The Super Bowl may be over, but the NFL offseason is just warming up. Here are 5 players the New York Giants could select in next spring’s draft.
By Gregg Cambareri
Free agency will certainly play a major role in how the Giants draft when comes April 28. It is likely the team will be $50 million under next year’s cap, (which is still yet to be determined). You can be sure to expect changes to be made.
The Big Blue front office will have their work cut out for them, after one of the worst defenses in Giants history took the field in 2015. Each unit needs a facelift, as the G-men finished last in passing and total yards allowed, and a mere 30th in sacks. A franchise known for their pass rush for the past decade, was embarrassed last season.
Outside of Odell Beckham Jr and Eli Manning, the Giants lack skill position players on offense. The right side of the offensive line needs serious work, especially after Wednesday’s roster cuts.
Reese has not signed any of his first round picks after their rookie contract expired, and the pressure will be on to hit a homerun with the number 10 selection. While the draft is still a few months away, we’ll look at 5 players that could be wearing blue when comes the end of April.
OLB Myles Jack, UCLA
Let’s be honest–the Giants have not had a pro bowl caliber linebacker since Antonio Pierce (honorable mention to Michael Boley in 2011, but that’s it). Devon Kennard has shown intriguing upside, but injuries have hampered the USC product. The Giants have several average players at the linebacker position, and desperately need an upgrade.
Jack is one of the most versatile and athletic players in the draft. At 6’1 and 245 lbs, he’s slightly undersized, but makes up for it with great speed and instincts. He occasionally played running back at UCLA, and posses the lateral agility to range from sideline to sideline. Tight ends have become such a weapon in today’s NFL, and Jack has the speed and coverage skills to stick with them. A massive 6’5 260 lb frame isn’t necessary in a 4-3 scheme, which would allow Jack to smoothly sync up with Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.
Knee surgery ended his UCLA career, but a torn ACL didn’t stop Todd Gurley from being a top 15 pick and taking the NFL by storm, so there’s plenty of reason to believe Jack is worth the number 10 selection.
OT Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
The Giants are going to acquire a big time offensive lineman or two this offseason. Whether they spend big in free agency or use a high draft pick, you can bet on them investing big on the o-line.
After Wednesday’s release of tackle Will Beatty and guard Geoff Schwartz, the Giants have glaring holes on the right side of their offensive line. Enter Ronnie Stanley.
The Notre Dame product has ideal size for the tackle position standing at 6’6 and 315 lbs. He possess a rare combination of athleticism and length, and could start immediately for the G-men. Whether he’ll force Ereck Flowers back to right tackle or not is a question for another time, but it also isn’t a bad problem to have.
If he impresses at the combine in a few weeks, he could be the first tackle off the board. The only question here is, will he still be available at pick number 10?
DE Shaw Lawson, Clemson
We just mentioned how good Ronnie Stanley is. Well, Clemson and Notre Dame faced off last year, as Lawson and Stanley went head to head. Lawson emerged victorious, recording 7 tackles, 3.5 for a loss. In just his first season as a starter, he led the nation in tackles for a loss (24.5) and recorded 12 sacks. Simply put, he doesn’t even know how good he can be.
Go back and watch the National Title game against Alabama. Lawson records 4 tackles and 2 sacks–on a sprained knee. If that doesn’t speak towards his motor and competitiveness, I don’t know what does.
The Giants could not rush the passer at all in 2015 (30th in sacks) and see defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul, Robert Ayers, and George Selvie all hitting free agency. The Damontre Moore experiment tanked, and the Giants desperately need a game changing pass rusher. Lawson played in a 4-3 scheme at Clemson and makes plenty of sense for Big Blue.
Several big name pass rushers will be available in free agency, so we’ll see if the Giants are still interested in drafting another. Given their past successes rotating players on the defensive line, they should be.
CB Mackensie Alexander, Clemson
Let’s get something out of the way here–we’re not trying to be Clemson biased, but there’s a reason why the Tigers nearly dethroned the most dominant program in college football last season.
Didn’t mean to digress, but on to Alexander. He doesn’t have big body Richard Sherman-type size, standing at just 5’10. What he does have are excellent man to man coverage skills. While it’s not evidenced by that fact that he didn’t record an interception in college, his reputation meant balls weren’t often thrown towards his side of the field. Consider this: Alabama exploited Clemson’s secondary in the National Title game, but only after Alexander left with injury. Coincidence? I think not.
Prince Amukamara is a free agent and the Giants could be looking for a replacement. Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves III is the consensus top corner in the draft, and is probably gone before the G-men pick. Alexander however, could certainly be available with the tenth selection.
WR Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
Imagine Odell Beckham Jr, Victor Cruz, and Treadwell playing at the same time? If the Giants decide to spend big on defense in free agency, Treadwell could be their first pick.
Standing at 6’2 and 210 lbs, Treadwell is more physical than fast. The Giants will likely need another outside receiver as Rueben Randle departs in free agency; landing the Ole Miss star would give the Giants an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position (that is of course, if Cruz can actually get on the field).
Treadwell is the best receiver in this year’s draft, plain and simple. He deserves to be picked in the top 10, but the 9 teams in front of the Giants really aren’t desperate for a receiver. The 49ers could be, but only if they decide to keep Colin Kaepernick. The Browns could use him, but are better suited taking a top QB and nabbing skill players in the following rounds. Obviously things can change (trades, offseason injuries, etc) but there’s a chance Treadwell could fall to the Giants at 10.
It would be awfully hard to pass up the thought of a Beckham-Cruz-Treadwell pronged attack.
Note: After the NFL combine ends in late February, we’ll have updated pre-draft selections, opinion, and analysis.