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2016 NFL Draft: Giants' Jerry Reese watches Leonard Floyd; Tyler Matakevich to visit

The Giants' general manager doesn't make it to many pro days, but when he does it usually means they are interested.

By Chris Pflum
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

"I'll believe it when I see it."

That's the general attitude most New York Giants fans have toward general manager Jerry Reese taking a linebacker high in the draft. Of course, before the 2013 draft it was believed that the Giants wouldn't draft an in the first round because they hadn't invested much draft capital in the offensive line.

They have drafted an offensive lineman highly each year since.

Considering the state of the Giants' linebacking corps, any news regarding interest in linebackers in the draft should get people's attention, and Wednesday to be a big day for linebacker news.

First we received word that the Giants have scheduled a private workout with Temple' Tyler Matakevich.

Matakevich was one of the most productive linebackers in college football history, being one of the few to notch over 100 tackles each of his four years at Temple. That production is in spite of being slightly undersized at 6 foot 1 inch, 232 pounds, and athletically limited, but is a testament to his high football IQ, impressive instincts, and work ethic.

Later Wednesday reports indicated that GM Jerry Reese, Marc Ross (Vice President of Player Evaluation), and new linebackers' coach Bill McGovern were all on hand to evaluate outside linebacker Leonard Floyd at the Georgia Pro Day. The 6-6, 244-pound linebacker was one of the most explosive linebackers at the Scouting Combine. Coming out of college, Floyd was one of the top pass rushers in the SEC, and showed his versatility and ability to play in space in 2015.

Though he got his start with the Giants as a scout, Jerry Reese doesn't have the time to attend many pro days. However when he does, it usually indicates significant interest on the Giants' part. He attended the LSU Pro Day in 2014 and the Miami pro day in 2015. Both years the Giants eventually selected a player from those schools in the first round (Odell Beckham Jr. and Ereck Flowers).

This doesn't necessarily mean that Floyd will be the Giants' pick, but he certainly bears watching.

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