Mock drafts are continuing to come in with three and a half months to go before the NFL draft, and ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has the GIants taking a quarterback.

Kiper predicts the Giants will draft Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins with the sixth pick over Kyler Murray, the Heisman Trophy-winning Oklahoma quarterback, whom Kiper has going 13th to the Miami Dolphins.

Haskins, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, said in December "it would be pretty nice" if the Giants drafted him, and among New York's needs are to find an heir to Eli Manning.

However, GM Dave Gettleman has said he would not prioritize a quarterback in the draft, telling reporters after the season, "If you make something a priority, you will make a mistake. It's got to be within the flow of what you're doing. You can't force it. Especially at quarterback."

The 38-year-old Manning has continuously said he does not know if he will be the Giants' starting quarterback next season even though head coach Pat Shurmur has expressed confidence in the two-time Super Bowl champion.

Even so, Kiper writes drafting Haskins "is an easy call.

"The Giants need a quarterback, and Haskins is the best quarterback in the class," Kiper writes. "The Giants can't afford to put off the decision for another year, even if they bring back 38-year-old Eli Manning and let the rookie learn behind him. Haskins (6-3, 220) is far from a finished product -- he started only 14 games at Ohio State -- but he has an extremely high ceiling. One thing to watch is whether QB-needy teams get aggressive and try to trade up to get in front of the Giants."

Haskins, 21, threw for 4,831 yards, 50 touchdowns and eight interceptions for the Buckeyes, throwing three touchdowns in a Rose Bowl victory over the University of Washington. Haskins also ran for 108 yards and four touchdowns in 2018.

Kiper has the Giants picking Haskins over Murray, who was also an Oakland A's first-round pick in the 2018 MLB draft. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Murray threw for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns for the Sooners, who lost in the College Football Playoff national semifinals to Alabama.

Popular in the Community