Ranking New York Giants' Biggest Needs to Address in the 2015 Draft
The New York Giants' decisions during free agency, which now seems like a lifetime ago, have molded their needs heading into next week's NFL draft.
They addressed some holes with signings, while departures created others. In order to keep the franchise afloat through the 2015 season, the Giants front office, led by general manager Jerry Reese, must plug the remaining gaps with draft picks.
Armed with the ninth overall pick, plus six more picks in the rounds to follow, Reese has plenty of firepower to get the job done.
Will any needs go unaddressed?
This article will highlight New York's six biggest needs heading into the 2015 NFL draft.
1. Offensive Line
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Current Personnel: Will Beatty (T), Geoff Schwartz (G), Weston Richburg (OL), John Jerry (G), Justin Pugh (T), Marshall Newhouse (T), Dallas Reynolds (C), Brett Jones (OL), Brandon Mosley (G), Eric Herman (G), Troy Kropog (T), Michael Bamiro (T), Emmett Cleary (T), Adam Gettis (G)
The Giants can afford to improve at all five starting offensive line positions, after struggling to run the ball each of the past two seasons (3.5 yards/carry in 2013; 3.6 in 2014). Although Ben McAdoo was able to alleviate some pass-protection concerns in his first season as offensive coordinator (40 sacks in 2013; 30 in 2014), few quarterbacks would feel comfortable dropping back behind New York's current O-line alignment.
Realistically, the Giants aren't going to rebuild their entire line in this year's draft. The team already has some serviceable pieces in place; this draft should be about finalizing the starting lineup and building depth.
New York's offensive line is now in the third year of a rebuilding project. Two years ago, the Giants used their first-round draft to pick up tackle Justin Pugh. Last year, they signed the top guard on the open market in Geoff Schwartz and selected center Weston Richburg in the second round of the draft.
The Giants have also done their due diligence, insuring the line with experienced reserves in John Jerry and, more recently, Marshall Newhouse. There are experiments brewing in the background, too, as Brett Jones comes over from the Canadian Football League and Michael Bamiro (6'8", 340 lbs) looms large like a franchise left tackle.
It's time to finally see some return on investments.
The Giants should look to bolster the right side of their starting offensive line, whether it's with a guard or a tackle. A guard could step in right away and not disturb anything, but a rookie tackle would likely force Pugh inside.
Draft Prospect To Watch: Miami's Ereck Flowers
2. Safety
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Current Personnel: Nat Berhe (S), Cooper Taylor (S), Josh Gordy (FS), Thomas Gordon (DB), Mike Harris (DB), Trevin Wade (DB)
The Giants are thinnest at safety, where only a few call the deep defensive backfield home.
Nat Berhe could be in line for a big season. He was a reckless rookie on special teams last year, perhaps spelling his future as a starting strong safety. In fact, Pro Football Focus named Berhe a 2014 All-Pro Special Teamer for his efforts on the kick coverage unit.
While hype is still potent for Berhe, excitement has dissipated for Cooper Taylor. At 6'4" and 228 pounds, Taylor had tremendous potential as a strong safety coming out of Richmond, but injuries have limited his impact as a professional. Last year, Taylor spent the entire season on injured reserve with a foot injury.
Berhe and Taylor have similar playing styles and were fifth-round picks in back-to-back drafts—it's time for New York to branch out.
The only player listed as a true free safety currently on the roster is Josh Gordy, who was signed just last week. The truth is he entered the league as an undrafted cornerback and only caught on with the Indianapolis Colts as a special teams contributor and reserve defensive back.
The Giants have a few guys listed as general defensive backs, and Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media recently wrote about cornerbacks Chykie Brown and Bennett Jackson making the transition to safety.
What New York really needs is a real free safety who can start right away.
Draft Prospect To Watch: Virginia's Anthony Harris
3. Defensive Line
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Current Personnel: Jason Pierre-Paul (DE), Damontre Moore (DE), Johnathan Hankins (DT), Jay Bromley (DT), Cullen Jenkins (DT), Robert Ayers Jr. (DE), Kerry Wynn (DE), George Selvie (DE), Kenrick Ellis (DT), Markus Kuhn (DT), Jordan Stanton (DE), Dominique Hamilton (DT)
A lot is uncertain about the defensive line heading into the 2015 season. Will Jason Pierre-Paul play under the franchise tag? Can Cullen Jenkins still cut it? Will Damontre Moore and Jay Bromley live up to their respective third-round selections?
One certainty is that Johnathan Hankins is the 320-pound rock upon which the defense is built. The big defensive tackle was New York's only reliable run defender, but with little help, Hankins' unit allowed nearly five yards per rush attempt in 2014. The Giants added 340-pounder Kenrick Ellis in free agency to give Hankins a hand in the middle.
With Jenkins aging quickly at 34 years old, Bromley has limited time to get acclimated. Bromley has played just eight NFL games, as he made only five stops as a rookie last season. Although he has yet to prove he can handle a starting job, the Giants were oddly high on him coming out of Syracuse.
On the edges, New York's defensive ends must clamp down on the run. The Giants were beaten on outside rushes a lot, so Moore won't be handed a starting job just because he can rush the passer. Unless his run defense improves, Robert Ayers Jr., George Selvie and maybe even Kerry Wynn will earn increased snaps.
The Giants need an all-around defensive end who can complement Pierre-Paul on the opposite side of the defensive formation, whether it's Moore or a 2015 draft pick.
Draft Prospect To Watch: Norfolk State's Lynden Trail
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4. Cornerback
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Current Personnel: Prince Amukamara, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Trumaine McBride, Jayron Hosley, Chykie Brown, Chandler Fenner, Bennett Jackson, Mike Harris (DB), Trevin Wade (DB), Thomas Gordon (DB)
New York's need for a cornerback is not surface deep. On paper, the Giants appear set with Prince Amukamara and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie slated to start on the outsides. They even have a solid slot cornerback in Trumaine McBride.
But what happens when these guys start dropping like flies?
Suddenly, Jayron Hosley is a starter, and Chykie Brown, whom we discussed moving to safety on an earlier slide, is making a hasty return to cornerback. Not long after that, the Giants are signing guys off the street.
That sounds like the stuff of 6-10 nightmares.
The Giants can bolster this position for the time being with a draft pick. Even if the opportunity to start is not readily available, it could be right around the corner.
Amukamara has completed only one full, 16-game season in four years with the Giants. He has missed a total a total of 20 games since the team drafted him 19th overall in 2011. Now, Amukamara is heading into the final year of his rookie contract.
Are you still confident in New York's starting cornerback situation?
While cornerback may not be the Giants' biggest need, it might be their most underrated. The team could use a coverage specialist in this year's draft, especially since the position is facing some potential turnover and is always susceptible to attrition.
Draft Prospect To Watch: Michigan State's Trae Waynes
5. Wide Receiver
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Current Personnel: Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle, Preston Parker, Dwayne Harris, Kevin Ogletree, Corey Washington, Julian Talley, Marcus Harris, Juron Criner, Chris Harper
Much like the cornerback position, the Giants have a hidden need at wide receiver. In a perfect season, Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle start all 16 games, forming a terrorizing trio of pass-catchers.
Perhaps Preston Parker or Dwayne Harris saves the day from a reserve role, stepping up in a starting role for a game or two. Maybe, if Cruz's recovery from a knee injury hits a road bump, Marcus Harris or Corey Washington will take advantage of the void in the lineup.
Giants fans can cross their fingers and hope for the best, or they can count on the selection of another standout rookie receiver.
The wide receiver situation also mirrors the cornerback situation in the sense that Randle, like Amukamara, faces free agency in 2016. The former second-round selection hasn't been the most consistent contributor in three seasons with the Giants, so a potential parting of ways is not unfathomable.
Filling New York's biggest needs won't yield the sexiest selections. And, with a top-10 pick, the Giants may be more inclined to go with an offensive playmaker. After all, Beckham's electric impact was like a defibrillator for a previously lifeless offense in 2014.
If one of the top two wide receivers in this year's draft—Alabama's Amari Cooper or West Virginia's Kevin White—is still on the board when the Giants get their turn to pick, don't be surprised if they snatch him up.
Draft Prospect To Watch: West Virginia's Kevin White
6. Tight End
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Current Personnel: Larry Donnell, Daniel Fells, Adrien Robinson, Jerome Cunningham
The Giants never seem to place a premium on the tight end position, but maybe they'll find a reliable playmaker for years to come in the 2015 draft.
Larry Donnell was the team's best pass-catching tight end a year ago. At 6'6" and 265 pounds, he was a tremendous red-zone target, as evidenced by his dominant, three-touchdown outing against the Washington Redskins in Week 4.
Where Donnell struggled, however, was as a blocker. He also fumbled four times in 2014. When the Giants were in search of a more fundamentally sound veteran, they often turned to Daniel Fells, who scored on four of his 16 receptions last season.
While Donnell and Fells both have their upsides, Adrien Robinson does not. The former fourth-rounder played in only three games in his first two seasons combined. Last year, he played in all 16 games but was just as invisible. Robinson finished the season with five catches for 50 yards and one touchdown.
The Giants have made minimal investments in the tight end position; all four of the tight ends on the current roster become free agents in 2016.
New York should take a shot on a tight end in this year's draft who's likely to stick around a bit longer.
Draft Prospect To Watch: Miami's Clive Walford
*All roster information courtesy of Giants.com; contract information courtesy of Spotrac.com; statistical information courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com
Kevin Boilard writes about the New York Giants for Bleacher Report.
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