The New York Giants’ final two victories — which came in a three-week span — were met with mixed emotions.
On one hand, it was a bright spot within another lost season that ultimately ended up 4-12. Eli Manning was able to ride off into the sunset with a victory over the Miami Dolphins before Daniel Jones outdueled Dwayne Haskins’ relief effort, providing a premature and unfounded indication that the Giants made the right pick in the 2019 draft.
On the other hand, those final two wins were believed to have taken the Giants out of the running for Ohio State defensive end Chase Young as they sank from a top-two pick to the No. 4 spot in the 2020 NFL Draft.
One of those teams who hopped the Giants were, in fact, those Redskins.
So, of course, the Redskins were initially believed to be the team that would draft Young with the No. 2 pick in April. Not only would the Giants lose out on the pass-rushing extraordinaire, but he would be in their division for years to come.
And that could very well happen.
Young is believed to be the top sack artist available in this year’s draft class. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder racked up 26.5 sacks over the last two seasons in Columbus, including 16.5 last season along with 21 tackles for a loss.
The NFL gave him a draft grade of 7.37, which is perceived as a perennial All-Pro. The highest grade possible is an 8.0, or “the perfect prospect.”
Needless to say, that’s a player worthy of a top-two-or-three pick, which could just be out of the Giants’ reach.
Young would be the kind of transcendental talent that New York’s pass rush has been starving for. Throughout the franchise’s history, its finest teams have been built on the foundation of imposing defenses.
The past few regimes ranging from the latter years of Tom Coughlin to Ben McAdoo, to Pat Shurmur, couldn’t capture that magic.
But while initial belief pegged the Giants to miss out on Young, there could be a slight chance he manages to fall into their laps.
With the No. 1 pick of the draft, the Cincinnati Bengals are going to take the Heisman Trophy-winning, national-champion quarterback, Joe Burrow, out of LSU.
At No. 2, the Redskins could very well take Young, but a lingering belief that Haskins is not the future under center could see Washington take a run at finding another franchise quarterback like Tua Tagovailoa out of Alabama.
The Detroit Lions have long been rumored to be in on Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah at No. 3.
Regardless of what the Redskins do, the Giants would have a clear path at a solid defensive prospect. If Young goes to Washington, the Giants might have a chance to nab Clemson’s linebacker, Isaiah Simmons, who is believed to be the most well-rounded prospect in the draft.
