Niner Noise
FanSided

2018 NFL Draft: Round 1 mock after flurry of NFL trade deadline deals

By Peter Panacy

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 09: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins sets to pass in the fourth quarter of the game against the Hawaii Warriors at the Rose Bowl on September 9, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 09: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins sets to pass in the fourth quarter of the game against the Hawaii Warriors at the Rose Bowl on September 9, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

player. 31. . Quarterback. UCLA. Josh Rosen. 3

Even with top collegiate quarterbacking prospects struggling a bit in 2017, that won’t stop teams from taking shots at franchise-changers early in the NFL Draft.

The New York Giants have a plethora of problems on both sides of the ball, but drafting in the top five allows them to secure an heir apparent to veteran QB Eli Manning.

Manning is 36 years old right now, and New York wouldn’t be in a position to push UCLA’s Josh Rosen into a starter’s role right away. Perhaps a year or two, but the added time developing should ensure the Giants’ quarterbacking situation doesn’t hit dire straits.

Rosen is, perhaps, the most NFL-ready quarterback out of the top prospects, though, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see him push Manning out of the job sooner than later.

The Giants have plenty of needs, especially along the offensive line, but this is a situation where the team can’t pass on its quarterback of the future.