The Super Bowl XLII champions look at this weekend's draft to stock up on new young talent and make another run at the NFC championship and the Super Bowl.
Last year the Giants had one of the most successful drafts in recent history.
Their first round pick was Texas's Aaron Ross, who became a starter and did a nice job in the Super Bowl, covering Randy Moss.
In the second round they picked USC's Steve Smith, who until the playoffs did not show that he could legitimate threat. In the Super Bowl win though, he made a 3rd and 11 catch to move the chains for the final time before Manning found Burress for the game-winning touchdown.
The third round saw them take Penn State's Jay Alford, who sacked Tom Brady on the Patriots' final drive.
All of their draft picks and free agent rookie Michael Matthews played in every playoff game.
The sixth round saw them take Kevin Boss out of Division-II Western Oregon.
The Giants drafted from traditional football factories such as Texas and USC, but also had great scouting to find players like Boss and fifth round pick Zack DeOssie.
In the seventh round the Giants found RB Ahmad Bradshaw who quickly became admired by Big Blue nation for his grit and break-away speed. They also found Michael Johnson who started some games at safety due to injuries and contributed on special teams.
The question for this draft with the 31st overall pick: what is the route to take?
The Giants have very little pressing needs at any position. In the secondary though, Madison and Mcquarters are getting older and recent signee Sammy Knight is a veteran as well. The Giants could go after Miami safety Kenny Phillips, who was an All-American but is not considered to be in the same class as Miami safetys in the past including Ed Reed, Branden Merriweather and the late Sean Taylor.
Phillips has the measureables and could definitely compete with Knight and with 2007 seventh round pick Michael Johnson. Phillips though may not have the cover skills that are necessary to keep up with the Giants blitz packages. If available at pick 31, Phillips should be the guy, because at this stage in the draft it makes sense to take the best player on the board.
Another possible need that the Giants have is to add depth at the linebacker position. At middle linebacker, Antonio Pierce possesses intagibles like no other mike linebacker in football because of his pre-snap reads and leadership.
The outside linebacker spot though is very open. With last seasons free-agent bargain pick-up Kawika Mitchell headed to Buffalo on a lucrative free agent deal, the Giants could use another play-making linebacker. If Dan Connor is available, he will be the guy for the Giants. Connor played for Penn State, commonly known as "Linebacker U", and broke the school record for most tackles in a career.
The Giants could use a cornerback with their first round pick. At this point, Leodis Mckelvin, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Mike Jenkins will likely be off the board. The Giants would love to see Aqib Talib fall all the way down to 31 but the chances of that are unlikely.
10 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Jeremy McNish about 1 year ago
The Giants have 0% chance of winning back to back titles. I picked the Giants to beat the Patriots, but that was just as a favor, they have no chance at all at returning as NFL Champions. Yhey just don't have what it tkes to do it again, they are not that type of team.. it takes dominance.
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Brendan Majev about 1 year ago
I would say the Giants have a slim chance of repeating. They just aren't that good.
But having said that Eli did play reasonably well. We'll see.
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Michael Schlossberg about 1 year ago
As a die heart Giants fans I realistically think in today's NFL it takes PASS RUSH to win. The Giants have a TEAM as well.
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Justin Damasiewicz about 1 year ago
It's stupid to say that the Giants have no chance of repeating. Most people gave them no chance of winning it all going into the playoffs last year, but they did. It wasn't until the Super Bowl that people started jumping on the bandwagon. Of course they have a chance...I wouldn't pick them, but they have a good core of players that works well together and good leadership at the quarterback position.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
If Eli hits the open man..they will repeat.
So far - he has not done that. After all they've been through, he is still too inconsistent for my liking.
When I see him do it week in and week out, then I will say this Giants team is a serious contender.
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Nick Condit about 1 year ago
and what do you mean serious contender? they just won the super bowl they're not contenders they're champs.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
I meant...winning 12-13 games and gaining the home field for the playoffs
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Nick Condit about 1 year ago
Nice article. It's all up to Eli, but if the giants play like they did in the playoffs they sure can repeat.
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Jason Siesser about 1 year ago
This article was quite funny. I had to stop reading it was making me laugh too hard. I got a laugh out of the Steve Smith completion comment. I know I am going to sound like someone with sour grapes but did you notice the push-off? Oh well. The Giants are the Super Bowl Champions. So were the Steelers. I would hazzard to guess that you are about to see Cindrella the day after the big ball. It won't be pretty. Giants won't even make the playoffs. The Cowboys and Packers will be in the NFC championship game.
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Rick about 1 year ago
Great post. Very informative. You have my vote for rookie of the year. Are you Mike from Arizona on WFAN insomniac hours? Very similar styles. How about a rundown on the Jets draft? Also, prospects for Ohio State players.
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