Gil Brandt
SiriusXM NFL analyst and longtime Cowboys executive Gil Brandt breaks down the quarterbacks in the NFL Draft and how the Jets and Giants will attack their selections with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: How do you have the quarterbacks ranked?
A: Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes — but I think he has the highest upside — DeShone Kizer, Davis Webb then Brad Kaaya. These guys all have knocks: Trubisky didn’t play enough, but the talent is there. Watson isn’t accurate enough, but just look how he played not once, but twice, against Alabama. Kizer has the most ability, but is the most erratic.
Q: Why do you think Mahomes has the most potential?
A: He has a very, very strong arm. If you look at some of the throws he made against Louisiana Tech this season, they are like throws you’ve never seen. He needs a lot of refinement. He scrambles around there and throws the ball sidearm, under- handed, but has athletic ability. And if you could harness that, then you have something that’s pretty good.
Q: Where do you see the Jets going at No. 6?
A: Every place that you ask about it, the Jets have covered the front on quarterbacks and defensive backs. If the quarterback is not there that they desire they will than go to a cornerback. The teams behind the Jets that want a quarterback are going to be concerned that the Jets take one and will try and trade to get ahead of them.
Q: The fact that they are checking out these quarterbacks, is that a knock on Christian Hackenberg?
A: I am not a big Christian Hackenberg fan. He simply doesn’t have good accuracy, and that’s not something that you can just teach. … Even look at someone like Boomer Esiason. He was a very good quarterback, but what kept him from being a great quarterback? His accuracy. Q: How much of a priority should backup quarterback be for the Giants? A: It would not surprise me if the Giants draft a backup quarterback. … I think you have to think about Eli Manning’s age and now is a time where the Giants can afford to draft a quarterback because their defense is in good shape after rebuilding it last offseason. For all the criticism that Jerry Reese gets, he has done a pretty good job of building up that side of the ball. Plus they have Paul Perkins, who I think is solid, at running back, and added Brandon Marshall this offseason. This could be the time for them to go out and get someone behind Eli.