2018 ALL-FA TEAM
Even if the Jets are infatuated with free agent QB Kirk Cousins, they would be better off if he picks the Vikings. Even if the Giants are infatuated with Penn State RB Saquon Barkley, they should hope the Browns take him first overall. Why? The Giants are picking second and the Jets are picking sixth in the April 26 draft that is top-heavy with four QBs — Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield — expected to go in the first 10 picks. The Jets need to forget about the soon-to-be 30-year-old Cousins and his $30 million a year price tag and develop their own guy to be the face of their young team. The Giants haven’t picked this high since the Lawrence Taylor draft in 1981 and it’s their first time back in the top five since 2004 and they hope it’s at least another 14 years before they are in the top five again. So despite being delusional about how much they believe Eli Manning has left, they need to make an investment in the future and select the next Eli.
When the 48-hour legal tampering period opens Monday and the signing period starts Wednesday, the Jets should stay away from Cousins and the Giants should buy some solid free agent pieces in the short term for Manning and in the long-term for their new franchise quarterback.
Quarterback thoughts: Kirk Cousins, Washington *Le’Veon Bell, Steelers; Dion Lewis, Patriots; Allen Robinson, Jaguars; Sammy Watkins, Rams Jimmy Graham, Seahawks Nate Solder, Patriots; Cameron Fleming, Patriots Andrew Norwell, Panthers; Justin Pugh, Giants Weston Richburg, Giants *DeMarcus Lawrence, Cowboys; *Ziggy Ansah, Lions Sheldon Richardson, Seahawks; Star Lotulelei, Panthers Anthony Hitchens, Cowboys; Nigel Bradham, Eagles; Demario Davis, Jets Malcolm Butler, Patriots; Trumaine Johnson, Rams *Lamarcus Joyner, Rams; Eric Reid, 49ers (* Franchise tag)
l There is little doubt the Jets will make the best offer to Cousins but the Vikings give him the best chance to win right away. Don’t forget Denver’s John Elway won the Peyton Manning Derby in 2012 and is persuasive. Maccagnan stripped the roster of all the high-priced veterans last year and is building with kids. Why break from the blueprint and sign a QB who has been in the NFL six years and has never won a playoff game to the biggest per-year contract in NFL history? Cousins is a free agent aberration. QBs that make it to the market are either old or injured. He’s in his prime but if he’s that good why did Washington let him walk and replace him with the even more mediocre Alex Smith?
l I look at Cousins and see Neil O’Donnell. Sorry, Jets fans.
l Cousins has a 4-19 career record as a starter against teams that finished the season with a winning record, according to ESPN. That’s not good. Washington never gave him a shutdown defense, so if he gets help on the other side of the ball, maybe he becomes elite. I think right now he’s a top 15 QB, not top 10. After bringing in veterans Boomer Esiason, O’Donnell, Vinny Testaverde, Rick Mirer, Jay Fiedler, Brett Favre, Michael Vick, Fitzpatrick, McCown over the last 20 years, don’t the Jets need to have a guy to call their own? They came close with Chad Pennington but he kept breaking his shoulder. Mark Sanchez regressed after going to the AFC Championship Game his first two years.
l If the Jets don’t get Cousins and the Browns take Barkley at No. 1, then Maccagnan should trade up to the Colts spot at No. 3 to get ahead of the Browns (No. 4) and Broncos (No. 5) to position the Jets to take the second QB off the board, assuming the Giants take theirs at No. 2. The Jets have been on Allen all season. I think he’s their guy. Pat Shurmur, free-agent rookie tearing up the Patriots. New England has had interchangeable running backs in their eight Super Bowls. Three years ago, Barkley would have been a no-brainer for the Giants at No. 2. But now they need a quarterback and should take one even if Cleveland takes the guy they really want at No. 1. l Here’s why I think the Giants will take a QB: Gettleman is a disciple of former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi. No football executive ever put more of a premium on franchise QBs than Accorsi. He was in Baltimore with Johnny Unitas. He drafted Elway, manipulated the supplemental draft in Cleveland to select Bernie Kosar and traded to get Manning with the Giants. Gettleman said at the combine that he stays in touch with Accorsi, who led the Giants GM search that got Gettleman hired. As much as Accorsi loves Manning, if he’s in Gettleman’s ear, the Giants will take a QB.
l Believe it or not, the draft is more than just the first round although that’s the focus. Fans want instant gratification in the form of an instant contribution from the first-round pick, especially with a team coming off its worst season since 1966. But that’s short-term thinking. The Giants need to make an investment in their future.
l Which QB should the Giants want? If Barkley goes first, I think they will take Darnold. If Darnold goes first, I think it’s Rosen. He has the personality and confidence to embrace New York. His two concussions last season are more of a concern than the minor shoulder surgery he