Ranking New York Giants' 10 Most Important Players in 2015

Every team has its stars—the players who are most responsible for the team's success. 

Even a team like the New York Giants—who have posted a losing record in each of the last two seasons—has its fair share of star power. If the Giants turn things around and return to the playoffs in 2015, the high-profile players will be the ones to thank. And if they tank again, those same playmakers will be the ones shouldering the blame.

This article will count down the 10 most important players on the Giants' roster this season. Position, situation, talent and experience are the biggest factors when it comes to gauging importance. The following slides will weigh those factors as New York's most important players are unveiled one by one.

Be sure to counter with your own top-10 countdown of important Giants players in the comment section below. 

10. Shane Vereen

Uncredited/Associated Press

Position: Running Back

Height/Weight: 5'10"/205 lbs.

Age/Experience: 26/5th season

The Giants have flown under the radar in terms of free agency acquisitions this offseason, but Shane Vereen is one who's sure to be a valuable addition. Vereen is the prototypical third-down back, productive as a pass-catcher and reliable as a pass-protector. The former second-round pick of the New England Patriots has accumulated nearly 2,000 yards from scrimmage through four seasons.

Former Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride praised Vereen as a "tremendous addition" during a recent appearance on NFL Network (h/t NJ.com). He also noted that the Giants "haven't had a running back that they could throw the ball to with any kind of confidence since Tiki Barber left."

And that's where Vereen is likely to come in handy.

9. Johnathan Hankins

Uncredited/Associated Press

Position: Defensive Tackle

Height/Weight: 6'2"/320 lbs.

Age/Experience: 23/3rd season

With Steve Spagnuolo rebuilding the Giants' defense, Johnathan Hankins needs to be the foundation of the platoon. His play in the middle will anchor the D-line and set the tone for the rest of the defenders lined up behind him. Last year, he held up his end of the bargain, starting all 16 games with consistent and effective effort—it's time for the team to step up around him.

A player as round as Hankins is expected to be a good run-stuffer, but the former second-round selection surprised with seven sacks last season. Giants defensive line coach Robert Nunn backed his tackle's production as a pass-rusher, claiming that his sack and pressure totals were "legit" and not a fluke, per NJ.com. New York needs Hankins to excel against both the run and pass again in 2015.

8. Victor Cruz

Uncredited/Associated Press

Position: Wide Receiver

Height/Weight: 6'0"/204 lbs.

Age/Experience: 28/6th season

Victor Cruz is known to provide the Giants' offense with vital electricity, but you can count the number of salsa dances he's done since mid-September 2013 on one hand. He is now attempting to come back from a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, a devastating injury that ended his 2014 season in Week 6. The rehabilitation must be thorough, since his knee will be put to the test as a quick-cutting, swift-shifting slot receiver.

Cruz said in a recent Sirius XM NFL Radio interview that he doesn't think the physically unable to perform list is an option and that he plans to be ready for Week 1 (h/t Pro Football Talk). If healthy, the Giants will field a premier receiving trio in Odell Beckham Jr., Rueben Randle and Cruz. If not, the Giants will begin the backup plan process of picking a replacement such as Dwayne Harris or Preston Parker.

7. Jason Pierre-Paul

Uncredited/Associated Press

Position: Defensive End

Height/Weight: 6'5"/278 lbs.

Age/Experience: 26/6th season

Jason Pierre-Paul is another veteran dealing with an injury, but one of a totally different variety. A Fourth of July fireworks accident led to the amputation of Pierre-Paul's right index finger, as well as fractures in his right thumb and burns on his flesh. If not for this freakish injury in the midst of a contract negotiation, the once-All-Pro defender would be ranked much higher on this list.

The Giants can still utilize Pierre-Paul, even if his injuries leave him somewhat compromised. Former teammate and current Oakland Raiders D-end Justin Tuck told the New York Post that he thinks JPP will be the same player, despite the unfortunate, disfiguring accident. The future is still too murky to predict, but Pierre-Paul's impact can't be counted out just yet.

6. Justin Pugh

Uncredited/Associated Press

Position: Guard

Height/Weight: 6'4"/301 lbs.

Age/Experience: 24/3rd season

Although the Giants' official website still lists him as a tackle, Justin Pugh is slated to start at left guard this season. A former first-round pick, Pugh has been all right as the team's starting right tackle over the last two seasons. Switching to an inside position, however, may transform his career, as pundits have opined about Pugh's fit at guard since he was a draft prospect.

Pugh wasn't always keen on switching positions. He insisted upon retaining his identity as right tackle at the end of the 2014 season. By the time of the draft in May, Pugh had done an about face and embraced his new role at left guard. He must continue to display this type of leadership as he bridges the protection between second-year pro Weston Richburg at center and rookie Ereck Flowers at left tackle.

5. Odell Beckham Jr.

Uncredited/Associated Press

Position: Wide Receiver

Height/Weight: 5'11"/198 lbs.

Age/Experience: 22/2nd year

As the most talented player the Giants' have on the offensive side of the ball, Odell Beckham Jr. may seem deserving of a higher ranking on this list. After all, there's bound to be a game or two in which the second-year receiver completely takes over and wins it himself. He had that type of effect in wins over the Washington Redskins and St. Louis Rams last season.

But as dominant as Beckham was in 2014—earning the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award with his 91 catches for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns—the Giants were 4-8 when he was on the field. Although he's likely to scorch the scorebook again in 2015, the resulting win-loss record remains to be seen. Whatever the outcome, Beckham will be New York's best offensive weapon so long as he's healthy.

4. Jon Beason

Uncredited/Associated Press

Position: Linebacker

Height/Weight: 6'0"/232 lbs.

Age/Experience: 30/9th season

For Steve Spagnuolo's defense to run smoothly, he'll need an extension of himself on the field. Jon Beason can be Spagnuolo's field general, but only if he's healthy. Beason, an in-season trade acquisition, made a tremendous impact in 2013. However, after being named a team captain, the veteran linebacker played in only four games last year—the unit fell apart without him.

Beason has missed a lot of time due to injury, dating back to his days with the Carolina Panthers. Yet, when healthy, he's an athlete who's easily spotted. Because of his speed and natural nose for the ball, Beason is never far behind the play and is usually in on the tackle. He is a vocal leader whose presence may be essential to the Giants' success on defense in 2015.

3. Landon Collins

Uncredited/Associated Press

Position: Safety

Height/Weight: 6'0"/225 lbs.

Age/Experience: 21/Rookie

There's a lot of weight on Landon Collins' young shoulders. He's supposed to be the Giants' savior at safety, since the team has so few trustworthy options at the position. New York pulled the trigger and traded up to the first pick in the second round of this year's draft to select him—few expected Collins to fall outside the first 32 picks. The Giants will not hesitate to put his value to the test in 2015.

Collins is in line to start as a rookie; the other starting safety job is up for grabs. He told NFL.com that he expects to be named Defensive Rookie of the Year by the end of the season. For that to happen, Collins must limit embarrassing gaffes in deep pass coverage. Bet on him being a heavy hitter and an aggressive defender of everything in front of him.

2. Ereck Flowers

Uncredited/Associated Press

Position: Offensive Tackle

Height/Weight: 6'6"/329

Age/Experience: 21/Rookie

The Giants drafted Ereck Flowers to be the franchise's left tackle of the future, but they didn't expect him to be protecting the blind side so soon. The original plan was to ease him along at right tackle until he was ready to take on a larger role. However, with top tackle William Beatty sidelined by a surgery to repair a torn pectoral, New York has no choice other than to throw the rookie right into the fire.

Flowers has the size and athleticism to one day thrive at a left tackle, but his technique must improve in order to handle the best pass-rushers the league has to offer. His crash course, which began this spring, will continue into training camp and probably the preseason. Flowers is the No. 2 player on this countdown because he's directly responsible for protecting the player who comes in at No. 1.

1. Eli Manning

Uncredited/Associated Press

Position: Quarterback

Height/Weight: 6'4"/218 lbs.

Age/Experience: 34/12th season

The most important position on the field is quarterback, and that's why franchise signal-caller Eli Manning is New York's most important player heading into the 2015 season. This will be his second season with offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, so his mastery of the system will be under the microscope. The rest of the Giants' playmakers on offense rely on Manning to get them the ball, so there's little room for the veteran quarterback to make a mistake.

Manning played the worst statistical season of his career in 2013, followed by the best statistical season of his career last year. His pairing with McAdoo appears to have him on the upswing, and the Giants know it. The team is actively trying to extend Manning's contract beyond the 2015 season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Looks like he's still the man in New York for the foreseeable future.

*All roster information courtesy of Giants.com.

Kevin Boilard writes about the New York Giants at Bleacher Report.