Biggest Surprises of New York Giants' Offseason So Far
The 2015 offseason wasn't always predictable for fans of the New York Giants. From free agency to the draft to OTAs and minicamps, the spring held its fair share of surprises for those who follow Big Blue.
Inexplicable personnel decisions and unexpected player developments sometimes serve as the foundation for a season. In turn, the events mentioned in this slideshow will shape New York's 2015 season.
From a peculiar payout promised during free agency to a dangerous draft-day decision to an unforeseen injury, the Giants have shared some shocking moments with those who live and die with the team. As the team enters a month-long break, now is a good time to relive the offseason to date and catalog these surprises in chronological order.
Read on to recall the five most surprising events to capture headlines for the Giants this past spring.
WR Dwayne Harris Signs a 5-Year, $17.5 Million Contract
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During the 2014 offseason, the Giants were aggressive in free agency. They signed several veteran contributors on the open market, costing the team a total of $116 million in new contracts.
The Giants took a much quieter approach to free agency this spring. They focused their attention on role players and were far more frugal in terms of spending, with the exception being the deal Dwayne Harris signed.
Harris, a 27-year-old wide receiver/return specialist, was signed to a five-year, $17.5 million contract with a whopping $7.1 million in guaranteed money. Those are shocking figures for a player who has accumulated less than 500 receiving yards through four NFL seasons.
Nick Powell of NJ Advance Media did not hesitate to criticize the terms of the deal, which he described as potentially "foolish."
To Harris' credit, he is a dynamic return threat. He has eclipsed 2,000 career kick-return yards and is closing in on 1,000 punt-return yards. Harris has also returned two punts for touchdowns.
His impact on special teams alone is not enough to warrant his sky-high salary, though. If Harris is to live up to the full terms of his deal, he must contribute on offense as well.
Perhaps the Giants signed him as an insurance policy just in case Victor Cruz is unable to complete a healthy return from the devastating knee injury he suffered last season. Harris (5'10", 202 lbs) has the body type and athleticism to make it in the slot.
Harris' contract makes little sense at the moment, but he may end up being a valuable addition. If he makes a difference as a return specialist and comes in handy on offense, the Giants won't miss the money they have tied up in him.
Giants Trade Up to 1st Pick in Round 2 for SS Landon Collins
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The first day of the 2015 NFL draft passed without a major surprise. The Giants made no secret of their interest in Miami offensive lineman Ereck Flowers and proceeded to select him with the ninth overall pick.
The next day, however, was a different story. The Giants started the second round with a bang by trading up to acquire the first pick and then used it to select Alabama safety Landon Collins.
Early in the draft process, Collins was projected to be a top-10 pick for his unparalleled playmaking ability in the defensive backfield. Although his hype had cooled significantly by the time the draft rolled around, it was still surprising to see Collins slip out of the first round.
It was even more surprising to see a conservative team such as the Giants move up to scoop the sinking safety.
But New York needed him badly. After losing Antrel Rolle in free agency, the Giants were decimated at safety. The team is still without a veteran presence at the position, but at least now there's a highly touted rookie in line to make an impact.
The Giants will count on Collins to be a leader in the deep defensive backfield, so he must be equally adept at defending the run and the pass. The 225-pounder can definitely come up and lay a lick on a running back in the box, but concerns remain about the young safety's ability in coverage.
Collins has all the tools to develop into one of the league's top safeties in time. The Giants hope he becomes a game-changer sooner rather than later.
Giants Draft Unheralded FS Mykkele Thompson in 5th Round
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Even after drafting Landon Collins in the second round, the Giants were not finished addressing the safety position. They came back to it in the fifth round and picked Mykkele Thompson out of Texas.
Fifth-round picks are rarely household names, but Thompson was a particularly obscure selection. Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media reported after the draft that the defensive back didn't expect to be selected at all. To land on a team with two rounds to spare was a surprise—even for Thompson.
There wasn't a ton of hype surrounding Thompson coming out of college because he bounced between cornerback and safety, standing out at neither position. He recorded only two interceptions his entire career as a Longhorn.
Yet Thompson was always a valuable guy to have on the field. He played in every game of his college career (52 games, 31 starts), blocking three punts along the way, according to his bio at the official website of UT athletics.
Maybe Thompson can be that type of X-factor for the Giants; maybe he can be something more. ESPN.com's Dan Graziano is not ruling him out as the starting free safety. Collins is already slated to take over Antrel Rolle's position as the team's top safety. With Stevie Brown and Quintin Demps also departed, someone new must start opposite him.
Thompson's competition for that job is thick. The 6'0", 193-pound rookie must first overtake a much larger man in Cooper Taylor (6'4", 228 lbs), then fend off another feisty defender in Nat Berhe. If he wins the job, New York's defense will hinge on the performances of two rookies in the back end.
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Will Beatty Injured While Lifting Weights, out 5-6 Months After Surgery
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The Giants' first major injury occurred before the team ever took the field. Starting left tackle Will Beatty tore his pectoral lifting weights near the end of May, and the subsequent surgery has sidelined him for five to six months.
Beatty bounced back from a bad 2013 season to become the Giants' best blocker last year. The difference was reflected in Eli Manning's play, as the franchise quarterback was hit fewer times and saw his stats spike. Beatty's sudden absence has thrown the rest of the offensive line through the wash as New York searches for a serviceable solution.
Former first-round pick Justin Pugh—who was likely to move inside even if Beatty hadn't been injured—has moved from right tackle to left guard. Weston Richburg, a 2013 second-round selection, is starting at center after spending his rookie season at left guard. Guard Geoff Schwartz and tackle Marshall Newhouse are being asked to hold down the right side of the line with the first team.
The immediate replacement for Beatty at left tackle is rookie first-rounder Ereck Flowers. As a 6'6", 329-pound monster who put up 37 reps on the bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine, Flowers will run into few physical limitations as a rookie. However, if his inexperience is too much to bear in the starting lineup, the unit could go through another shuffle.
Will Beatty's injury may have been the most jarring surprise of the offseason, as it was so unexpected and also because it had a domino effect along the offensive line.
Eli Manning Reportedly Getting Stronger with Age
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One would expect quarterback Eli Manning's arm strength to diminish with age, but instead, the opposite is reportedly true. The 34-year-old's still-lively arm was on display for Giants staff writer Dan Salomone throughout early offseason workouts.
Fourth-year wide receiver Rueben Randle has noticed the difference, as well.
"He overthrew me twice and I don’t ever recall that happening," Randle told Giants.com. "That is something we noticed down at Duke working with him. We noticed that his arm got stronger and that is exciting for us."
Manning may be in the twilight of his career, but he's one of few quarterbacks over 30 who's still trending upward. At times during his 27-interception campaign of 2013, Manning looked like he was officially washed up. Then, last season, he posted career-best statistics in a revamped offense.
Now in his second year working out of Ben McAdoo's offense, Manning should be twice as confident and twice as lethal throwing the ball. His improved arm strength should be applied liberally, as the 2015 season has the potential to be littered with deep balls to Randle, Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz.
The talent has been assembled at the skill positions for Manning to have another career year, but the offensive line is still a work in progress. If the five starters up front are unable to protect Manning and create a push for a complementary ground game, New York's passing attack will fall apart like it did two seasons ago, and Manning's swelling arm strength will be wasted.
Kevin Boilard writes about the New York Giants at Bleacher Report.
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