First real look at the Giants' draft needs

by ETVal on Mar 17, 2008 9:16 AM EDT in News

Let's talk NFL Draft.

With the re-signing of running back Derrick Ward, and the additions of quarterback David Carr and linebacker Danny Clark you have to think the Giants are done in free agency. That means the team the Giants have today is the one they will enter the April 26-27 draft with.

I'm not going to do a position-by-position team analysis. Instead, I'll just quickly summarize what I see as need areas.

Defense

Despite how well the defense played in the Giants run to the Super Bowl championship, there is little question that shoring up this side of the football must be the focus of this draft.

There are glaring needs at safety, cornerback and linebacker. Defensive tackle is a lesser priority, but an area that could use help.

At safety, the Giants have James Butler and Sammy Knight, who are largely placeholders. They also have the still unproven Michael Johnson, and that's it. A safety in the early rounds is a must.

At corner, the Giants have last year's top pick, Aaron Ross, and a slew of question marks. How much do Sam Madison and RW McQuarters have left in the tank. Will the playoff version of Corey Webster show up this season, or will he revert to his earlier unimpressive form? Can Kevin Dockery or Geoffrey Pope be counted on?

At linebacker, the Giants lost two -- Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor -- to free agency, and signed one -- Danny Clark. They think Gerris Wilkinson and Mathias Kiwanuka can handle those outside spots flanking Antonio Pierce, but a big-time playmaking linebacker would be a nice addition. The Giants at least need to add some depth here.

The Giants are decent at defensive tackle with Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield and Jay Alford, but none of those players is a big-time run stuffer. If GM Jerry Reese can find one he should grab him.

Offense

Not a lot of needs here, with Ward returning to provide backfield depth and Carr in the fold to provide depth behind Eli Manning.

Two areas I would not be surprised to see the Giants address, though, are wide receiver and the offensive line.

Steve Smith, last year's second-round pick, is going to be a quality player. Amani Toomer is nearing the end of his career, though, and we still aren't sure what to make of Sinorice Moss. Oh, and despite his great Super Bowl catch David Tyree has never been able to grab a job as a consistent part of the offense. So, snagging a wide receiver in the middle to late rounds would not surprise me.

As for the offensive line, there are no obvious needs. Former GM George Young always used to grab big, unpolished lineman in the middle rounds, though, and Reese has a lot of Young in him. You can never have enough of those big studs on the line, so I would think Reese will try to add some depth here.

We will discuss the draft much more during the next several weeks. We will delve into specific draft resources and focus as much as we can on guys who the Giants might be targeting.

For now, what are your thoughts on the need areas I have laid out?

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Comments

Bullseye, Ed

The defensive backfield has been my concern for quite a while, particularly safety. I have a real appetite for a receiver who can stretch the field, but recognize it's way down the list of priorities. As for linemen, you can never have a big enough collection of elephants. That's the way we overpowered (bullied?) other teams when Parcells coached.

by george cronin on Mar 17, 2008 10:33 AM EDT 0 recs

Do you live inside my head?

Christ, it would be nice if just once I could seriously disagree with you, Utopia sucks!

I think safety is a priority. I think it would help the CBs tremendously if there was a safety back there who was capable of pulverizing a WR. I like what I have seen of Michael Johnson, but he needs more seasoning. Butler stinks, plain and simple. I am a little concerned about Sammy Knight, because the word on the street is that he has lost that dreaded step, combined with Madison it could be trouble if the Giants pass rush is off its game

I think Webster has turned the "corner" (pun intended), I think the Giants will be ok there

LB is an area of concern as well, I expect Safety-LB to be 1st and 2nd round, not necessarily in that order

DT doesn't really worry me, DT's are a dime a dozen, and since the Giants often only use one, I think Robbins and Cofield will be just fine

Offensively, have the Giants ever entered a draft without a possible need at WR? Sinorice Moss, the bell tolls for thee....Either turn it around, or join Brian Alford, Ron Dixon, Johnathan Carter, Kevin Walters, Jamaar Taylor, and Daryl Jones over there on the pile

Also, if another "Kevin Boss" type is laying around in the middle or later round, don't be surprised if the Giants grab him. I am not yet buying all the "Shockeys our guy" talk, and I can't help but think they are at least preparing for the possibility of a Shockey-less future

And for God sakes, get a QB, that Eli will never be like his brother!

by jrs1940 on Mar 17, 2008 11:16 AM EDT 0 recs

Inside your head

Now I am very, very scared.

by ETVal on Mar 17, 2008 11:41 AM EDT up 0 recs

The reality is

if you follow the Giants with any degree of regularity, as we do here, I don't think it's all that difficult to recognize where the Giants could use help the most. I would be surprised if there was much argument with the assertion that the priority should be on the defensive side of the ball.

by ETVal on Mar 17, 2008 11:43 AM EDT up 0 recs

You're dead on concerning Shock,, Jr,

particularly since we can't know how he'll recover from his broken leg. The broken foot certainly slowed took away some of his effectiveness running with the ball. Broken legs aren't the easiest injuries to overcome, which gives us two other guys to keep an eye on: Ward and Kiwi. How will they perform?
Keep your fingers crossed.

by george cronin on Mar 17, 2008 1:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

Carter

Don't forget the other useless Carter, Tim Carter. I think it was Jonathan though that tore is quad standing still on the line of scrimage

by queler on Mar 18, 2008 6:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm going against the grain

and hoping for a LB in the first round. I would like to see more speed out of that position. I'm also concerned about DT, but I could see that as a 3rd rd selection. I've heard the corner position is deep in this year's draft, so hopefully a talented prospect will fall to the team in the late rounds and he can spend a year or two learning his position in the NFL.

by rzor on Mar 17, 2008 11:43 AM EDT 0 recs

Grain

Actually, if you follow the mock drafts, there are a great many prognosticators who agree with you that the Giants will go LB first. I'm not sure. I think it depends on who falls to them.

by ETVal on Mar 17, 2008 11:44 AM EDT up 0 recs

I just read one

Forget who did it, had us picking Dan Connor, linebacker from Penn State, husband of Roseanne Connor, father of Becky, Darlene, and DJ

by jrs1940 on Mar 17, 2008 2:04 PM EDT 0 recs

Mocks

I will go through a bunch of them in the next few weeks and do lots of profiles on guys who are mentioned as possible Giants' picks.

by ETVal on Mar 17, 2008 2:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

looks like CB and LB

are the most obvious needs. havent been reading enough mock drafts yet to see who might be available. hopefully the team trusts steve smith enough to develop and we dont have to use yet another second round pick on a WR. It would be nice if we could focus on D and just maybe at a little depth at OL later on in the draft.

by DieEaglesDie on Mar 17, 2008 3:44 PM EDT 0 recs

Best available athlete

Considering the Giants will draft after everyone else has in every round (how good does it feel to say that), I'd have to say best available athlete is the way to go. But there are a few position I wouldn't draft: TE, QB, and RB. Everything else is fair game, including, defensive end. I'm old school, and feel you can never have enough defense so obviously corner/safety are at the top of my list, but I wouldn't reach to fill need. I would also like to see another prospect at LB in case Gerris doesn't quite pan out.

www.billkohut.com

by bk0831 on Mar 17, 2008 3:46 PM EDT 0 recs

Defense

Yes, defense is the priority. I would hate to see an early pick used on a DE, though. I think there are other needs that have to be addressed.

by ETVal on Mar 17, 2008 4:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

we were all....

including myself, dissapointed when Kiwi was drafted, correct?? And remember, we had Strahan, Osi, and Tuck all on the roster and all healthy. Not saying DE is a priority, but don't be surprised if we do indeed take one.

www.billkohut.com

by bk0831 on Mar 17, 2008 5:13 PM EDT 0 recs

Hard hitting safety

we need one like Sean Williams was at the beginning of his carreer. I wasn't Wilsons biggest fan but we could be in trouble here. Craig Dahl seems to hit like a truck but, was not the most natural looking out there. This seems like a number one priority especially if....
The playoff resurection of C. Webster is for real. This would be like the Giants hitting the lottery if his new form stays intact....Spagnuolo could be good for this guy.
George Youngs philosophy that there are only so many huge men who are somewhat agile on the entire planet should be gospel for any GM. Our offensive line last year really could have been the best in the past 40 years but, you can never have too many.

by big blue wrecking crew on Mar 17, 2008 5:52 PM EDT 0 recs