2012 NFL Draft: 5 Offensive Playmakers New York Giants Could Take with 32nd Pick

Offense spearheaded the New York Giants' march to victory in Super Bowl 46. The unit has become the driving force of the team, but has taken some hits this offseason.

Title-game hero Mario Manningham departed to the San Francisco 49ers in free agency, along with power back Brandon Jacobs. Injuries to tight ends Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum and running back Ahmad Bradshaw have further depleted Big Blue's attack.

Adding an impact playmaker with the draft's 32nd pick could be the best way for Jerry Reese to ensure the offense remains strong enough to lead a title defense. Players like Washington Huskies running back Chris Polk and Stanford tight end Coby Fleener are among the best candidates worthy of consideration.

Here are five playmakers who would maintain the high-scoring capability of the Giants offense and be well worth the 32nd pick.

1. Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Fleener is the kind of complete tight end the Giants have lacked since the days of the great Mark Bavaro. The Stanford ace offers all the attributes to be a matchup nightmare for modern NFL defenses.

Offering a rare combination of prototype size and outstanding athleticism, Fleener is a multifaceted weapon who would thrive immediately in tandem with Eli Manning.

The 6'6", 247 pounder has soft hands, runs intelligent pass patterns and has an excellent understanding of how to exploit coverage schemes. Fleener's deceptive speed and innate playmaking tendencies allow him to overwhelm linebackers underneath and even outrun safeties vertically, on deep hook-and-curl routes.

Inserting Fleener into the Giants' pass attack would open up even more space for Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. Fleener has the skill set to demand safety attention, which would create more one-on-one coverage on the outside.

2. Doug Martin, RB, Boise State

Martin would bring genuine big-play capability back to the Giants' rushing attack. The Boise State star has the speed and versatility to expand the playbook and improve the yards-per-carry average of 2011's 32nd-ranked ground game.

A shifty and elusive runner with deceptive power, Martin is a threat to break a long gain at any time. He also possesses top-notch skills as a receiver, putting him ahead of the current members of Big Blue's backfield.

With his quick, slashing style and ability to operate as a pass-catcher from multiple positions, Martin would pose a danger no defense could afford to ignore. Martin's talent might even encourage the G-Men to abandon their rotation approach and trust him to be the every-down back his skill set indicates he can be.

3. Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

Allen just might be a better natural fit for the Giants offense than the more well-rounded Fleener. The Clemson product should receive long consideration from the Giants front office for the 32nd pick.

A clean and rangy pass-catcher, Allen has excellent speed for his size and is a dynamic weapon in the underneath passing game. As this video shows, he is particularly effective when sneaking off or through the line of scrimmage on screen and flat patterns.

This should appeal to coordinator Kevin Gilbride, who has used middle screens most of his career. He utilised former Giant Pete Mitchell very effectively this way, when the two worked for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the mid-to-late 90s.

Allen would give Gilbride an outlet capable of posing a threat on similarly designed plays. With the Giants offense relying on a lot of vertical routes from Cruz and, in particular, Nicks, Allen is the kind of underneath weapon opposing coverage schemes would struggle to pick up.

4. Chris Polk, RB, Washington

Polk is arguably the best between-the-tackles runner in this draft class. The 5'11", 215 pounder attacks the interior with a ferocity and appetite that regularly produces yards after the initial hit.

As the main threat for the Huskies, Polk was often a marked man at the collegiate level—yet he still put up impressive numbers and produced some of his best games against quality opposition.

He breaks an astonishing number of tackles, an example of which can be seen at the 3:30 mark of this video. Polk would give the G-Men the kind of change-of-pace power back they love to use as the season progresses.

A fine performance at his pro day and his skills as a blocker have improved Polk's draft stock. For the brand of power he would bring to Big Blue's offense, Polk could be worth a reach at the end of the first round.

5. Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery can answer Big Blue's need for a talented, big-play third wide receiver to replace Manningham. He is a big and physical target with the power and balance to terrorise a secondary both along the sidelines and across the middle.

At 6'3" and around 216 pounds, Jeffery offers prototype size and can produce some spectacular catches. Questions regarding fluctuations in his weight and the lack of refinement in his route running are legitimate causes for concern.

However, Jeffery is a natural playmaker who, with the right coaching, could be lethal in the Giants pass attack. The offense is geared by the arm of Manning, and equipping him with another big-play specialist like Jeffery could lead to some monster numbers this season.

Drafting to Their Strength Might Be the Best Move the Giants Could Make

What distinguishes this title-winning Giants team from the franchise's three previous Super Bowl winners, is the offense being the strength of the team.

The defense does need to improve, and the Giants would be smart to look for help in the draft. However, the success of this team will ultimately be determined by its potent offense.

Banking on the defense to return to form after so many injuries in 2011 and opting instead to add to their clutch corps of offensive playmakers, may be the Giants' best bet.