New York Giants 7-Round Mock Draft After Start of Free Agency

Just like that, the first wave of free agency has come and gone, with the New York Giants—big headline-makers for spending almost $200 million to fix their defense a year ago—barely creating a ripple.

You can thank the lack of salary-cap space the Giants had entering the free-agency period, estimated to be under $35 million, for that. Of that space, they had to devote nearly $17 million to the non-exclusive franchise tender for defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul which halved their already small amount.

So, what exactly did the Giants manage to accomplish in the first wave of free agency?

They added a big receiving threat in former New York Jets star Brandon Marshall. They took on another reclamation project in former Chargers offensive lineman D.J. Fluker, a 2013 first-round draft pick, and they added a blocking tight end, Rhett Ellison, to help restore the power-running game's teeth.

There is still a lot of work to be done, which is where the NFL draft is going to come in handy. The draft is pretty much loaded in most of the spots where the Giants need immediate help, such as a receiving tight end, running back, linebacker, and defensive end.

With that said, here is an updated seven-round mock draft based on the Giants remaining needs.

Round 1: DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee

In 2007 (Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck) and 2011 (Umenyiora, Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul), the Giants had a solid three-headed monster at defensive end which was paramount to their winning the Super Bowl in those years.

Currently, they have two beasts in Olivier Vernon and Pierre-Paul, the latter of whom was franchised which should ensure he plays with the Giants in 2017.

However, they don't really have a solid third option, as they found out last year when Pierre-Paul went down and guys like Owa Odighizuwa, Romeo Okwara and Kerry Wynn flashed but not consistently.

Tennessee's Derek Barnett (6'3", 259 pounds), doesn't quite fit the Giants' prototype for size, but his production and skill set could make him the missing piece of the puzzle if he somehow falls to them at 23, or at the very least falls low enough to where if they wanted to move up to get him.

The Giants love their pass-rushers, and Barnett—who is a fit for the scheme the Giants run—has recorded double-digit sacks in each of the last three seasons, while logging no fewer than 40 quarterback hurries over the last two years.  

Lest anyone think Barnett is a one-trick pony, he's also been a beast against the run, recording 38 stops for zero or negative yardage in each of the last two years.

NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein notes that Barnett is also versatile enough to line up as a potential outside linebacker in sub-packages, something that might also appeal to the Giants if they continue to move strong-side linebacker Devon Kennard to defensive tackle as they did with success last year.

Round 2: OT Taylor Moton, Western Michigan

The Giants might have added free-agent offensive guard/tackle D.J. Fluker, but that doesn't mean their offensive line issues are solved. 

Although Fluker, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN, is expected to be in the mix at right guard, that's not to say things won't change down the line as the Giants add more pieces to the offensive line puzzle. 

Currently at right tackle, the Giants have incumbent Bobby Hart, who last year stepped in for the now departed Marshall Newhouse (Oakland) when the older veteran missed time due to a calf injury.

If the Giants can't pick up another offensive tackle prospect in free agency—and right now the pickings seem extremely slim—they could have Fluker compete with Hart at right tackle and look to plug in a draft prospect such as Western Michigan's Taylor Moton (6'5", 319 pounds) at right guard.

Moton has played both guard and tackle in college, but he appears to be more of a fit at guard, according to Zierlein, who quoted an unnamed area scout for an NFC team as having the following opinion of the 22-year-old: "Big and strong as a guard. He was moving guys from Ohio State around like it was nothing."

Zierlein also opined that Moton might be an ideal fit for a power-based scheme, which looks to be the direction the Giants are looking to take for the coming year after suffering with a struggling running game.

Round 3: TE Jordan Leggett, Clemson

Thanks to the depth in the tight end class as well as their signing of fullback/tight end Rhett Ellison (a blocker), the Giants' need at tight end shifts toward someone who can challenge Will Tye as the primary pass receiver.

Clemson's Jordan Leggett, 6'5", 258 pounds, has the size and the skill—he was a receiver in high school—to be that threat in the passing game.

Per Zierlein, Leggett has lined up in-line—from the slot and out of the backfield—and is a natural pass catcher who posted just two dropped passes in his final two seasons.

Per Pro Football Focus, Leggett's 16.0 yards per reception is the third-best (ahead of O.J. Howard's 13.2 yard per catch) among draft-eligible tight ends who were involved in at least 75 percent of their team's passing plays in 2016. The 22-year-old also averaged a robust 7.4 yards after the catch, second-best among the same sample group.

The lone red flag concerning Leggett, according to Zierlein, is the young man's motor, which he notes leaves "a lot to be desired."

If Leggett comes in ready to put his nose to the grindstone and to work at his craft, he could well turn into a tremendous value pick in the third round.

Round 4: RB Wayne Gallman, Clemson

Giants fans who long for the days of "Earth, Wind and Fire" might have reason to get excited if they select Clemson running back Wayne Gallman (6'0", 215 pounds). 

Gallman is a big physical downhill runner, who has averaged 3.0 yards per carry after contact over the last three years, with almost 60 percent of his rushing yardage over the last three seasons (2,034 yards) coming after contact.

Gallman is also reliable coming out of the backfield, having caught 81.5 percent of his pass targets (66 of 81) over the last three seasons for 454 yards and just five dropped balls over that span.

The possibility of pairing power runner Gallman with the quick-twitched Paul Perkins could be just the combination to help restore the Giants' underperforming running game to respectability.

Round 5: OLB Elijah Lee, Kansas State

With starting weak-side linebacker Jonathan Casillas and starting strong-side linebacker Devon Kennard both set to be unrestricted free agents in 2018, the Giants might want to think about restocking the cupboard now with a potential replacement in case either of those two isn't back.

Kansas State's Elijah Lee, 6'3", 228 pounds, might be a potential fit to provide depth this year with an eye toward a starting role next year.

The junior-eligible, who was not part of the combine, started 13 games for the Wildcats in 2016, leading the team with 110 tackles (including  6.5 tackles for a loss). He also recorded 1.5 sacks and two interceptions, earning First Team All-Big 12 honors.

In coverage, Lee showed improvement in each of his three seasons at Kansas State. Per Pro Football Focus, he went from a 112.5 NFL rating in 2014 to a 90.4 rating in 2016, allowing just one touchdown last season while breaking up two passes and intercepting two. 

Lee would be a bit of a project given he comes from a 3-4 system, but again, with the veterans in front of him, the Giants and Lee have the luxury of letting him develop as he adjusts to the 4-3 base.

Round 6: CB Nate Hairston, Temple

The Giants have yet to address their cornerback position, where Coty Sensabaugh, Leon Hall and Trevin Wade are all unrestricted free agents.

Figure of those three, at least one will be back (Sensabaugh makes the most sense) to be the No. 4 cornerback behind Janoris Jenkins, Eli Apple and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

If the Giants are interested in developing a cornerback prospect said to have promise but still a bit on the raw side, Temple's Nate Hairston, 6'0", 196 pounds, might be worth taking a flyer on.

Hairston has only one year as a starter, that in 2016, but it was a productive one. He allowed 57.8 percent of the pass targets against him to be completed for 273 yards, and no touchdowns. He also came up with two interceptions while knocking down three passes to earn a 57.0 NFL rating.

Zierlein summarizes Hairston as a "raw but very moldable prospect" whose man-to-man coverage skills are still a work in progress, but who right now is a good fit for zone coverage.

With additional development and a chance to contribute minimally, Hairston has the tools to develop into a complete cornerback.

Round 7: WR Jalen Robinette, Air Force

Although the Giants signed 6'4" receiver Brandon Marshall, they might want to add another big receiving target for a year or two down the line.

One such prospect who might be a fit is Air Force's Jalen Robinette, 6'3", 220 pounds. Much of his experience has come as an outside receiver where he has mainly run straight-line routes.

Over the last three seasons, Robinette has never cracked 1,000 yards receiving—he came close in 2016 when he logged 970 yards on 37 receptions. Zierlein notes that his route running is "extremely raw" given Air Force's option-based attack.

With a chance to develop behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Marshall, Robinette—who would probably cut his NFL teeth playing on special teams—would no doubt benefit from a redshirt rookie season that will allow him the opportunity to refine his route running.

Unless otherwise noted, all advanced analytics are from Pro Football Focus and all draft prospects' heights and weights, and analysis are from NFL.com's Combine section. 

Patricia Traina covers the New York Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.