Giants, Jets Subject Of Draft Day Rumors
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- With just hours to go before the NFL Draft begins, the rumors about which direction teams are leaning are flying from all directions.
There's no doubt that some of the reports -- perhaps most of the reports -- are smokescreens hatched by teams to throw their opponents off their trail.
But some could be true, and for draft junkies, reading all the buzz, true or not, helps to pass the time before the Los Angeles Rams become the first team to go on the clock in Chicago on Thursday night.
Here is a glance at the latest rumors involving the Giants and Jets:
The one name being linked most to Big Blue on Thursday is Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd.
NJ.com and the the New York Daily News are among those reporting that he is the Giants' top target with the 10th overall pick.
MORE: Palladino: It's High Time For Giants To Draft A Linebacker In First Round
"That's a good question, a great question," Giants head coach Ben McAdoo told CBS2's Otis Livingston. "Depends on what draft you're looking at."
The Giants have not drafted a linebacker in the first round since they took Carl Banks in 1984. Floyd is considered a big-upside pass rusher, but at 6-foot-6, 244 pounds, there are some concerns about his thin frame.
However, the Daily News' Gary Myers wrote that he's hearing the Giants will "for sure" draft an offensive tackle, perhaps Michigan State's Jack Conklin, said to be the No. 2 tackle on their board.
Giants fans were split on drafting a running back or an offensive lineman.
"I have to go with Ezekiel Elliott. He's the best running back out of the draft," Tommy Walsh said. "Giants need a good running back out of the backfield."
"If I'm the GM of the Giants, I'm going for a tackle," another fan said. "It's all about Eli, all about Eli, man."
Meanwhile, the speculation that the Jets, who own the 20th overall pick, might draft Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch seems to be cooling down in a major way.
Jets fan Jesus Cabrera would be OK with that pick.
"If I'm the GM of the Jets, I'll go for a quarterback," Cabrera said.
Myers and ESPN's Rich Cimini both wrote that they don't expect the Jets to consider Lynch in the first round. Cimini said the team is concerned about his maturity and ability to adjust to a pro-style offense.
So whom might the Jets take?
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport suggested they could be eyeing a wide receiver.
That would be a somewhat surprising move considering the Jets have needs at quarterback, offensive line, tight end, linebacker and cornerback and have solid starters at receiver in Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker.
MORE: Keidel: Jets, Giants Should Both Look To Add QBs In Draft
The top receivers in the draft are Mississippi's Laquan Treadwell, TCU's Josh Doctson, Baylor's Corey Coleman and Notre Dame's Will Fuller.
Of course, there's also the possibility that the Giants and Jets trade up or down, which further clouds the picture.
A local prospect, Rutgers linebacker Steve Longa, is hoping to hear his name called as he is projected as a mid- to late-round selection.
Longa moved to the U.S. from central Africa when he was 12, and never even played football until he got to Saddle Brook High School in New Jersey. His father was actually a professional soccer player in Cameroon.
"There's always a back story and everybody has a back story and I do too," Longa said. "Mine has been trying to follow in my dad's footsteps, trying to be a professional soccer player like my dad, but that took a different route. Now I'm moments away from being a professional football player, but the other football."
Longa continued, "I see a lot of people get very emotional, start crying. I was actually thinking about what mine's going to be. Am I going to stand up and who am I going to hug? Am I going to cry? Am I going to hug? I really don't know."
