Breaking Down Potential Impact of Each New York Giants Newcomer
After winning only six games during the 2014 season, the New York Giants had to bring in new blood this offseason in order to turn things around. They strategically signed free agents and deftly drafted rookies, and now the roster is rife with fresh faces.
The coaching staff is charged with sorting out all of New York's newcomers this summer. Performances in training camp and during the preseason will secure roles for some, while shortcomings and general adversity will lead others to be cut.
This slideshow will divide each of the Giants' newcomers into five categories based on potential impact in 2015. Those categories are "potential starter," "key contributor," "spot performer," "quality reserve" and "camp body." Read on to see where each newbie falls.
Potential Starter
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These newcomers have the potential to step into the starting lineup right away.
Ereck Flowers, OT, Draft Pick (Rd. 1)
No player added this offseason has the potential to make a larger impact than Flowers, the ninth-overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. He will start right away, though his position along the offensive line remains undetermined. The Giants could plug him into the lineup at guard, but his 6'6", 329-pound frame is ideal for tackle.
It would make sense to break him in at right tackle and move Justin Pugh inside, but Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media noted that Flowers exclusively played left tackle during rookie minicamp.
Flowers has already impressed two Giants greats with his size and athleticism. Chris Snee helped the Giants scout Flowers by watching his game film, which Snee found impressive, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. Snee's former linemate, David Diehl, likened Flowers to a "more athletic Kareem McKenzie," per Raanan.
Landon Collins, S, Draft Pick (Rd. 2)
The Giants made a splash to move up and get Collins in the second round of the draft, so he must find the starting lineup in 2015. Chances are he'll be more than just a starter; Collins can be a real difference-maker in the secondary.
We can count on him to make an immediate impact in run support and by limiting yards after the catch as a downhill, attacking defender near the line of scrimmage. What remains in question, however, is his ability to drop back and hang in coverage. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is billing Collins as a quick study, according to Schwartz the New York Post, so the safety could be on the fast track to improving his game.
If Collins cleans up his deep coverage game, he has the potential to be New York's most dynamic defender in 2015.
J.T. Thomas/Jonathan Casillas, OLB, Free Agents
Either Thomas or Casillas, both under-the-radar free-agency signings, will likely land as the team's starting weak-side linebacker. The loser of this position battle will be relegated to a backup role.
Back in March, ESPN.com's Dan Graziano considered Thomas the "leading candidate" to start on the weak side. This must be a new feeling for a linebacker who has started only 12 games in four seasons. Ten of those starts came last season with the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars, as Thomas made 85 tackles, picked off two passes and recovered a fumble for a touchdown (against the Giants in Week 13).
Casillas, on the other hand, came over from the Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots. The former undrafted rookie has been in the league since 2009, with most of his starting experience coming on the strong side. That's not to say he's incapable of chipping in on the weak side with the Giants, though.
Key Contributor
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The following players are unlikely to earn a starting job but will play major roles.
Shane Vereen, RB, Free Agent
Third-down running backs are rarely game-changers, but Vereen might be the exception. He was a tremendous pass-catcher with the New England Patriots who registered more receiving yards (1,023) than rushing yards (907) through four seasons.
He has scored 14 touchdowns and fumbled only twice in his NFL career, making him a reliable new wrinkle for offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. Look for Vereen to get his fair share of touches in between bigger backs Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams.
Owa Odighizuwa, DE, Draft Pick (Rd. 3)
The Giants rounded out a highly hyped first three draft picks with the 74th-overall selection of Odighizuwa. Jason Pierre-Paul and Damontre Moore are in position to lead New York's defensive edges, but Odighizuwa will certainly see the rotation in 2015.
The 6'3" D-end is a thick 267 pounds, making him more of a stout run defender than a speedy pass-rusher. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo should experiment with him off the bench before giving him a starting role.
Dwayne Harris, WR/KR/PR, Free Agent
Through four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Harris has returned 87 punts and 77 kicks for over 3,000 yards and two touchdowns (both punts). As a return specialist, he could easily provide the Giants with the spark they need. More than that, he could come in handy as a slot receiver if Victor Cruz is slow in his recovery from offseason knee surgery.
The Cowboys didn't give Harris much of a chance to shine as a pass-catcher; he caught only 33 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns.
George Selvie, DE, Free Agent
The Giants signed away another former Dallas Cowboy in Selvie this offseason, further bolstering their depth at defensive end. Like Odighizuwa, Selvie could work his way into the rotation if Spagnuolo employs his full bevy of ends.
Selvie is a former seventh-rounder who has only recently proved himself as starting-caliber. After bouncing around the league, he played all 16 games each of the last two seasons with the Cowboys, recording 10 sacks along the way.
Spot Performer
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These players are bound to find the field in some capacity.
Kenrick Ellis, DT, Free Agent
The Giants had a leaky run defense last season (4.9 yards per carry allowed), so they signed Ellis to help plug the hole. At 346 pounds, Ellis is listed as the heaviest player on New York's roster. That excess girth will help him stuff the run in goal-line and short-yardage situations, but it's difficult to see him finding the field beyond that. Perhaps he'll be employed as an early-down defensive tackle against some teams that prefer to grind it out on the ground.
Mykkele Thompson, S, Draft Pick (Rd. 5)
Given the fact that Thompson was surprised he was even drafted, it's difficult to fathom the fifth-rounder becoming more than a part-time contributor in 2015. He is a versatile player with cornerback experience to supplement his NFL future as a free safety. At 6'0" and 193 pounds, Thompson reminds NJ Advance Media's Jordan Raanan of a leaner version of former Giants safety Kenny Phillips, who anchored the deep defensive backfield en route to Super Bowl XLVI.
Geremy Davis, WR, Draft Pick (Rd. 6)
Go ahead and dismiss Davis as a benchwarmer, but to do so would be to deny his potential on special teams. This draft class is full of comparisons to former Giants greats, and Davis has Paul Schwartz of the New York Post shaping him up to be the next David Tyree. The 6'3", 215-pound athlete will probably gun down more punts than he will catch passes as a rookie. Somewhere down the road, if the depth chart permits, Davis could find the offensive rotation as a No. 4 or No. 5 receiver.
Marshall Newhouse, OT, Free Agent
Always in need of improved offensive line depth, the Giants found a need for Newhouse in the mix. It's good to have backups with starting experience, and Newhouse started 29 of his first 32 games in the NFL. The Giants should be comfortable and confident inserting him into the lineup if a starter suffers a short-term injury. Newhouse, a 328-pound dump truck, could also be useful as an extra tackle or jumbo tight end in some run-heavy sets.
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Quality Reserve
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Although they may not see much playing time, these four newcomers could become valuable reserves.
Brett Jones, OL, Free Agent (CFL)
New York searched north of the border to find Jones, a former Canadian Football League standout. Weston Richburg, a second-round selection in the 2014 NFL draft, is in line to start at center, while Jones adjusts to the new league. After earning the CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award last season, Jones could actually be a valuable backup to Richburg if he is ever injured.
Bobby Hart, OL, Draft Pick (Rd. 7)
The transition is underway for Hart, a tackle at Florida State, to become a guard in the NFL. Although Hart was not selected until the seventh round of this year's draft, he is reliable, and that's a key characteristic for a reserve O-lineman who is trying to make the team. In 2013, he anchored the Seminoles offensive line to a national championship, paving the way for quarterback Jameis Winston to win a Heisman Trophy.
Josh Gordy, S, Free Agent
Even though the Giants made a big-time move to grab Landon Collins in the second round of the draft, the Giants' overall plans at safety remain a mystery. If 2014 fifth-round selection Nat Berhe lands the starting free safety job, Gordy could be his immediate backup. It's too early to tell exactly how he and Cooper Taylor stack up, but one of the two could end up earning some playing time.
Matt LaCosse, TE, UDFA
The Giants are practically begging for a tight end to break out, given how much of a disappointment former fourth-round selection Adrien Robinson has been through three seasons. LaCosse could be that breakout player for the Giants if he can prove himself as a well-rounded athlete. Right now, the Giants have a good pass-catcher in Larry Donnell and a good blocker in Daniel Fells.
Camp Body
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The Rest of the Pack
- Victor Butler, LB, reserve/future contract
- Chris Boswell, K, reserve/future contract
- Ricky Stanzi, QB, reserve/future contract
- Emmett Cleary, OL, reserve/future contract
- Trevin Wade, DB, reserve/future contract
- Ryan Jones, LB, free agent
- Sean Donnelly, T, UDFA
- Justin Currie, S, UDFA
- Cole Farrand, LB, UDFA
- Akeem Hunt, RB, UDFA
- Brad Harrah, DE, UDFA
- Will Tye, TE, UDFA
- Carlif Taylor, DT, UDFA
- Kenneth Harper, RB, UDFA
- Ben Edwards, WR, UDFA
While the 15 newcomers mentioned on the previous four slides have a good chance to make an impact for the Giants in 2015, the rest do not. The team can only carry 90 players during the offseason, and 37 of them must be cut before the roster is finalized for the regular season. A lot of players who sign on to reserve/future contracts or join the team as undrafted free agents face an uphill climb to even make the team, let alone make an impact.
While a running back like Kenneth Harper from Temple could stun everyone and land a roster spot at the end of the preseason, no one really expects Iowa product Ricky Stanzi to develop into Eli Manning's heir apparent at quarterback during training camp. Different positional units offer different opportunities.
There's bound to be a surprise or two, so we'll see who puts up a respectable fight this summer.
*All transaction and roster information courtesy of Giants.com.
Kevin Boilard writes about the New York Giants at Bleacher Report.
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