NFL Mock Draft 7.0: Round 1 of the 2018 NFL Draft

A lot of people think the New York Giants will trade back with the Bills or some other quarterback-needy team. Here’s why they might not.

The New York Giants offensive line was in shambles to start the offseason. They signed former New England Patriots tackle Nate Solder to gain a bit of strength back, but still, there are holes to be addressed, primarily at offensive guard.

Some have speculated that the Giants may pick a franchise quarterback with their No. 2 overall pick, with Josh Rosen and Josh Allen being popular names to fill in the blank. But the team has said, time and time again, that they are confident in Eli Manning for the foreseeable future. On top of that, the Giants drafted Davis Webb in the third round last year. Why not give him another year to develop?

Keeping all this in mind, there is a good chance, or at least a reasonable argument, that the Giants won’t go quarterback with this pick. And they won’t trade down either. Why? Because arguably the best offensive guard to hit the NFL Draft in more than a decade will be available for them to take.

Quenton Nelson, 6-foot-5, 330, is a behemoth on the interior of the offensive line, and he plays up to his size, and more. Nelson describes himself as ‘nasty’, and that’s an assessment that most evaluators will inevitably agree with. Nelson plays with unmatched ferocity, using his technical and physical prowess to dominate opponents. He plays past the whistle, giving every play over one hundred percent.

The Giants could ultimately pick Saquon Barkley here, if they opt to avoid drafting a quarterback. But smart general managers build up from the trenches, and Dave Gettleman has a history of doing just that. By drafting Quenton Nelson, the Giants’ offensive line would immediately transition from a weakness to a strength, and Nelson himself would wreak havoc on NFC East defensive lines for years on end.