ESPN's Mosley on Giants' draft needs

by Ed Valentine on Mar 20, 2009 12:00 PM EDT in New York Giants News

ESPN' Matt Mosley is analyzing the draft needs of the NFC East teams. He posted his take on the Giants a couple of days ago.

Here is some of what he had to say.

Team needs: Receiver, tight end, safety

Dream scenario: The Giants will have a lot better feel for the draft once Plaxico Burress has his day in court. If Burress has to spend time behind bars, there's a good chance the team goes after a wide receiver with the No. 29 pick. And they may take a receiver even if Burress avoids jail time. The Giants are stacked in several areas, but they need a playmaker at wideout. If Hakeem Nicks out of North Carolina slips to No. 29, that's the guy. But if he's gone, Rutgers product Kenny Britt could be a possibility.

Plan B: I know some people would like to see the Giants replace running back Derrick Ward, but former seventh-round pick Ahmad Bradshaw should have that position filled. If the Giants aren't in love with a wide receiver at No. 29, they could continue to bolster their linebacking unit. Michael Boley gives the Giants a reliable player, but there's still room for competition. I think Gerris Wilkinson has just about used up all his goodwill and I'm not sure the Giants view Chase Blackburn and Bryan Kehl as long-term solutions.

Nothng earth-shattering, or surprising, in there. Pretty much just confirmation of what we have been thinking since last season ended.

By the way, I know the 'prospecting' piece usually runs on Friday. With the Kevin Boss interview to entertain you, though, I am pushing it back a day.

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te?

I don’t see us needing a TE. WR definitely, safety maybe. I think we need OLs and LBs before we need a TE.

by John W on Mar 20, 2009 5:59 PM EDT reply actions

the draft “experts” have been claiming that’s one of the Giants’ main needs and I don’t see it either. I think they just look at the stats when they make that analysis, but it doesn’t take into account that KG doesn’t throw to a TE all that much. The talent is there.

by potroast on Mar 20, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

TE

Only, maybe, as a backup to Boss. I just don’t see this as a need.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 20, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Of course this assumes

That the Giants stand pat

But I think that this year they have extra draft picks – I am betting on trading up.

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by NYERinSF on Mar 20, 2009 6:57 PM EDT reply actions

Trading up

I usually don’t advocate it, but I think in this case (the Giants will have 10, maybe 11 picks) it is sound strategy. There is no way 10 rookies make the team next fall, so why not target a couple of players and use the extra picks to go after a couple of guys you are really sold on?

by Ed Valentine on Mar 20, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Absolutely

They will definitely trade up. The intriguing questions are with whom? for what? Im guessing OT or LB

by blue gonz on Mar 20, 2009 8:27 PM EDT reply actions

In my opinion a trade up for either an OT or LB would be a smart move.

When you consider the impact that great left tackles and overachieving linebackers have had over the years, it makes sense to spend a couple of extra early pics on these two positions.

by giant fan since 57 on Mar 21, 2009 6:30 AM EDT reply actions

We need a weapon, not a guy that is a 'WR', 'TE' etc.

Not really a TE, but Jared Cook can be our Cooley/Gates type who doesn;t have to block but lines up wherever and gives Eli a type of weapon he never had.

We may have to grab in round one and I can only see doing so if nothing else is worth it there, but Cook would be a real nice weapon.

The guy is "6’5, can jump out of the building and has giant pass catching hands. He’s 240+ and ran a 4.5. That means he’s bigger and faster than Nicks or Britt. He also lined up on the outside in college.

Giants have no real first round needs, so I think they should grab a weapon like this guy if he’s there.

by FreeBradshaw on Mar 21, 2009 7:46 AM EDT reply actions

Every thing else, even a project WR like Louis Murphy

these guys can be got in the later rounds, 2 2nd rounders and 2 5th rounders, we can grab out depth for o-line, secondary and LB down there.

Eli NEEDS weapons. Nicks and Britt may be nice WR, but are they really that much better than Steve Smith and Hixon? yea they may be bigger, but they are both real slow, and unless they fall to the 2nd round picks they are not 1st rounders.

Jared Cook, or even Shawn Nelson for that matter (Nelson is actually a TE that is a good blocker and 5x as fast as Boss, don’t know why this guy isnt a 1st round lock), should be the priority. Yea Kevin Boss is nice and developed very well. But the reality is the guy is slow as molasses. Cook and Nelson could be real weapons for Eli and develop into guys that would make losing Plax not hurt as much if that happens

by FreeBradshaw on Mar 21, 2009 7:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I could see

grabbing Cook to get that true weapon like you say, but to start grabbing TEs that are not really the weapon that you speak of does not make sense to me since we have plenty of good TEs. These draft analysts are saying TE is a position of need and I don’t see it. If a TE is the best playmaker, then yes, but not simply to fill the position.

by potroast on Mar 21, 2009 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Im mentioning Cook and Nelson

Cuz they really aren’t TE’s, they are weapons. Escpecially since they ran as fast as Nicks and Britt, the 2 receivers the Giants have the best chance of getting. I mean if DHB is available, then I think he’s the real choice as he’s the fastest WR in the draft.

Nelson Im saying is more of a TE cuz he actually blocked and did a good job in college. He’d be more of a fallback guy, although the fact he has the potential to dwarf Boss would be nice, having 2 TE’s never hurt. Cook is more of a receiver than TE, not that he won’t line up at TE. He is a leaper and tall guy and fast, like Plax, so that’s a good way to get that type of weapon on the team.

ANd I wouldn’t say the Giants have more than one TE. These other guys are just backup and blockers, nothing really more.

If the Giants had kept Shockey, and provided his mouth was wired shut (and his brain was rewired) do you think the Giants would have been just fine when losing Plax? Boss was there last year, but you don’t have to double cover him. THey need that type of player and Boss is not it. He is a nice backup and that he developed his blocking is also nice, but to have that ‘Shockey’ type talent at TE would be nice again.

by FreeBradshaw on Mar 21, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I disagree with your

assessment that Boss is nothing more than a backup. Boss is not blazing fast, but neither is Shockey … let’s not make Shockey something he wasn’t. He was at his best when Fassell and co got him matched up on defensive backs, where he could dominate because of his physical play. Boss can most definitely be that guy. He’s got the hands and toughness to do so (probably has better hands than Shockey right now). He was an underutilized talent last year because Gilbride has never known know how to use a TE … which is why Shockey was always upset & which also makes me question why the Giants should spend a high draft pick on a TE if he’s not going to get used. I agree that Boss is not the dominating guy that draws double coverage, but he’s got the talent.

by potroast on Mar 21, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Boss

Calling him a backup is really disrespecting him … and undervaluing him. He is a good player with all the tools to be a big-time receiver. Part of the deal with the TE in the Giants offense is KG and TC are very traditional in their thinking about the tight end. Boss will have a long, productive career with the Giants. As for that other guy, thank God he is gone.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 21, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

pot, ">>>probably has better hands than Shockey..."???

Has way better hands, a baskeball players hands.

by blue gonz on Mar 21, 2009 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

Where did I say he would be a backup??????

actually the whole point I was making is that Boss stays as the #1 TE, and either Nelson or Cook becomes an H-back type, like Cooley or maybe a WR/TE guy that lines up on the outside like Gates.

No where did I say that Boss would ever become the ""backup""" to the new guy.

My bottom line is I want Antonio Gates, since that is impossible, we go for Nelson/Cook. Boss can be a Witten type (sorry for the mention of a Cowgirl, but he is one of the respectable ones) while Cook/Nelson would be the Gates/Cooley and not really have to block and can catch passes.

Boss is the TE, Neslon/Cook the weapon just cuz of athletic ability. Boss will still be a target tho, don’t get that screwed up.

by FreeBradshaw on Mar 21, 2009 7:12 PM EDT reply actions