New York Giants 2015 NFL Draft: Fact or Fiction on Top Reports and Rumors
As the 2015 NFL draft inches closer, the rumor mill is picking up steam regarding what the New York Giants will or won’t do.
Of course, even if some of these rumors and projections are indeed the team's intention, the activity done by the other 31 clubs could potentially force the Giants to go in another direction.
This slideshow looks at some of the guesswork and predictions by various sources and attempts to arrive at whether the initial idea presented is likely to turn out as fact or fiction.
Fact: The Giants Are on the Lookout for Another Tight End
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If you were among the masses who this time last year were hoping to see the Giants draft a tight end at some point, it would not be surprising if you were to get your wish in 2015 if the upcoming local visit by Florida State TE Kevin Haplea, as reported by Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net, means anything.
Haplea, 6'3", 247 pounds, is from Annandale, New Jersey, so his visit with the Giants doesn't count against the 30 each team gets per year. According to NFLDraftScout.com, Haplea is projected to go undrafted.
Although the Giants seem committed to Larry Donnell for the time being and brought back unrestricted free agent Daniel Fells to round out a quartet that also includes 2012 fourth-round pick Adrien Robinson and undrafted free agent Jerome Cunningham, this position is at a bit of a crossroads.
First, Fells, who played well last season considering he was out of football the prior year—per Pro Football Focus, he was the highest-graded of the Giants’ three tight ends—isn’t a lock to make the roster.
Fells, who will be 32 in September, is a solid veteran presence, but at some point, the Giants are going to need to add youth at the position to complement Donnell.
Second, Robinson is entering the final year of his rookie deal. The man, who, after being drafted, was famously compared by general manager Jerry Reese to defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul in terms of raw athleticism and potential (h/t ESPNNewYork.com's Ohm Youngmisuk), has done very little in three seasons to justify the comparison.
After being set back in his development by injuries in 2012 and 2013—he played in just three games over that period—Robinson finally made it through a 16-game season last year, earning one start and finishing with his first NFL receptions (five catches for 50 yards and one touchdown).
The 2015 season is a big one for Robinson, who will need to show the team that he is worthy of a second contract and to be Donnell’s sidekick in that tight end room.
Regardless, the Giants will probably want to have a fallback plan on board just in case they don't get the production they're looking for from this group.
It's unlikely that Haplea will be drafted, but if things go well when he comes in on April 9 for his visit with the Giants, perhaps he'll be among the undrafted free agents who will be invited to camp.
Fiction: The Giants Will Draft a Receiver in the 1st Round
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General manager Jerry Reese seems to love offensive playmakers much in the same way that the late George Young loved what he used to refer to as “dancing elephants”—big, burly offensive linemen who held up better in the trenches.
That’s why last year, when faced with choices that included receiver Odell Beckham Jr. or offensive lineman Zack Martin at No. 12, Reese probably chose the former—not that the Giants have regretted that decision so far.
So what happens then if dynamic receivers Amari Cooper and/or Kevin White are sitting there when the Giants are on the clock at No. 9?
Would the Giants grab another receiver to add to a group that already has Beckham, Rueben Randle, Victor Cruz, Dwayne Harris, Preston Parker, Marcus Harris and Corey Washington?
Although Reese, per Dan Graziano of ESPN, said that he wouldn’t rule out drafting another receiver, this because of ongoing concerns as to whether Cruz, who is returning from a serious knee injury, a lot has happened since that sentiment was expressed.
Last season, quarterback Eli Manning attempted 601 passes, which averages out to 37.5 pass attempts, per game.
Since making that comment, Reese added running back Shane Vereen, a receiving threat out of the backfield, and Harris to the team.
Toss in the tight ends—Larry Donnell led the Giants tight ends last year with 87 pass targets, according to PFF—and there are only so many passes to go around to all the weapons.
The decision by the Giants to draft or pass on a receiver—if they’re going to draft a receiver, it probably won’t be until Day 3—could yield more insight regarding where they think Cruz really is in his comeback from a torn patellar tendon.
Fact: The Giants Will Draft a Safety
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Although the 2015 safety class is thin, at least according to NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a mid-round prospect who won’t be able to contribute something as a rookie.
The Giants’ numbers at this position tell the story: They have three players with a combined zero NFL starts under contract, though of those three, at least one from a group that includes Nat Berhe, Cooper Taylor and Thomas Gordon will probably be a starter this season, most likely at the strong safety spot.
The starting free safety will be a veteran—Art Stapleton of The Record wrote that Stevie Brown, an unrestricted free agent who is currently recovering from offseason foot surgery, is likely to be that veteran.
While he will be two years removed from ACL surgery, it’s unknown if Brown will be anywhere close to being the player he was in 2012 when he led the Giants in interceptions.
The bottom line is the Giants need bodies at safety to get through training camp, so on that alone, expect the safety position to be addressed at least once in this draft.
However, if you're hoping for that safety to be Alabama's Landon Collins, whom NFL.com's Lance Zierlein views as the top safety in this class, you might not want to become too emotionally attached to that idea.
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah and ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. are projecting Collins as a mid- to late-round pick on Day 1, which would make him a reach for the Giants if they sit tight at No. 9.
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Fiction: The Giants Will Draft an OL in the 1st Round
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If you watched the Giants play last year, you know all too well about the issues with the offensive line.
According to Football Outsiders, the configuration of LT Will Beatty, LG Weston Richburg, C J.D. Walton, RG John Jerry and RT Justin Pugh was the 10th-best pass-blocking unit in the league last year.
Run blocking was another story, as the Giants’ offensive line finished 22nd, allowing their running backs to be stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on 20 percent of the rushing attempts, per Football Outsiders, 1 percent higher than the league average of 19 percent.
Given these statistics, which would suggest the offensive line was a problem last year, why wouldn’t New York look to address the unit in the first round?
One possible reason behind the offensive line’s improved performance in pass blocking from 2013, when they ranked 18th, according to Football Outsiders, likely has to do with the change in offensive philosophy, which placed more of an emphasis on the shorter throws that are a staple of the West Coast offense.
Now let’s look at the run blocking, which was particularly poor along the interior and how they’re planning to address this in 2015.
First, the Giants are projected to move Richburg to center, his natural spot, as they have already cut Walton.
They should have Geoff Schwartz, who missed most of last season with toe and ankle injuries, back at right guard, the spot he hinted to be his preference to Ed Valentine of SB Nation’s Big Blue View.
While they did re-sign Jerry, the move is likely more for depth than anything else. Also, the coaches have not ruled out moving Pugh from right tackle to left guard, depending on what they come up with in the draft.
Historically, the Giants have not drafted a starting guard in the first round since 1988 when, per Pro-Football-Reference.com, they plucked Eric Moore out of Indiana.
That trend is unlikely to change this year as if the Giants’ grades for guards align with those posted by NFLDraftScout.com and Scouts Inc. (h/t ESPN), there doesn’t appear to be a pure guard prospect with a first-round grade, let alone a top-10 grade.
The question now becomes is there a right tackle prospect who is better than Pugh at this point, and if one exists, will he be there when the Giants go on the clock at No. 9?
NFLDraftScout.com lists Iowa’s Brandon Scherff as their eighth-best overall player in this draft and their top offensive tackle, but there has been some debate as to whether guard might be Scherff’s best position in the pros. LSU’s La’el Collins is NDS’ 10th-best overall player and second-best tackle prospect.
However, there is some question as to whether Collins will be gone by the Giants' pick considering Tennessee, which drafts ahead of the Giants, is one of the teams specifically mentioned by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein as needing a right tackle.
They have had success with drafting starting offensive linemen in the second round such as Chris Snee in 2004, Beatty in 2009 and Richburg last year, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they’re looking to continue that trend.
Fact: The Giants Will Draft a Defensive Player in the 1st Round
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Last year, the Giants gave new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo a playmaking receiver, Odell Beckham Jr., in the first round of the draft.
Should Steve Spagnuolo, who returns to the Giants to help turn around a defense that last year finished 29th overall, 30th against the run and 17th against the pass, expect an impact defensive player of his own?
While the Giants added most of their offseason free-agent acquisitions to the defensive side of the ball, the unit is still very much a work-in-progress.
That’s why it wouldn’t be a stretch for the Giants to draft a player in the first round to help that front seven out, that player being a defensive end.
As previously noted, although the Giants franchised Jason Pierre-Paul, the jury is still out on whether he is the long-term answer at defensive end.
Dan Granziano of ESPN reported last month that, while the two sides will continue to talk about a new deal, there also seemed to be no reluctance on the part of the Giants to let Pierre-Paul play out this season under the $14.813 million franchise tag, which becomes guaranteed money once he signs the tender.
Meanwhile, the other defensive end spot that was vacated following the release of Mathias Kiwanuka is still up for grabs from a field that includes Robert Ayers Jr., Kerry Wynn, George Selvie and Damontre Moore—all promising players but none of whom need to show a lot more.
A stud pass-rusher who can hold his own against the run might be just the thing Spagnuolo needs to get this Giants defense on the right track. Given the dire condition the defense was in at the end of last season, it makes much too much sense for the Giants to pass on taking a pass-rusher if one is there at No. 9.
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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