Vacchiano: DHB is Giants' target

by Ed Valentine on Apr 24, 2009 7:41 AM EDT in New York Giants News

From Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News.

Just because the Giants don't expect to make a trade for Braylon Edwards on Saturday doesn't mean they won't make a deal for a receiver. That's still their intention on Day 1 of the NFL draft.

And their target appears to be Maryland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.

According to two sources familiar with the team's plans, the Giants are looking to trade up in the first round with the hopes of getting into position to draft Heyward-Bey. The 6-2, 210-pounder is one of the fastest receivers in the draft - he once ran a 4.23 in the 40-yard dash - and the Giants view him as the big-play, deep threat they so desperately need now that Plaxico Burress has been released.

DHB has all the tools to become a superstar. But, his college numbers tell you he could also be Tim Carter.

What do you think, Giants' fans? Would this be a good move for GM Jerry Reese to make?

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The Tim Carter analogy is a good one

Todd McShay also compared him to Troy Williamson. Even better. For some reason this pick really scares the hell out of me, especially if they trade assets away to get him.

Homer: Aw, twenty dollars! I wanted a peanut!
Homer's Brain: Twenty dollars can buy many peanuts!
Homer: Explain how!
Homer's Brain: Money can be exchanged for goods and services!
Homer: Woo-hoo!

by bigbluethruandthru on Apr 24, 2009 8:03 AM EDT reply actions

Scares me, too

And I took DHB in the SBN Mock. It’s boom or bust — no middle ground.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 24, 2009 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions

If Reese like him

that’s more than enough to believe in it.

The key thing is for the guy to stay healthy. No one knows how good Carter would have been if he ever stood healthy.

DHB can catch, and he’s obviously got the athletic ability. If Reese trades up for him, a rare occasion for the Giants, you know that he is sold on him. So Id have no problem with this.

And there’s always middle ground. Yea you got guys like Troy Williamson and Robert Meacham, but you also have Bernard Berrian types. He isn’t a star, more like middle of the pack. Is he a deep threat? Hell yea and I’d love to have a Berrian type on the Giants.

The Giants have a possesion guy in Smith, and don’t forget Boss too, he should get some more time. DHB would obviously be the fastest WR on the team, and he’d be a weapon. Maye Gilbride will through out the IHOP menue and acutally place a playbook in his clipboard. Maybe use some imagination with this guy if he’s there.

He doesn’t really have to be a Plaxico double coverage guy. The Giants really don’t have to HIT on this pick, cuz as we all know they are pretty well set right now.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 24, 2009 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions

eh

I hope this is not the case. I’d rather have a guy like Nicks, who we know for sure will produce. DHB seems like a classic combine hype machine. Also, the “draft pick value chart” (whatever that is) reads we’ll have to give up a 1st, 2nd, & 5th for this guy? I know we have plenty of picks to give up, but it still seems like a lot. Can’t we get Edwards for that?

And I’m still buying what a few people are selling here (cj & nyg) … if we are going to trade up in the draft, while not trading for an established WR, then I’d much rather get an impact LB. It’s safer and just makes our D absolutely sick. Let’s bludgeon our opponents to death & our O will still be good enough to win.

by potroast on Apr 24, 2009 8:09 AM EDT reply actions

the idea of “bludegeoning our opponents to death” is a good one

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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 24, 2009 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Bludgeoning

sounds like giants football. Quick, somebody tell Kevin Gilbride! LOL!!

by Ed Valentine on Apr 24, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions

There Ya Go ED!!!!

now doesn’t that feel good????

by NY17NE14 on Apr 24, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

a bizarre thing about that

I was watching something about the divisional round game when the Jags beat the Broncos and Gilbride’s gamepla was to batter the Broncos with Natrone Means and use the play action. If i’m not mistaken, isn’t brandon jacobs a better power runner than Natrone Means?

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Apr 24, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

The Browns want all of those pick

PLUS Kiwi for Edwards. They can go eff themselves. Cutting Plax too soon caused the WR proce to go way up. Let the Giants see what they can do in the draft.

by MJ20 on Apr 24, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

If they want Kiwi too, then forget it.

by potroast on Apr 24, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

no go for DHB

I dont like the movie the giants need a threat NOW not someone to develope braylon is an immediate impact. they have 5 of the top 100 picks, I say bite the bullet send a 1 and 4th rounder for Braylon, then trade some of those other 8 picks to get another 1st round picks and take one of the 1,000 LB’s projected to go 1st round. Big blue hasnt had a true home grown all pro LB since jessie armstead, be4 that it was taylor banks and carson. so lets go big blue suck it up trade for edwards and get yourself a franchise OLB to play aside the ageing leader pierce and the newly signed and stuck with boley.

by squak on Apr 24, 2009 8:51 AM EDT reply actions

Not ready

to bite the bullet just yet. While I would love to have Edwards in blue, I’m not quite ready to overpay. I know Edwards is younger, but Atlanta just picked up 10 time pro bowler Tony Gonzolez for a 2nd rounder next year. I’m pretty sure that Tony has at least 2 more strong years in the tank. As much as I like Edwards, there’s no need to overspend. Cleveland better do something to get something because Edwards walks next year and the Browns will be arsed out. Take the picks JR is offering and unload a guy that doesn’t want to be there in the first place.

by njgiant on Apr 24, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions

ACC Fan

As a Maryland Alum I have had the opportunity to watch DHB often and Nicks to a lesser degree and I can tell you Nicks always had a bigger impact than DHB…better routes, better hands, better down field blocker, and more willing to go across the middle…DHB on the other hand is much faster and taller…If I were in charge I would pick Nicks in a heart beat over DHB…however i don’t know the G’int coaches and if they could correct DHB’s weaknesses to bring those skills up to Nick’s level…the nice thing about Nicks is you wouldn’t have to give up much if anything to get him..With all the good receivers available in this draft i wouldn’t give up anything to take a risk on DHB who could be the next Rocky Thompson.

by dalelama on Apr 24, 2009 8:57 AM EDT reply actions

DHB

I can’t see why they can’t wait until 29. Nicks may be there. Why give up so much. Is DHB that much better than Nicks. Everyone has Crabtree and Maclin and then the rest.

by dram57 on Apr 24, 2009 9:23 AM EDT reply actions

If Jerry Reese is the GM we think he is, he isn’t going to pick a receiver based on his 40 time. There are about a dozen WR who were more productive than Hey-Bey was. This isn’t a track team we are building.

by XLII on Apr 24, 2009 9:28 AM EDT reply actions

Smokescreen?

First it’s Nicks, now it’s DHB? Who’s next, Maclin? It seems like these media outlets throw stories out there whether they’re factual or speculative and then some have to retract them!

But for what it’s worth, IMO, i’d be willing to give Cleveland a 1st, 3rd and a 5th for BE. It would be better than giving up more presumably, if they would go (way) up. Why give up more for a (potential bust) rookie, than an already established player? Were not going to find BE at #29, so let’s not reach for an unknown.

But, we probably can have BE, if JR would just give up the #29 lol!!!

by Hootman on Apr 24, 2009 9:32 AM EDT reply actions

Speculation

That’s all it is at this point. At least it gives us something to talk about.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 24, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I disagree

Braylon Edwards isn’t worth all of the talent we can pick up with those picks. Think about this— would you rather have Braylon Edwards than Aaron Ross, Jay Alford, and Kevin Boss? I know I wouldn’t. I prefer not to pick up overpriced free agents and to build through the draft and strategic FA signings exactly like we did this offseason. In my opinion, we’ve had the best offseason signings of any team in the NFL.

by mahmoodzaky on Apr 24, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

All true

Except we have 10 picks. 10 rookies even for depth will not make the roster.

If we lose 3 picks in a trade, we would still have 7 left over to build up the roster and the practice squad.

by Woogie526 on Apr 24, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

it's a different situation though

we already have Aaron Ross, Jay Alford, and Kevin Boss. We have a very solid, fairly young team and there’s not a lot of spots left open to fill up with players from this draft. One spot that is open is #1 WR, and I don’t think we’re going to get someone who’s ready for that role next season in this draft. Here’s a better scenario:

pretend that in 2003 we lost one extra game and had the #1 overall pick, so we didn’t have to make any trades to get Eli. Then, after the 2004 season, Plax wasn’t a free agent but the Steelers made it known they wanted to trade him, so the Giants decided to package their 1st and 5th round picks that they didn’t have to trade for Eli to the Steelers for Burress. Would you have objected to that? The Giants still ended up having a fantastic draft that year, taking Justin Tuck, Brandon Jacobs, and Corey Webster, even without 3 picks (they also gave up a pick to Tampa, not sure who that was for). And in that draft they weren’t coming in with 10 picks.

by cjmulrain on Apr 24, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah I know what you mean

But you’re talking about 2 picks for Plax, and 3 for Braylon Edwards. Arguably, in the situation you described, if we hadn’t traded for Plax we would have Merriman on our team right now, a much better Maryland product than DHB… but I would have gladly given up that pick and the round 5 for Plax. I just don’t think Braylon Edwards is worth a first third and fifth.

by mahmoodzaky on Apr 24, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe

They’ll figure out something over this year’s draft and next year’s

2 picks this year, and a late rounder in 2010

by Woogie526 on Apr 24, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Too much

to give up for Edwards. If we give up this much, let’s just ask for their #5 and take a LB and take a WR in the 2nd round.

by njgiant on Apr 24, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

DHB

I’m not sold on this kid as a future #1 receiver and if you are moving up in the first round of the NFL draft to select a WR he better be a can’t miss prospect and I don’t see that with him. I much rather have Hakeem Nicks who is physical, fast and has great hands. He can be as productive as Toomer over time who was that type of player. Heyward-Bey has questionable hands and isn’t physical. He’ll get pushed around the field in the NFL. I think this is a HUGE mistake if they pick him.

by Blueshirt on Apr 24, 2009 9:34 AM EDT reply actions

A little scared

I am a little scared that the Giants would depend on a Rookie WR to make a significant impact on our passing game. History is not on our side. Look at the WR drafted in the first 3 rounds by the Gmen over the last 10 years.

This is from the NY post:
Reese has been involved with the scouting department since 1994, and in that span 10 times the Giants used picks in the first three rounds to draft receivers: Thomas Lewis, Amani Toomer, Ike Hilliard, Brian Alford, Joe Jurevicius, Ron Dixon, Tim Carter, Sinorice Moss, Steve Smith and, most recently, Mario Manningham last year.

The most productive rookie season in that group? Jurevicius with nine catches for 146 yards in 1998.

no doubt DHB has speed. So does sinorice moss. So did Tim Carter. But it is boom or bust and that is an awfully big gamble for the middle of the first round. DHB’s numbers were not great at Maryland and Hakeen nicks’ number are much better playing against the same competition.

if the Giants were to trade up into the middle of the first round I would rather them pick one of the linebackers, Clay Matthews, Brian Cushing or Rey Maualuga.

if you are going to gamble, gamble on someone like Demetrius Byrd from LSU in the second round or Ramses Barden in the third.

just my thoughts…

your thoughts?

by jiminjersey on Apr 24, 2009 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

Byrd

was just in a pretty serious car accident, so I don’t know if he’s even gonna get drafted. Wouldn’t mind seeing the Giants take a chance on him in like the 7th or signing him as an FA though, b/c if he gets healthy enough to play again that could be a great value.

by cjmulrain on Apr 24, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Speculation

I just hope that’s all it is, talk. It’s not fun to speculate when your giving up picks for a player being compared to Williamson! But it would be fun to speculate getting one of those Defensive beast so the Giants can bludgeon the opposing Offense! lol

by Hootman on Apr 24, 2009 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

I'm not really concerned because

1. We have a lot of draft picks so we have a wide margin of error
2. The draft doesn’t really begin until the 2nd round, the 1st round is really for the fans
3. Even after the draft is over there’s still going to be hundreds of undrafted players left
4. There’s still a chance to pick up veterans once rosters start getting trimmed
5. In Reese we trust

by John W on Apr 24, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

Agree with all your points, but ....

I would hate to use that valuable first round pick on a player that has so much downside, when there will be clear options that can provide both immediate and long term benefits with much less risk. DHB is not such a unique talent that he’s worth a first round gamble. I’ve been a huge advocate of waiting til the second round to take a receiver — even DHB, and to use that first round pick for a linebacker or quality O-line depth. I keep thinking about Thomas Lewis, Tim Carter , Ron Dixon and even Sinorice Moss. As good as we’ve been at judging talent at almost every other position, our record on picking receivers has been pretty poor, with Steve Smith being the only recent exception.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Apr 24, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Well

We did sign Hixon off of Denver’s practice squad, and we don’t know yet about Manningham. I still think he was a steal in the third round and can be our #1 receiver this year or next.

by mahmoodzaky on Apr 24, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

not enough roster spots

not sure. Why take a huge gamble with your first round pick? The giants don’t have a lot of roster spots. They already have 10 draft picks and it isn’t likely that all of our draft picks will make the roster. The odds of someone not drafted making the roster is even smaller.

That being said I have faith in Reese. He will do the right thing.

by jiminjersey on Apr 24, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

No thank you.

I really don’t think that anyone on the Giants expects DHB to contribute right away, and picking him in the first-round is so uncustomary for Jerry Reese to do since he became GM. I see him trading our two second round picks for a spot in the mid-first round and drafting Malaluaga (… butchered that) or Cushing, and if they’re off the board, then Laurinaitis because he will surely be gone by our pick otherwise… if he drops to the Falcons at pick 24, he’s gone. So in this scenario, we get our LB, and then with our late first round pick we can pick up Hakeem Nicks. Nicks has better numbers in the ACC than DHB has. I just don’t see why we would think of drafting DHB over him. I think we follow the blueprint, use our first pick on D, and take care of receiver and RB later on.

by mahmoodzaky on Apr 24, 2009 10:06 AM EDT reply actions

Draft Plans

The Giants are trading for Boldin. No wait, the Giants are trading for Edwards. Wait, no they’re not. I mean yes they are.
This is rediculous.
The giants will likely draft Offensive line and linebacker early in the draft.
They will trade for Edwards during the draft. They will trade a 2 and a 4 or something along those lines.
Statistically, the first 4 years of Edwards’ career is almost identical to the first 4 years of Plaxico’s career (except of course, the drops).
Expect the next 4 years of Edwards’ career with the Giants to go similarly to Plaxico’s. He will be a pro-bowler, a superbowl winner, and he will inadvertently shoot himself in the leg in a NYC nightclub in the year 2013.
Boldin has a few intangibles (blocking). But for how ‘tough’ he is, he certainly gets injured a lot.
The Giants are fine even if they don’t address the WR position. They certainly don’t need to draft one. Isn’t this why they’ve spent a #2 on Smith, a # 2 on Moss, and an #3 on Manningham, as well as a waiver on Hixon? How is Kenny Britt the answer, and not Smith, Moss, Manningham, or Hixon. They need depth, that’s all.
Like I said, they will draft Offensive Line, and Linebacker. Defensive Backfield depth as well. They won’t ‘trade up’. They will trade picks for Edwards or trade picks for 2010 picks.

by pataroons on Apr 24, 2009 10:14 AM EDT reply actions

More interesting

Is that Tony G only went for a 2nd round pick, in next year’s draft. That is a steal I think.

by Woogie526 on Apr 24, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

Completely agree. Wonder if the Giants were ever involved in those talks?

by lizard on Apr 24, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

i still

would try a first and third for braylon

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Apr 24, 2009 10:40 AM EDT reply actions

and

draft Ramses in the third round for developmental purposes.. possibly trade up to further in the 3rd round

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Apr 24, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Ramses...

is a beast. 6’6’ and good 40 time. plus he dominated in college… (even though he wasn’t necessarily ‘NFL tested’). I hope they get him.

by NYG 28 on Apr 24, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

It's one thing to have trust in Jerry Reese

but I think that when it comes to WR’s, you can watch every snap a prospect has ever played and be a skilled evaluator, and it’s still a coin toss whether he’s is going to pan out (unless he’s a freak of nature like Calvin Johnson) – especially by someone like Heyward-Bay who has obvious question marks. If he tums out to be a star, the GM who chose him isn’t as genius and if he’s a bust, the GM isn’t an idiot, it’s mostly the luck of the draw in whether the guy you picked happens to develop as you think he might be able to. At least with Edwards, his skills and flaws have been shown on the pro level.

by Mount17 on Apr 24, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions