NY Giants' Top Needs, Fits for 2015 NFL Draft to Build for the Future
Although New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese always likes to insist that he looks for the best player available in the draft, the team has somehow managed over the years to match “best player available” with a need.
That is not likely to change this year in what is by far the most important draft of Reese’s tenure as New York's GM.
Simply put, there is little room for error. Reese and the Giants must come away with a solid class that yields at least four potential opening day contributors, with the other four picks filling in some of the depth that was depleted due to all the failed gambles in the 2010–2012 draft classes.
Here is a look at each need in no particular order. Each slide also lists at least three prospects whose projected draft rounds cover a variety of scenarios.
Defensive Tackle
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Despite the addition of Kenrick Ellis to breathe new life into last year’s 30th-ranked run defense, the picture at defensive tackle is murky for the Giants.
Third-year man Johnathan Hankins will return as a starter, but 33-year-old Cullen Jenkins, who was a starter the last two seasons, is far from being a lock to line up next to the rising star this year.
The Giants do have Jay Bromley, last year’s third-round pick, waiting in the wings, but he's going to need to show he's made significant progress this spring and summer to earn more playing time.
The rest of the picture at this position is murky enough to where adding a young prospect to compete with Jenkins, Markus Kuhn and Dominique Hamilton for one of the remaining roster spots behind Hankins, Ellis and Bromley wouldn't be such a bad idea.
Danny Shelton, 6’2”, 339 lbs, Washington
Perhaps the only defensive tackle other than Leonard Williams worthy of top-10 status, Danny Shelton is the kind of big-bodied space-eater who could help neutralize the rushing attacks the Giants will face against their NFC East foes.
While not as productive as a pass-rusher—CBS Sports' Rob Rang notes that Shelton’s pad level tends to rise—Shelton could draw multiple blockers, which could enable someone else on the pass rush.
Malcolm Brown, 6’2”, 319 lbs, Texas
Malcolm Brown is another big-bodied defender who has shown fluid movement and has above-average range and a quick first step that gets him into the offensive backfield to wreak havoc.
A married father of two children, Brown appears to have the maturity and commitment teams prefer in their players.
Grady Jarrett, 6’1”, 304 lbs, Clemson
Clemson’s Grady Jarrett is a projected third-round pick who could provide an upgrade for the Giants' rotation.
Although Jarrett doesn’t possess ideal height, which will likely prevent him from knocking down many passes at the line of scrimmage as well as see him potentially struggle against bigger opponents, he does play with a nonstop motor and will fight to the whistle.
Free Safety
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According to NFL Network’s Mike Mayock, teams looking for a top-shelf safety in this year’s class might be out of luck.
That is because other than Alabama’s Landon Collins, a strong safety, there really isn’t a surefire, blue-chip prospect waiting to be had on Day 1.
Of course, safety just so happens to be one of the positions of need for the Giants this year, but it's unlikely they'll spend a first-round pick on the position even though they currently don't have a rostered player with starting experience (which, by the way, would still be the case even if they drafted a safety in the first round).
Veteran help at free safety could be coming. According to Art Stapleton of The Record, the Giants are still planning to re-sign Stevie Brown, who had offseason foot surgery.
Regardless, the Giants are likely to add another young prospect versatile enough to play both safety spots but better suited to be a deep center fielder.
Damarious Randall, 5’11”, 196 lbs, Arizona State
According to NFL Draft Scout’s Dane Brugler, Damarious Randall has been invited to the Giants’ facility for a pre-draft visit.
Brugler praises Randall for his above-average speed, solid footwork and good ball-handling skills. The Giants love aggressive players on defense, and Randall fits that bill with a nonstop motor who plays to the whistle and also can contribute on special teams.
One drawback is that Randall lacks a bit in the tackling department, as he doesn’t always wrap up his man.
Kurtis Drummond, 6’1”, 208 lbs, Michigan State
Projected as a Day 3 pick by Brugler, Drummond has ideal size, decent speed and is fluid in space. However, he doesn't appear to be an instant difference-maker.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein expressed concern about Drummond’s lack of instincts and inconsistent tackling, while Brugler observed that Drummond can sometimes get grabby.
Cody Prewitt, 6’2”, 208 lbs, Mississippi
Ole Miss’ Cody Prewitt, the top-ranked free safety prospect on NFL Draft Scout’s rankings, has shown the instincts to diagnose play-action and anticipate what is coming. He is also an aggressive tackler who goes for the strip.
A contributor on special teams as a gunner, Prewitt hasn't had much experience playing down in the box, which might give the Giants some pause if defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is looking for his safeties to be interchangeable.
Offensive Tackle
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On paper, the Giants are one offensive lineman away from having a complete starting unit. Whether that offensive lineman is a guard or a tackle (or both) remains to be seen, as does where the Giants view the more urgent need.
The tackle position appears to be the greater of the two needs, as drafting a starting tackle could push Justin Pugh from right tackle inside to guard, where he would probably be more effective. The Giants are more likely to spend a first-round pick on a pure tackle than they would a guard.
Brandon Scherff, 6’5”, 319 lbs, Iowa
Compared by NFL Draft Scout’s Rob Rang and Dane Brugler to Cowboys offensive lineman Zack Martin, Brandon Scherff is the type of run-blocking force who could potentially breathe new life into a unit that Football Outsiders ranked 22nd.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein noted that Scherff is a plug-and-play offensive lineman whose talents should transfer well to any NFL scheme.
Andrus Peat, 6’7”, 313 lbs, Stanford
Stanford’s Andrus Peat has impressive enough size and athleticism to find success at either tackle position, which would certainly appeal to a Giants team that right now doesn’t have any long-term solutions for depth at the tackle spot.
The only glaring negative worth noting about Peat’s game—and this is something that’s correctable—is that he’s inconsistent with his technique. For example, he sometimes struggles with sustaining second-level blocks, as noted by Zierlein.
One other technique issue that shows up on tape is that Peat doesn’t always get the proper leverage against his opponent, which is likely a result of his being so tall. Still, this is a correctable issue, and Peat should be very coachable.
La’el Collins, 6’4”, 305 lbs, LSU
There’s a lot to like about LSU’s La’el Collins, including his size, his tenacity, and his versatility—he projects at both guard and right tackle.
Then there are things that might cause him to slide down the board a bit, such as what an unnamed AFC offensive line coach told Zierlein about Collins’ hands being “bad as a pass-blocker right now,” an issue the coach believes might take some time to fix.
Still the Giants liked Collins well enough to send a full contingency to LSU's pro day, a group that, per Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media, included assistant offensive line coach Lunda Wells.
Erek Flowers, 6’6”, 329 lbs, Miami
When it comes to the run-blocking game, Miami’s Erek Flowers, who played both left and right tackle for the Hurricanes, is a mauler who plays with a mean streak and finishes his blocks.
However, his pass blocking is another story, and perhaps the biggest negative right now in his game. That’s probably one reason why NFL.com’s Mike Mayock described Flowers as being "incredibly raw" (h/t Mike Huguenin, NFL.com).
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Tight End
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The Giants are at a bit of a crossroads with their tight end position.
The team is looking for third-year man Larry Donnell to take the next steps forward as a blocker and receiver.
Ditto for Adrien Robinson, famously dubbed the “Jason Pierre-Paul of tight ends” by general manager Jerry Reese after the team plucked him out of Cincinnati in the fourth round of the 2012 draft.
Last year Robinson finally stayed healthy and began to show signs of his athleticism, particularly as a run-blocker late in the season. With his contract year coming up, he will need to convince the Giants that he is ready for a larger role in the offense.
Daniel Fells, the highest-graded of the three returning Giants tight ends last season according to Pro Football Focus, is back on another one-year deal, but he’ll be 32 before the 2015 season ends and is not a long-term answer.
Lastly, there is Jerome Cunningham, who joined the Giants last year after the start of training camp. Cunningham flashed some ability as a receiver during camp but was inconsistent as a run-blocker.
With an extra seventh-round pick thanks to the Brandon McManus trade last year with Denver, it will be interesting to see if the Giants pick up another tight end late in the draft or maybe add another prospect who goes undrafted.
Blake Bell, 6’6”, 252 lbs, Oklahoma
Blake Bell is an interesting prospect given that after spending the first three years of his college career as a quarterback, he converted to tight end last year. As a result, he is clearly a developmental project.
Bell, nicknamed the “Bell-dozer,” is still learning to run routes and improve his run blocking. A highly coachable prospect, Bell, per NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, has steadily improved in all facets of the game at his new position.
A classic high-risk, high-reward type who, because of his inexperience at the position, may end up undrafted, Bell has good size, especially as a red-zone target, and is a better-than-average pass-receiver.
With the Giants likely to run with Donnell (also a converted college quarterback), Fells and Robinson at tight end, Bell could continue his development on the practice squad if he lands with the Giants.
Clive Walford, 6’4”, 251 lbs, Miami (Fla.)
Rated as the second-best tight end in the draft and a second-round pick by NFL Draft Scout, Walford is one of the better run-blocking tight ends in this draft class.
Despite being a versatile player who can create a mismatch in the slot or line up as the H-back, the biggest knock against Walford is his inconsistency as a receiver.
Zierlein noted that Walford had 10 dropped passes in the 2012 and 2013 seasons and that he sometimes rounds off his routes.
While these deficiencies can be corrected through drills and coaching, the Giants will more than likely look at other positions on Day 2.
Tyler Kroft, 6’5”, 246 lbs, Rutgers
Most tight ends coming out of college are either solid pass-receivers or decent run-blockers, but not necessarily both. Kroft is more of the latter—a tenacious run-blocker at the point of attack—than he is a receiving tight end at this stage.
Despite playing in just 13 games in his final two seasons of college ball, Kroft saw his reception total dip from a career-high 43 receptions for 573 yards and four touchdowns in 2013 to 24 receptions for 269 yards and no touchdowns in 2014.
Still, Zierlein views Kroft as a fit for most offensive schemes. However, Kroft still needs to improve in the blocking game, particularly at the second level. He also needs to learn to catch passes away from his body.
Offensive Guard
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The last time the Giants drafted a first-round player who became a starting offensive guard for them was in 1988, when they selected Eric Moore out of Indiana.
Since then, the Giants have generally looked at Day 2 and 3 picks to help fill in the depth at guard, a practice that has had mixed results.
Chris Snee was a second-round pick in 2004 who went on to have a very productive career as a Giant.
David Diehl, who played both guard and tackle, was a fifth-round pick in 2003, and Rich Seubert went undrafted.
Then there have been candidates such as fourth-round picks James Brewer (now with the Jets), Brandon Mosley and guard/center Eric Herman, none of whom have made the kind of progress that the coaches might have expected at this point in their respective developments.
The Giants have begun restocking their depth at guard, adding CFL offensive lineman Brett Jones, who is projected to play center and guard, and re-signing John Jerry and Dallas Reynold, both of whom can play guard as well.
Still, don't be surprised if the Giants add another guard/tackle prospect to this group.
Ali Marpet, 6’4”, 307 lbs, Hobart
Marpet’s college tape was impressive enough, in so far as he dominated his competition.
Still, remembering that his competition was of the small-school variety, many NFL scouts paid close attention to Marpet during the Senior Bowl and his pro day workouts to see if he was for real. The Hastings-on-the-Hudson native did not disappoint.
A durable sort who made it through 37 starts at left tackle, Marpet has intangibles which CBS Sports' Dane Brugler cites as a strong work ethic, self-motivation and an unassuming personality, which would probably put him in the same class as Seubert, Diehl and Snee.
A.J. Cann, 6’3”, 313 lbs, South Carolina
NFL Draft Scout’s top-rated guard and 43rd-best player on the big board, A.J. Cann is a big, powerfully built prospect, a four-year starter and a two-year team captain with loads of experience playing left guard.
While still in need of polish in pass protection, Cann is a brute force at the point of attack in run blocking. According to NFL.com’s Gil Brandt, Cann did most of his pro day positional work at center, which was not surprising given that offensive linemen need to be versatile at the NFL level.
Mark Glowinski, 6’4”, 307 lbs, West Virginia
A likely late-Day 3 prospect, Mark Glowinski is a gym enthusiast with a powerful upper body to show for it and a solid enough football IQ to successfully move from tackle to guard in the spring of 2013.
Because of the position switch, Rob Rang of NFL Draft Scout opines that Glowinski is a developmental project at guard/tackle.
If the Giants feel good about their numbers at guard, they might be able to take a chance on a player such as Glowinski.
Cornerback
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On paper, the Giants are set with their starting cornerbacks, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara. If they go ahead and extend Amukamara, who is in the final year of his rookie deal, they will be set for several years.
It’s depth that is a concern. Although Walter Thurmond III only played in two games before a season-ending pectoral injury put him on the shelf, his loss in free agency is probably one of two underrated ones the Giants had this offseason (the other being that of safety Antrel Rolle).
Had the Giants been able to re-sign Thurmond, they would have had a quality group of cornerbacks if injury struck down Rodgers-Cromartie or Amukamara. Thurmond, as the next man up, would have likely stepped in with very little drop-off.
Instead, the Giants are now left with a depth chart that includes Trumaine McBride as the projected slot cornerback, Jayron Hosley, Chandler Fenner, Chykie Brown, Mike Harris and Bennett Jackson.
McBride has been a solid player for the Giants. Despite trying to play bigger than his 5'9", 185-pound size, he can still create a mismatch when the opponent lines up a taller receiver against him.
One of his competitors for the slot cornerback spot will probably be Mike Harris, who saw late-season action last year and performed well, finishing with a 74.6 NFL rating from Pro Football Focus.
Hosley, who was drafted in the third round of 2012 to play the slot, just hasn’t panned out as the team hoped. This has been due to injuries in his first two seasons and a four-game, league-imposed suspension last year, all of which have cost him valuable practice reps.
Given his poor showing last summer in which he finished with a 106.8 NFL rating per PFF, Hosley was probably lucky to have been allowed back on the team.
The rest of the lot are question marks.
Fenner flashed some potential last year on which he will try to build. So too did Brown and Jackson, the latter before he suffered a season-ending knee injury. However, Brown and Jackson could very well be looking at spending most of the upcoming spring and summer trying to convert to safety.
With Hosley failing to work out, McBride entering the final year of his contract and the rest of the corners on the roster being gambles more than sure things, the Giants may be looking to add another cornerback for depth.
Josh Shaw, 6’0”, 201 lbs, USC
USC cornerback Josh Shaw found himself at the center of an odd controversy last summer in which he claimed to have jumped off a balcony to save his nephew from drowning.
The story turned out to be false. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times last November, Shaw expressed regret for his deceit.
The Giants will usually forgive a player who commits a minor indiscretion such as a parking ticket, but it’s unclear if Shaw’s concocted story will get himself removed from their draft board.
If not, there’s much to like about Shaw, starting with his big frame, which should enable him to match up well against some of the NFL’s bigger receivers.
A former Trojans team captain, Shaw also has a high football IQ who is rarely fooled in coverage and shows good form as a tackler.
Given his size, Rob Rang of NFL Draft Scout believes that Shaw might even be able to contribute at safety, which is another position of need for the Giants.
Alex Carter, 6’0”, 196 lbs, Stanford
Alex Carter, the son of Washington’s 1993 first-round draft pick, cornerback Tom Carter, is another prospect with good size and better-than-average ball skills, one who is projected to be a late-second- or early third-round pick by NFL Draft Scout.
He doesn’t come without his warts, though. Dane Brugler observed that that Carter is too grabby downfield in coverage, which could place a bull’s-eye squarely on his back as far as pass interference penalties go.
Steven Nelson, 5’10”, 197 lbs, Oregon State
Steven Nelson might not have the ideal height for a cornerback, but like McBride he plays bigger than his listed size thanks to a high level of confidence in his abilities.
Brugler and Rang of NFL Draft Scout praise Nelson for being good in run support, again showing a willingness to fight off bigger blockers and get to the ball.
Given the Giants' struggles against the run last season, they would probably welcome as much help as they can get from run defenders.
Defensive End
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Despite having the numbers at defensive end, the Giants' situation is far from being settled.
Jason Pierre-Paul could end up playing out the franchise tag this year, a move that would make sense. The Giants may not want to invest in a long-term deal on a player who has had some past injury issues and only one stellar season (2011) and one decent season (2014) to date.
Veteran George Selvie signed a one-year veteran-minimum contract, according to Over the Cap, in what amounts to a “show me” deal.
Similarly, Robert Ayers Jr. is entering the final year of his contract. A versatile lineman who was more than effective as a pass-rusher last season, he finished with an 18.0 grade from PFF until a season-ending pectoral injury cut short his inaugural season as a Giant.
Unfortunately for him, his run-defense grade of minus-3.0 didn’t come close to matching his pass-rushing grade.
In two seasons, Damontre Moore, a third-round pick from 2013, has yet to show that he can be more of an every-down defensive end, his struggles against the run being a reason for his his limited snaps.
Might defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo do for Moore what he did for former cornerback Corey Webster, who thrived in Spagnuolo’s system?
That’s what the Giants are no doubt hoping for, though the sight of Moore with his right arm in a sling, as seen by Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram at at last month’s Texas A&M pro day, could be a concern if it has cut into Moore's offseason workout.
Kerry Wynn showed promise as a run defender last year and will have an opportunity to build on what he started.
When all is said and done, the Giants could use another solid pass-rusher for the next four or five years who can become one of the staples of that defensive unit.
Alvin “Bud” Dupree, 6’4”, 269 lbs, Kentucky
Although he has mostly been used as a stand-up pass-rusher in the Wildcats' defense, Alvin Dupree’s skill set appears to be the best match for what the Giants are looking to do under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Possessing a quick burst at the snap, Dupree has shown that he can be a disruptive force.
If he can improve on disengaging from blocks and show that he can consistently play with the proper pad level, Dupree could very well develop into a solid 4-3 NFL defensive end.
Shane Ray, 6’3”, 245 lbs, Missouri
A natural pass-rusher with an exceptional first step that can get him past offensive tackles before they even begin their drops back into pass protection, Ray should be able to thrive in a 4-3 defensive system.
The only question is if he'll be sitting there at No. 9 when the Giants go on the clock.
Randy Gregory, 6’5”, 235 lbs, Nebraska
A naturally gifted pass-rusher, the biggest question facing Randy Gregory is whether his failed drug test at the combine will cost him a spot on the Giants’ draft board.
While New York has made a better effort to take fewer gambles on players with such issues, it will be interesting to see if they roll the dice on Gregory if he's there at No. 9, especially after how they sent safety Will Hill packing after expressing concerns about Hill's reliability.
Receiver
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On paper, the Giants appear to have plenty of options at the wide receiver spot.
A closer look at the position, however, indicates that it might not be a bad idea to add at least one more prospect to this group.
Odell Beckham Jr. is the group’s top receiver, the foundation of this unit.
The Giants also signed Dwayne Harris, who is primarily a return specialist but according to head coach Tom Coughlin will have a role on the offense, to a five-year contract, with guaranteed money in the first two years of the deal, according to Over the Cap.
Rueben Randle, the inconsistent young veteran who is entering his fourth season this year, is also entering his contract year.
Randle finished out 2014 on an strong note. In fact, he's already started building on that by joining quarterback Eli Manning and other Giants receivers last week at Duke University for Manning's annual camp.
Speaking of Cruz, who is rehabbing from a ruptured patellar tendon, there continues to be optimism regarding his being ready for the start of training camp, optimism that is fueled by Cruz’s regular pictorial and video updates.
However, general manager Jerry Reese has continued to insist the Giants are not putting all their eggs in Cruz's basket, because until he gets out there and starts doing all the moves required of a receiver, there is no true way to gauge just how ready he will be.
The rest of the receiving corps includes Preston Parker, whose hold on a roster spot would seem shaky at best given the addition of Harris, and youngsters Corey Washington and Marcus Harris, both of whom flashed last summer.
If the coaches are confident that one or both of Harris and Washington are going to step out of the shadows, that’s one less spot they’ll have to worry about at this position.
As of right now, the Giants do not have three solid options for a three-wide set thanks to the questions about Cruz, Washington, Marcus Harris and Parker, which is why a case for receiver could be made.
Breshad Perriman, 6’2", 212 lbs, Central Florida
While Amari Cooper might be the cream of the crop of this year’s receiver class, the chances of his dropping to the Giants at No. 9 don't appear to be very promising.
One receiver who could be there at No. 9 is Breshad Perriman, who according to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio had a private workout scheduled with the Giants.
At 6’2”, Perriman, whose father Brett played for the Detroit Lions from 1991-1996, would give quarterback Eli Manning another tall receiver in the passing game.
A natural athletic freak who was clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.24 and 4.27 at his pro day, Perriman’s ability to cut on a dime is fun to watch, though his concentration drops and occasional lazy route running are frustrating.
Amari Cooper, 6’1”, 211 lbs, Alabama
The top-rated receiver per NFL Draft Scout and NFL.com, Cooper probably won’t fall down to the Giants at No. 9.
If he somehow does, it would be hard not to consider him given that he, like Beckham, makes the tough catches look easy and is a solid downfield blocker.
While prone to the occasional dropped pass, Cooper is a natural at the position, a receiver who can separate from defenders and break open games much in the same way that Cruz did prior to his knee injury.
Kevin White, 6’3”, 215 lbs, West Virginia
If Amari Cooper is the top-ranked receiver in this year’s draft class, Kevin White isn't too far behind.
Another prospect with excellent size and speed, White's ability to beat press coverage and separate would likely make him an instant contributor in the Giants' passing game.
Prospect ratings via NFL Draft Scout unless otherwise noted. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced. Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange.
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