WHAT’S BEHIND DOOR NO. 2?

Dave’s Giant moves a mystery & that’s a good thing

Ameanfew people around the NFL recently have described the Giants’ No. 2 pick to me as “for sale.” They don’t GM Dave Gettleman definitely wants to trade the pick. They mean it’s an open secret Gettleman has been willing to consider a trade down at the right price to let a quarterback-hungry club charge up for its man.

The Giants’ intentions are a mystery, especially relative to the rest of the Top Four, and everyone is waiting to see what Gettleman decides and how his move shapes Thursday night’s first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Something has to change, however, for the Giants to attract the type of irresistible trade offer that would convince Gettleman to move back. Because the Giants haven’t convinced me or anyone else that they intend to take a quarterback — everything they’ve done points to helping Eli Manning win now and not replacing him.

So why would the Buffalo Bills at No. 12, for example, pay a premium to come all the way up to No. 2 when they could just wait and deal with Denver at No. 5 or Indianapolis at No. 6 instead and still get a QB? It depends on who the Browns draft at No. 1. But my point is if Cleveland drafts USC’s Sam Darnold at No. 1 and the Bills and other teams don’t think the Giants intend to draft Wyoming QB Josh Allen at No. 2, the Bills could simply sit tight and watch the following:

Gettleman draft Penn State RB Saquon Barkley at No. 2, the Jets take Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield at No. 3 and the Browns take N.C. State DE Bradley Chubb at No. 4. And then Bills GM Brandon Beane could trade up instead with Denver GM John Elway to move up and get Allen at No. 5.

This is why I wouldn’t be surprised — and I think it’d be smart business — if the Giants found a way to leak some stronger feelings about top quarterbacks to create more incentive for a team like Buffalo to trade.

Or perhaps it will take a unique scenario, like Darnold falling to No. 2, to create the needed market to drive the price up for Gettleman to want to trade back. The only Giants quarterback buzz is that if Darnold falls to No. 2, he’d be the quarterback they would grab. And they could just draft him themselves.

But if Darnold is available at No. 2, the Giants’ perceived interest in the player — combined with the high respect many teams have for the USC QB — could create the competitive market necessary for Gettleman to get maximum return in a trade back.

Some believe Gettleman and Beane, who worked under Gettleman in Carolina, are so strongly considering a trade that they already have hypothetical deals in place for draft day. Until it happens, though, I continue to believe Gettleman (and co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch) would