I’ve been running with the position that the strength of the draft lines up for us to add an important piece on the defensive side. That said, there is an argument to be made that we need to prioritize building around Dart, at least holistically. Wide receiver is a need for us and where that leads many to in terms of draft consideration is Carnell Tate. And while I do see the appeal, I struggle to envision a level of impact in justifying a #5 overall selection.
We need to address WR, but setting that aside, what’s most critical is adding a weapon to the offense that can complement Nabers and either draw attention away from him, or make defense pay for not doing so. This is where Jeremiah Love enters the picture. We can debate if the grade on Tate is worthy of a top 5 selection, but there should be no debate on Love. He is a top 3 player in the draft, arguably 1.
With Love, you get the same explosive play ability you do for Tate (~15 plays of 20+ yards in 2025). Love recorded touchdowns of 94, 68, 63, and 56 yards, so he’s a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the football, and you’ll get the football in his hands a lot. He had 226 total touches this past season, compared to only 51 for Tate. Yes, that’s a function of his being a running back, but the point is, volume of touches plus home run ability means defenses have no choice but to account for him at all times. I’d also argue that there remains meat on the bones with him in terms of what he’s capable of as a receiving threat. And what they can do with the ball in hand, there is no comparison between Love and Tate, IMO. Love is simply more dynamic.
The other dimension here is the RPO game. We literally saw a competent offense predicated on that alone with Jones and Barkley in 2022. RPOs involving Dart/Love is downright scary. Defenses will have to account for this is a major way, and that would do wonders for Nabers who faced a rookie season where the entire game plan was to bracket him and tackle as the ball arrives.
What I don’t see is a huge concern for Skat. You don’t want Skattebo as a feature back and having the two brings freshness to both players, and important consideration for RBs to not overwork. As for Tracey, you either keep him around and make use or possibly look to trade him, but at the end of the day, pick 5 is about more than 2026 and Tracey is a nice player, but not the sort of guy you pivot off the number 5 pick for.
Thoughts?
Hit the trenches - either O line or D line or grab an ILB. Rb is so far down the list of priorities. Dart made chicken salad out of chicken shit for the majority of last year.
Don't repeat the Saquon mistake of drafting a shiny toy while the OL is in the process of being rebuilt.
So for me assuming we address OL/DL/WR in FA i'm going Styles if he grades out at #5
At this point he’s honestly my preferred option at 5. Depending on how he runs at the combine I’m not even sure he makes it to 5.
What I like about him vs Barkley for example is that he is not afraid of contact and makes explosive runs without dancing around all the time.
There is certainly a strong argument that a very good RB who makes explosive plays is more valuable than a solid starter at a more important position.
The most important thing is that the player you pick is really good. Usually at 5 there are more options where the odds of being really good are high. I don't know that that's the case this year. So Love would be a totally acceptable pick for me.
The other issue with taking Love - RB is already a strength of this team, and that was achieved via back to back DAY 3 PICKS.
To be fair, what single player (non-QB) "moves the needle for poor teams"? More often than not, bad teams have some combination of bad coaches, bad GMs, bad ownership and not enough good players to complement that great player they just drafted.
To your examples...
The Giants had just one winning record in the 5 seasons BEFORE Barkley and just one winning record in Barkley's 6 seasons as a Giant.
The Falcons had 5 losing seasons BEFORE Bijan and 3 more AFTER he was drafted.
The Raiders had just one winning record in the 8 seasons BEFORE Jeanty and another losing season this year.
Other than a QB, what single player could the Giants, Falcons and Raiders have drafted instead of the top RB that they chose, who would have turned around those 3 (mostly) losing franchises?
My top 2 players are Reese and Downs. If they're both gone, I'd have no problem with the Giants drafting Love.
We have other positions that need talent.
Year 1 - $8,348,657
Year 2 - $10,435,821
Year 3 - $12,522,985
Year 4 - $14,610,149
Fifth year option will be pricy.
Meanwhile
Tracy:
2026 - $1,075,000
2027 - $1,190,000
Skatt:
2026 - $1,005,000
2027 - $1,120,000
2028 - $1,235,000
Tate doesn't even look like a #1 receiver to me and hearing Sy/others speak about his almost "ZERO" after the catch talent/yards I'm just a NO on Tate at #5 in most any scenario.
Would take - Reese, Bailey, Styles, Downs, Fano/Mauioga and a few others before taking ANY of these WRs in this draft at #5.
I think the Love dialog is intriguing BUT a pretty big risk.
In terms of our existing backs I think we are one of the worst in the league - while I love Skat (we can't use him a ton and he's coming off huge injury). I think Giant fans highly overrate Tracy. For me he's a JAG and basically a guy who got carries on a bad team plus best games seemed to be when season was completely shot. He has little explosion or top end speed to his game. Singletary is an absolute meh RB.
The Giants are NOT a player away. The team has critical needs at interior DL (depth behind Dex), LB, OL, TE and WR that need to be addressed. Not all of that will be done in FA. As Eric has said, Schoen needs to do a whole better job in the draft (especially in the later rounds) to address this.
There are critical needs at WR and OL. The OL was almost average last year, but there are questions at RT and Guard that need fixing long term.
The WR position, IMO, is a disaster right now. Our best WR (Nabers) is coming off of a severe injury, and there's no assurance he will be at 100% this year. Robinson is likely gone, and Slayton can't be depended on.
The RB position is manageable, with Scat and Tracey. I'd rather pick up a cheap FB to help them out, instead of trying to hit a HR with Love. With the way NFL rules are now, you HAVE to have an effective passing game to win.
None of those teams had a quarterback.
I would have no issue with him being the pick considering that harbaugh continues to stress best player available there
The giants have too many holes on this roster to be making a pick of Jeremiyah Love at 5. He is a home run threat, he catches, he embraces pass blocking, all of the things you want, but without a good O-Line in front of him or a defense that gets off the field routinely he becomes a luxury we can't afford...especially at the projected salary slots.
If someone wants to move up for one of the Ohio State defenders and we are able to move back a few slots and nab him I'd be more on board. I don't see it with Tate either, fortify the lines or defense first.
You have an ideal committee group of RBs here, with a guy that can be a hammer and carry a heavy workload if needed in Cam Skattebo, at a low overall position cost.
I don't mind signing an Allgeier or even a Kenneth Gainwell to a deal to complement the group and then maybe use a late 6th or grab a UDFA for RB to have someone on the PS with potential. But forgot the draft cost and opportunity cost at another top player in this draft for a moment...
The financial implication is taking a very already strong, low-cost position group, and making it a high-cost position group relative to the position and the league, for the likely chance to have fewer opportunities for Skattebo, who can be a workhorse for this team.
At the same time, if that money is spent on a WR, for example, you have a shot at getting a premium talent getting production at the position for a third or fourth of the cost of what an unrestricted free agent of similar production would cost. At worst, you're getting a WR at around Khalil Shakir 2nd contract money, who could give you prime A.J. Brown production. A.J. Brown, btw, in 2024 signed a 3-year, $96M deal with $84M gtd. That's $33M AAV.
Or you can give a top 2 or 3 contract in the NFL to Love as a rookie when you just finished top 5 in the NFL in rushing last year WITHOUT Skattebo for most of the season and won only 4 games.
Downs and Styles are pretty special too but Love is the be st your talent in the entire draft. I would have no problem with any of these three.BUT Love could transform an offense that needs a transformation.
The giants have too many holes on this roster to be making a pick of Jeremiyah Love at 5. He is a home run threat, he catches, he embraces pass blocking, all of the things you want, but without a good O-Line in front of him or a defense that gets off the field routinely he becomes a luxury we can't afford...especially at the projected salary slots.
If someone wants to move up for one of the Ohio State defenders and we are able to move back a few slots and nab him I'd be more on board. I don't see it with Tate either, fortify the lines or defense first.
well first we have to see how they address these things in free agency and then we'll be able to talk more intelligently about that
Barkley is the better overall freak athlete because of his size speed and agility freak combination . Barclays change of direction for his size also absolutely freakish and probably a little better than Love
Love has better vision to the hole, Love tools also translate to be a better receiver in the nfl
He caught a historic % of targets, had an avg yards per catch of 17.2, and scored a TD on 17.6% of his receptions. Also, your stat SUCKS. The receivers in this draft that lead in YAC? They are guys catching a lot of screens and short passes with blockers running up ahead of them. Zachariah Branch, Skyler Bell. They aren't getting balls downfield and immediately getting hit by a crossing safety or going up for a 50-50 ball.
And all the TDs that Tate caught IN THE END ZONE also got 0 YAC.
Barkley is flashier and more likely to be on the ESPN top ten list. But Love looks more physical to me. And he is very creative finding space. Frankly, I don't think the distance between them - coming out of college - is that great.
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As RBs?
Barkley is the better overall freak athlete because of his size speed and agility freak combination . Barclays change of direction for his size also absolutely freakish and probably a little better than Love
Love has better vision to the hole, Love tools also translate to be a better receiver in the nfl
BBI has gotten a lot of schadenfreude from a couple of missed catches by Barkley in his Philly tenure. But let's not forget, Saquon's prospect profile coming out of PSU noted his WR-like hands and pass-catching ability. He then caught 91 balls for 721 yards, 7.9 average as a rookie. Elite numbers for a RB. He also made some of the most ridiculous one-handed catches I've seen from any player as a Giant (sans the OBJ catch). His receiving numbers his rookie year are superior to Jahmyr Gibb's best season, and would've been behind only CMC and Bijan last year among RBs, but would've led the NFL in both 2023 and 2024.
It's pretty strong talk to say Love is a better receiver than Saquon coming out of college. This is not a knock on Love.
Saquon is a gifted receiver, despite not being used in that capacity often in his current offense.
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In comment 17108817 GFAN52 said:
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As RBs?
Barkley is the better overall freak athlete because of his size speed and agility freak combination . Barclays change of direction for his size also absolutely freakish and probably a little better than Love
Love has better vision to the hole, Love tools also translate to be a better receiver in the nfl
BBI has gotten a lot of schadenfreude from a couple of missed catches by Barkley in his Philly tenure. But let's not forget, Saquon's prospect profile coming out of PSU noted his WR-like hands and pass-catching ability. He then caught 91 balls for 721 yards, 7.9 average as a rookie. Elite numbers for a RB. He also made some of the most ridiculous one-handed catches I've seen from any player as a Giant (sans the OBJ catch). His receiving numbers his rookie year are superior to Jahmyr Gibb's best season, and would've been behind only CMC and Bijan last year among RBs, but would've led the NFL in both 2023 and 2024.
It's pretty strong talk to say Love is a better receiver than Saquon coming out of college. This is not a knock on Love.
Saquon is a gifted receiver, despite not being used in that capacity often in his current offense.
you are correct that Barkley was was a good receiver coming out of college especially before he bulked up way too much in his lower half.
However i think that love projects even better as a wide receiver in the nfl because of his vision and his ability /projectibility to run routes. Notre Dame didn't fully utilize this aspect of his potential.
You are not paying top 10 money for premium positions. Over 20 WRs make over $20 mil a year, you can get a potential starter for $10 mil you can then sign another player or 2 and keep that position reasonable.
Only 6 RBs make more than $10 mil. Drafting a RB and paying top money makes no sense. To me the 5th pick needs quality and value. There isn’t a big enough difference between Love and other guys at premium positions to overlook value.
If we trade out of the top 10, Love becomes a better option and value. Guys we drafted recently at Edge, OT and CB may not have panned out the way we wanted but they were low gambles that we weren’t paying top 10 money and at the time they fit their draft position.
Love is one of the worst options in the top 10.
Downs/Styles or OL will be the pick!
Downs and Styles are pretty special too but Love is the be st your talent in the entire draft. I would have no problem with any of these three. BUT Love could transform an offense that needs a transformation.
Now personally, I prefer the defensive guys --Reese, Downs, Styles, or Bain (in some order). But if the priority is to build around Dart, a RB like Love who would keep defensive coordinators up at night would certainly make our young QBs work a whole lot easier. I'd consider him along side Mauigoa and ahead of any of the Wide receivers in this draft.
I know people will use Barkley as an example, but it's a completely different scenario for the NYG.
Pick #2 with a bunch of QB prospects available and no franchise QB is a lot different than pick #5 with a franchise QB on the roster and not a ton of premium positions available. We don't need a QB, the top pass rushers (Bailey/Reese) will most likely be gone. So then it becomes a choice between RB, ILB, Safety, OG & a RT.
I still think the decision was the correct one at the time...we simply didnt build a line for the man to run thru...
Philly doesnt win the Super Bowl last year without him..
Love - 6.9 YPC on 362 carries with 35 TDs
7.22 YPT on 417 touches with 40 TDs
1 TD every 10.42 touches
Saquon - 5.6 YPC on 489 carries with 36 TDs
6.65 YPT on 571 touches with 43 TDs
1 TD every 13.27 touches
Bijan - 5.9 YPC on 453 carries with 29 TDs
6.65 YPT on 498 touches with 35 TDs
1 TD every 14.22 touches
Jeanty - 6.5 YPC on 594 carries with 43 TDs
7.05 YPT on 660 touches with 49 TDS
1 TD every 13.46 touches
Gibbs - 5.6 YPC on 294 carries with 11 TDs
6.91 YPT on 374 touches with 16 TDs
1 TD every 23.37 touches
Achane - 6.1 YPC on 326 carries with 17 TDs
6.39 YPT on 386 touches with 21 TDs
1 TD every 18.38 touches
Cook - 6.5 YPC on 158 carries with 10 TDs
7.66 YPT on 201 touches with 16 TDs
1 TD every 12.56 touches
CMC - 6.1 YPC on 590 carries with 21 TDs
6.81 YPT on 672 touches with 29 TDs
1 TD every 23.17 touches
Henry - 5.6 YPC on 567 carries with 39 TDs
5.88 YPT on 583 touches with 41 TDs
1 TD every 14.21 touches
Taylor - 6.6 YPC on 627 carries with 37 TDs
6.82 YPT on 661 touches with 42 TDs
1 TD every 15.73 touches
He’s not my first choice at #5, but IMO, a superior prospect than Barkley.
The giants have too many holes on this roster to be making a pick of Jeremiyah Love at 5. He is a home run threat, he catches, he embraces pass blocking, all of the things you want, but without a good O-Line in front of him or a defense that gets off the field routinely he becomes a luxury we can't afford...especially at the projected salary slots.
If someone wants to move up for one of the Ohio State defenders and we are able to move back a few slots and nab him I'd be more on board. I don't see it with Tate either, fortify the lines or defense first.
Picking Love at 5 doesn't prevent the Giants from drafting OL in other rounds. The Giants are not drafting OL at 5.
He’s not my first choice at #5, but IMO, a superior prospect than Barkley.
I think the differences are closer than some may want to admit. But Love has a superior advantage??
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and caught 27 balls last year. His play as a receiver is just scratching the surface.
He’s not my first choice at #5, but IMO, a superior prospect than Barkley.
I think the differences are closer than some may want to admit. But Love has a superior advantage??
You are talking the most offensively explosive player in this entire draft and best talent in this entire draft . . ...this is not just a couple BBIers opinions, this is the opinion of about 20 different or more top analysts that are out there.
The fact that he has elite potential in the passing game is also big considering how much Nagy has shown he will use a pass catching RB in a variety of ways.
If Love is in his own tier for his talent and/or overall grade by the time its our pick and only blue chip prospect left, you really can't blame the Giants if that is the pick.
Tyrone Tracy is not Saquon and should not stop any organization from drafting a blue chip prospect at running back if he is bpa in his own tier at the pick.
Skattebo's punishing head on running style is best served in a committee like Brandon Jacobs was.
Jameson Williams 26.6 million
DJ Moore 27.5 million
Waddle 28.2 million
McLaurin 29 million
Aiyuk 30 million
I think he's a better receiver than all of those guys.
He’s not my first choice at #5, but IMO, a superior prospect than Barkley.
Personally I think that's laughable.
Love is tremendous. But let's not try to compare based on numbers. The evaluation is more complex. I mean, if that's the case Melvin Gordon and Kevin Smith (2007 UCF) should be two of the greatest RBs of all time.
Last two seasons, Notre Dame (excluding playoffs) has played a much lighter stack of opponents than what Saquon did in the Big Ten his last two years. If you took away just the numbers from the two Navy games, the Army game, and the Syracuse game, that's 4 games, Love loses 497 yards rushing, 9 TDs, on just 40 carries.
I know Saquon played some lower opponents and the players don't make the schedule, but PSU's 2016-2017 schedule is just tougher. Love's schedule was just loaded with cream puff defenses the last two seasons (regular season).
Love in four playoff games last year, 29 rushes, 176 yards, 6.0 avg, 2 touchdowns, 31 yards on 6 catches, no touchdowns through the air. Most of that rushing production came in one game vs Indiana, 8-108-1.
How was Saquon in big games his last two seasons?
2016 Conf Champ vs Wisconsin: 19-83-1 rush, 2-20-1 rec.
2016 Rose Bowl vs USC: 25-194-2 rush, 5-55-1 rec.
2017 Fiesta Bowl vs Wash: 18-137-2, 7-38-0 rec.
Total post regular season (3 games) for Saquon: 62-414-5, 6.7 avg rushing, 14-113-2 receiving. Total scrimmage from Saquon in 3 postseason games: 527 yards, 7 Tds 6.9 yards per touch.
Total post regular season (4 games) for Love: 29-176-2, 6.0 avg rushing, 6-31-0 receiving. Total scrimmage from Love in 4 postseason games: 207 yards on 35 touches, 2 Tds, 5.9 yards per touch.
So let's not over-inflate Love, who is phenomenal, because he put up enormous numbers against a lot of bad ACC teams plus Army and Navy, etc.
Saquan would be a good pick for the Giants in the 2026 draft at #5.
Different draft. Different level of prospects available. Different team situation.
If Love is as good as Saquan, that's a totally good pick considering the alternatives.
Saquan would be a good pick for the Giants in the 2026 draft at #5.
Different draft. Different level of prospects available. Different team situation.
If Love is as good as Saquan, that's a totally good pick considering the alternatives.
It wasn't the pick that was terrible. It was not picking up the phone when Denver called about trading up.
Even still, it was picking Daniel Jones in 2019 that was the bad pick. Had they just given the 2019 season to Eli to have his farewell tour, taken Josh Hines-Allen or Rashan Gary at 6, perhaps they draft Justin Herbert in 2020 following Eli's retirement.
Sooo much of the misery of this franchise has been tied to taking Daniel Jones.
I can concede that taking Saquon wasn't optimal in 2018. But they could've drafted Josh Rosen and that would've been a lot worse, a disaster even. But taking Love is also not optimal.
But yeah, not picking up the phone and even listening to trade offers in 2018, DJ at 6, trading back up for Baker when so many similarly rated CBs were on the board, letting basically everyone know that we coveted DeVonta Smith and wouldn't draft Parsons, trading down and then taking Kadarius Toney who they apparently gave a good grade to on character (LOL), all of that was terrible, and his draft performance as bad as it was wasn't nearly as bad as his free agency moves.