2013 NFL Draft

New York Giants' 2013 Depth Chart: Defensive tackle analysis

Despite the moves they have made in free agency do the New York Giants need even more help at defensive tackle?

By Ed Valentine@Valentine_Ed Apr 10, 2013, 9:00am EDT

Tuesday we began a pre-2013 NFL Draft position-by-position analysis of the New York Giants with a look at the defensive tackle depth chart. Today we move to the defensive tackle position.

Depth Chart

Position	Player 1	Player 2	Player 3	Player 4
LDT	Linval Joseph	Shaun Rogers	Bobby Skinner
RDT	Cullen Jenkins	Mike Patterson	Markus Kuhn	Marvin Austin

Off-season Moves

Having not been satisfied with their run defense last season -- or even the season before, truthfully -- the Giants have been more active this off-season in turning over their personnel at defensive tackle than they have at any other position. The Giants said goodbye to veteran Chris Canty in a salary cap move. They added veterans Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson, both formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles. They also brought back Shaun Rogers, the massive veteran who spent last season on IR with a blood clot in his leg.

[Big Blue View Draft Hub | Mocking The Draft]

Draft Possibilities

Could the Giants be in the market for more help at defensive tackle despite all the veterans they have added in free agency? How you answer that question depends on what they think of youngsters Marvin Austin and Markus Kuhn, especially Austin, the 2011 second-round pick who has yet to show anything at the NFL level.

There are as many as eight defensive tackles considered first-round possibilities, depending on which draft big boards you pay attention to. CBS Sports lists 10 defensive tackles with third-round or higher grades. NFL.com lists 11 in that category. So, the early part of the draft is deep at tackle if the Giants want to pursue one.

In the SB Nation Writer's Mock Draft I chose Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. I wrote that Richardson "should anchor the middle of the Giants’ defensive line for years to come."

Here is part of what Jesse wrote in his Richardson prospect profile:

Defensive tackles who are as athletic and productive as he is (75 tackles, 10.5 for loss, 4 sacks) don't come around all that often. Gerald McCoy, Fletcher Cox, Cullen Jenkins, Henry Melton are a few players he has been compared to because of his unique straight line speed and agility. Richardson will likely be considered heavily by any team picking out of the top five and a player who should only continue to get better with more coaching.