The Giants sent picks 116 and 187 to Arizona to move up six…
The Giants sent picks 116 and 187 to Arizona to move up six spots in the 2013 fourth round for quarterback Ryan Nassib. Nassib spent four seasons as Eli Manning's backup but barely played. Arizona selected guard Earl Watford and running back Andre Ellington, who became one of the Cardinals' most productive offensive players for several seasons. The Cardinals clearly received more usable value from the two selections.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 2013 4th round pick (116th overall, Earl Watford )
- pick 2013 6th round pick (187th overall, Andre Ellington )
New York Giants Received
- pick 2013 4th round pick (110th overall, Ryan Nassib )
Trade Analysis
New York saw Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib slide into the fourth round of the 2013 draft and decided the value was too good to ignore. The Giants sent Arizona the 116th and 187th picks to move to No. 110. Nassib was not acquired to replace Eli Manning immediately; the idea was to develop a talented backup who might eventually become a starter or a valuable trade asset.
That upside never materialized. Nassib spent four seasons behind Manning and appeared in only five regular-season games, attempting 10 passes. He provided continuity in the quarterback room, but New York never turned him into either meaningful playing time or trade compensation. For two draft selections, the practical return was a developmental backup whose career with the club ended after his rookie contract.
Arizona used No. 116 on guard Earl Watford and No. 187 on running back Andre Ellington. Watford became a versatile reserve who started at multiple offensive-line spots. Ellington provided the bigger payoff. As a rookie he averaged 5.5 yards per carry, then produced more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 2014 despite missing time. His combination of rushing and receiving ability gave Arizona several seasons of explosive offensive production from a sixth-round pick.
The cost was not enormous, which keeps New York from the harshest possible grade, but the comparison is still clear. The Giants receive a D for spending two picks on a quarterback who never became more than a lightly used backup. Arizona earns an A- for moving down only six spots and finding two contributors, including a sixth-round playmaker in Ellington. The corrected trade date is April 27, 2013, and the Cardinals are the decisive winner.