If The Giants Don’t Draft A QB In Round 1, All Is Not Lost

The quarterback discussion and debate will certainly be front and center for the next few months in East Rutherford. The Giants holding the sixth pick in the upcoming NFL draft may or may not give them the choice to add a top talent at the position. However, if the top three guys are gone, the Giants will have other quarterback options later in the draft.

Of course, this assumes the team does not make a trade to move up into the top five. If they do, that should certainly signal a high chance that General Manager Joe Schoen is interested in a particular QB.

At this point, it's well understood that USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye, and the Heisman Trophy winner from LSU, Jayden Daniels, are considered the three premier guys at the quarterback position in this 2024 draft. In fact, some believe there's a chance they can be the first three players selected. Regardless, let's consider the options if those three guys have been picked by the time the Giants are on the clock at six.

It's been a common occurrence for teams to trade up and get back into the late first round if a player they are interested in unexpectedly falls and is still available. Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy and Oregon slinger Bo Nix could be guys hovering around the end of round one. The Giants would  most likely have to trade their second round pick in order to bump up here. Nonetheless, I think there are better value options waiting until the later rounds, if a QB is desirable.

One of the strongest arms in this draft belongs to Tennessee QB Joe Milton (nicknamed "Bazooka Joe"). Sure, he's a raw talent, but his size (6 foot 5) and athleticism may be too difficult to pass up. Especially if he's still available in the late rounds of the draft. Milton competing with Daniel Jones could provide some drama.

If we get to day two of this NFL draft and the Giants went wide receiver and lineman heavy so far, here are some other names. Spencer Rattler of South Carolina will be there, as should Michael Pratt from Tulane.

The Giants certainly have their work cut out for them. Events like the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine will help shape their draft board preparation. With Daniel Jones injured but under contract, that also complicates the situation. Still, there are high expectations for the top talent available this year. If the Giants do not select a quarterback early on in April's draft, it doesn't mean they won't at all.

There are many life lessons to be taken from coaching youth sports. Sometimes, they can be the same lessons your little players are also learning. Perhaps as an adult, you are simply learning these lessons again. Or you may just be interpreting them through a different lens.

This is the first memory I have as a kid playing basketball. It's a sentence I will never forget. My coach was a former standout at the University of South Carolina. He treated us as if he was the actual Division One South Carolina coach, and we were his 5-star recruit players about to enter March Madness. We were ten years old. It sounds intense, I understand, but herein lies the first rule of coaching youth sports. There are some values that are non-negotiable.

When you break it down, these values are all centered around respect. Respect for yourself and those around you. Respect becomes a way of life. It's how an athlete carries themselves and how they approach the game. Therefore, it's important as a coach to ask yourself if respect is present in the environment you and your team are creating. It has a way of applying to everything while also being an evolving process.

Speaking of which, more often than not, youth coaches are volunteers. This means that they are not paid. Sometimes, they never even played the sport they are coaching. However, they care enough to dedicate their time and attention to help make the sporting experience memorable for the youth program. So keep that in mind and cut them some slack. This is true of referees and umpires, as well.

Coaching youth sports can be a year-round commitment. We often end one season and immediately transition to the next sport. Here are five life lessons learned from coaching youth sports.

There’s no better feeling than working tirelessly for something you really want, and then accomplishing it. Especially if you are an underdog. You learn to enjoy the struggle. It makes the reward that much sweeter. The most valuable lesson from this piece is that once you dedicate yourself to putting in whatever it takes, this becomes a mindset. No win comes for free. You aren't entitled to playing time. Both of those must be earned. There's nothing wrong with reminding yourself of that while preaching to your kids about how to get playing time.

Your definition of exercise might be a sweaty cardio workout in the gym. But as a coach, exercise has a broad meaning. Certainly, getting yourself outside with a team and teaching them the importance of stretching and preparing your body is essential to physical success. Coaching a sport like football, for example, your two hours a day on the field are laser-focused on just that. There, you are giving yourself some mental exercise, taking a break from all the other work, stress, or life-circumstances. You can forget everything else when you hit the field, court, or rink.

Whether you manage a soccer team or a sales team, you're leading a collection of individuals. What makes your top performer tick is not the same as what makes a lesser player (or employee) with potential, tick. This lesson centers around relationship-building and listening. How you run your team is about you, and how your players apply these guidelines is about them.

...Nor are they getting a full scholarship offer to a top NCAA college at this age. You may see things in your kid or another on the team where your experience makes you think a certain player has a shot at the big time. But that time is not right now. Your coaching duty is to give the best experience possible to your players. How does creating an entire game plan around one super-talented 10-year old give the other 20 kids a fair chance? How does it give them a memorable experience? Or something to build off for next year. Or confidence. Again, those refereeing your games are most likely high school or college kids themselves. They're just trying to work and earn some money. Again, cut them some slack.

Your tone in addressing your players, the refs, and the other team matters, too. Be cognizant of how you deliver your messages. You may have an incredibly impactful point to make, but if you don't articulate it correctly, and cater to your audience, it can be useless. Coaching youth sports is about the overall experience, not the final score, and not the final record. Your stats don't matter, your voice does.