Dwayne Haskins
(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the New York Giants taking Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins with the sixth-overall pick. 

Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN has released his first mock draft for the 2019 NFL Draft, and he has the New York Giants taking a quarterback — Dwayne Haskins.

“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 threw for 4831 yards this past year with 50 touchdowns, both single-season records for Ohio State University. The Buckeyes eventually defeated Washington to win the Rose Bowl.

Current Big Blue quarterback Eli Manning’s contract runs through the 2019 season. So if the Giants were to draft Haskins, he could sit his rookie season and learn behind Manning.

Haskins has previously admitted to being a Giants fan while growing up.

However, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray announced he would be declaring for the NFL Draft on Monday. This would potentially give the Giants more options if they were to choose a quarterback with their pick. Murray threw for 4261 yards and 42 touchdowns this past year as he won the Heisman Trophy. He also had 1001 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.

Either way, the Giants could have their successor to Manning in this year’s draft. Haskins and Murray are both outstanding talents who are worthy of being selected sixth overall.

Ryan Honey is a staff writer and host of the Wide Right Podcast.