Highlighting the Most Likely Options for the New York Giants' First-Round Pick

There are many potential impact players projected to go in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft who can help the New York Giants.

However, only one player is going to be announced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as the Giants' first-round pick.

Who will it be? Let's look at five potential prospects who, if selected by the Giants in the first round, could be instant starters.

OL Brandon Scherff, 6'5", 319 Lbs, Iowa

Iowa's Brandon Scherff is by far one of the safest picks the Giants can make at No. 9 if they view him as a right tackle.

Not surprisingly, a fair number of draft analysts—such as Dane Brugler, Pete Prisco and Will Brinson of CBS Sports, Todd McShay of ESPN and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com—have Scherff inked in as the Giants' first-round pick.

Scherff, whom Rob Rang and Brugler compared to Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Zack Martin, has impressive upper body strength, hand placement and knee bend to be effective in run-blocking, an area where, per Football Outsiders, the Giants struggled last season, finishing 22nd in the NFL. 

Rang and Brugler also describe Scherff as a "wrecking ball at the second level," which is hard not to like considering the Giants' running backs last season averaged 3.57 yards per carry (30th in the NFL).  

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com notes that Scherff does not consistently finish his blocks and needs to play with a little more of a mean streak. 

Still, if the Giants are looking to beef up their run blocking, it's hard to ignore the tangibles and talent that Scherff has to offer at the next level.

If New York views Scherff as a right tackle, a position that NFL Network's Mike Mayock believes the young man could play, his arrival would push Justin Pugh inside to guard, where, according to Pugh's 2013 draft profile, would be a better fit.

DT Malcom Brown, 6'2", 319 Lbs, Texas

Defensive tackle Malcom Brown, whom NFL.com's Charles Davis has going to the Giants at No. 9, has a quick first step that is reminiscent of Aaron Donald of the St. Louis Rams. 

In addition to being a player who is able to quickly get into the backfield to disrupt things, Brown is also a plugger who, even if he is blocked, has the presence of mind to try to bat down passes.

He doesn't get caught in the wash often and keeps his feet moving, never losing sight of where the ball is. 

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein observed that Brown uses his hands well and has good instincts. He also notes that some NFL scouts think Brown can play multiple roles along the defensive line, which would make him attractive to either a 4-3 or 3-4 team.

However, Zierlein opines that Brown needs to work on his strength in order to better hold up against double-team blocks. 

With the contracts of Cullen Jenkins, Markus Kuhn and Kenrick Ellis all ending after this season—figure that, of those three, Jenkins and possibly Kuhn won't be back—a trio of Johnathan Hankins, Jay Bromley and Brown would give the Giants a solid and young defensive interior.

DE Alvin "Bud" Dupree, 6'4", 269 Lbs, Kentucky

Of all the defensive ends projected to go in the first round of the draft, Kentucky's Alvin "Bud" Dupree appears to have the best skill set to match what the Giants might potentially be planning to do.

However, it's interesting to note that not one of the mock drafts consulted for this slide show have Dupree going to the Giants at No. 9—the reason, perhaps, being that there might be some question as to whether Dupree is a top-10 draft prospect.

Dupree, at 6'4" and 269 pounds, has the size to hold up against the run, though it needs to be noted that Kentucky really didn't use him much with his hand in the dirt, instead standing him up as an outside linebacker, a role that didn't take full advantage of his natural talents.

Not surprisingly, Rob Rang of CBS Sports, in his scouting report of Dupree, notes that the former Wildcat will "need to get stronger in run support," particularly in disengaging from blocks.

As a pass-rusher, Dupree doesn't always play with proper pad level, which is going to allow the opponent to get up underneath him and move him back off the point of attack, though these are correctable technique issues.

Given Dupree's remarkable burst off the snap—think Osi Umenyiora-like quickness—he has the ability to catch edge-protectors by surprise.

That burst and his ability to deliver the bone-jarring hit are just some of the qualities that make him worth considering.

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, who also described Dupree as being "raw," reported that some NFL scouts believe Dupree's instincts are not yet fully developed.

Zierlein also observed that Dupree tends to "lack urgency" during the game; on the plus side, he does praise Dupree for being able to use his strength to win one-on-one matchups with tight ends and for showing thumper-like tendencies.

Although the Giants have numbers at defensive end, the position has question marks.

Jason Pierre-Paul, Robert Ayers and George Selvie will each see their respective contracts end after this season, with Pierre-Paul's chances of getting a multiyear deal possibly hinging on how he does in 2015.

Damontre Moore and Kerry Wynn have shown flashes of being solid players, so this coming year will be big for both.

The addition of another defensive end such as Dupree, who is still in need of some polish, would help solidify a position that isn't as settled as it might look on paper.

S Landon Collins, 6'0", 228 Lbs, Alabama

The fact that the Giants don't currently have numbers at the safety position could be the primary reason why CBS Sports' Rob Rang has Alabama strong safety Landon Collins going to the Giants at No. 9.

Collins is projected by CBS Sports as the top-ranked player at a position that NFL Network's Mike Mayock described as being thin overall.

Rang and colleague Dane Brugler laud Collins for his ability to change direction quickly and for being an aggressive open-field tackler who goes for the strip of the ball as often as possible.

The negatives in Collins' game, according to Brugler and Rang, are that he is susceptible to play-action passes and is not as effective when he has to turn his back to the quarterback.

Rang and Brugler, along with NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, also note that Collins has dropped some catchable interceptions over his career. 

If the Giants view Nat Berhe and/or Cooper Taylor as viable free safety candidates, drafting a complement like Collins wouldn't be a bad idea, though there might be some trepidation in taking a safety at No. 9.

WR Amari Cooper, 6'1", 211 Lbs, Alabama

Back during the combine, Giants general manager Jerry Reese told reporters that he wouldn't rule out drafting a wide receiver.

His words have some dreaming about a receiving corps featuring Odell Beckham Jr., Rueben Randle, a healthy Victor Cruz and rookie Amari Cooper lining up in a four-receiver set.

Since the 6'1", 211-pound Cooper is regarded by both NFL.com and CBS Sports as the top receiver prospect in this draft class, let's look at what he would bring to the Giants if he were to somehow fall to No. 9.

Two things that Dane Brugler and Rob Rang of CBS Sports pointed out is that despite his size, Cooper is a very physical receiver who is able to beat press coverage and block downfield.

Possessing above-average quickness, Cooper is a shifty open-field runner with an extra gear that often leaves cornerbacks looking foolish.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com lauds Cooper, who has played in the slot, for making sure he shakes free when facing zone coverage.

Zierlein also wrote that Cooper's hands are much like Beckham's in that he doesn't drop many passes. 

If he does fall to the Giants, Cooper might initially make an intriguing option as a slot receiver, especially if Cruz isn't 100 percent back to his pre-injury form.  

Although Beckham filled that role nicely after Cruz was lost for the season in 2014—per Pro Football Focus, his 77.8 percent catch rate as a slot receiver topped Cruz's 63.2 mark in 2013—Beckham might be better suited for an outside receiver role.

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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