle with Shedeur right atop Roger Goodell’s draft board. The prevailing notion among draftniks and analysts is that Cam is QB1 in what stands to be a relatively weak quarterback class. ESPN’s Mel Kiper concurs that he’s a better prospect than Shedeur. In fact, he relayed earlier this week that the Giants should and indeed will pick Cam Ward if he’s available to them at #3. However, the draft process for the Giants does not stand to be as linear as A vs B. An enticing Option C is rearing its head in the backdrop.
Not every outfit will get their franchise QB straightaway, so chancing a lower draft pick on an alternative strategy is a calculated risk. The issues at the Giants run deeper than the quarterback. So deep that they could indulge in some acrobatics. There’s a rationale for them to trade back. This would allow them to draft multiple high-caliber picks. Filling out the supporting cast instead of going all-in on the quarterback. Then, draft a QB in the later rounds. A multitude of issues mean spreading your rebuild around could be a shrewd move. Conversely, the Giants brass could also instead stick to their guns with the 3rd pick and draft a more highly-rated prospect like EDGE Abdul Carter or 2-way unicorn Travis Hunter. In both scenarios, they’ll need to pick a signal-caller from Day 2 onwards. This is where an opportune Dillon Gabriel swoops in. One member of CFB media thinks Gabriel makes a lot of sense for the NY Giants.
Dillon Gabriel left a positive impression during Senior Bowl week has led to him commanding a Round 2 or 3 grade. Over “The Dawgs” podcast, Browns fan and insider Josh Aul dissected Gabriel from an NFL lens. He came to the conclusion that the Giants could pursue Gabriel with a structured progression plan. He laid forth a hypothesis. “A team like the Giants could sign a Gardner Minshew in free agency because they can’t get a top quarterback in the draft. Then they grab a Dillon Gabriel in maybe the 3rd [round]…maybe by week 5 Gabriel takes over the starting role. Or maybe even out of training camp. That’s the sort of the future I see possible for Dillon Gabriel.” he said. The rationale is fair.
Dillon Gabriel is outright the most experienced QB in the draft. He has 6 years, 64 collegiate starts, and 3,857 yards under his belt. Across some of the top programs in the country too. Theoretically, he can slot into the void under centre. However, there’s a glaring issue. One of the only reasons the former Oregon and Oklahoma quarterback isn’t a bonafide first-rounder is his stature. Undersized at 6 ‘0, 200 lbs, the Hawaii native doesn’t possess certain tangibles you’d want. Eyeing spaces behind the O-line and overall vision from inside the pocket can be an issue. That said, his intangibles more than makeup for this perceived deficiency. The NFL Combine in about a fortnight could ironically work in his favor.
Dillon Gabriel has certain factors working in his favor over Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward or any other contemporaries
The Combine entails more than just physical and skill-based prognosis. It’s an opportunity for franchises to weigh players’ intangibles as well. Suitors for Dillon Gabriel will speak to him for the first time in an NFL setting. Owing to this, it seems like he’s preparing for more than just his Xs and Os. A franchise quarterback has a certain poise, a certain aura as the kids will call it. If Gabriel wants to develop into one, he’ll need his persona and the semantics to match his quarterbacking. One person confronted him with a hypothetical scenario that could soon transpire into reality.
Dillon Gabriel guested on the “Stacking the Box” podcast to talk about his season and future prospects. Host Cody Williams asked him a question pertaining to the draft process. “You’re going into this interview for the NFL. Say you have a paper resume that you’re handing to a GM, a front office. What is the first line that you’re going to try to sell an NFL team on Dillon Gabriel?” he asked. “Watch the tape.” stated Gabriel rather cheekily. He proceeded to elaborate on what his pitch to franchises, such as the Giants, would be.
“I think a lot of ways you see my progression as a player. You can see it physically, but you can also see it mentally.” said Gabriel. He detailed the facets of his game that have seen improvement. “Being extremely decisive, but also throwing motion. [I’ve continued] to get more accurate as I’ve gotten older. I’m confident in knowing that if you watch the tape there’s direct improvement.” One of the biggest gripes with his NFL grade, alongside his physical frame, is his age. Dillon Gabriel is perceived to have a low ceiling. However, he wants to thwart this skepticism.
“I still believe I haven’t played my best football. I also know that my experience has me best prepared for that transition.” he resounded. The glass half-full perspective would be that his vast experience across multiple programs and systems make him more NFL-ready than most prospects. This QB class isn’t as top-heavy as last year, which saw the most QBs picked in the first round ever. More akin to 2022, with Kenny Pickett being QB1 yet going 20th overall. With that said, this class is still deep and has a couple of unpolished gems if you look closely enough. The New York Giants will hope their due diligence leads them to the right one.
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