Current Defensive Tackles on the NYG Roster:
Cullen Jenkins – 33 – Signed through 2015
Mike Patterson – 31 – Signed through 2014
Jonathan Hankins – 22 - Signed through 2016
Markus Kuhn – 28 – Signed through 2015
Where They Stand:
While the free agent acquisition period is not over yet, this appears to be the group that NYG will enter draft weekend with. It’s a very thin group that will hold this team back as it currently stands. Jenkins and Patterson are both overachieving, reliable veterans that can wear a few hats for their front. While I wouldn’t call them difference makers, they are at the very least guys that can be counted on. Hankins and Kuhn are the wildcards here, as they will be given the opportunity to fill the shoes of the departed Linval Joseph. I don’t have confidence in either of them to be the guy that needs to be in there for 80%+ of the defensive snaps, making opponents game plan around them. This group as a whole needs a fresh body or two that can contribute right away.
Top 10 Grades:
1 - Aaron Donald – Pittsburgh – 6’1/285: 85
2 – Rashede Hageman – Minnesota – 6’6/310: 80
3 – Stephon Tuitt – Notre Dame – 6’6/304: 79
4 – Brent Urban – Virginia – 6’7/295: 79
5 – DaQuan Jones – Penn State - 6’4/322: 78
6 – Timmy Jernigan – Florida State – 6’2/299: 78
7– Louis Nix III – Notre Dame – 6’2/331: 78
8 – Dominique Easley – Florida – 6’2/288: 76
9 – Taylor Hart – Oregon – 6’6/281: 76
10 – Kelcy Quarles – South Carolina – 6’4/297: 73
Day One Target:
Aaron Donald – Pittsburgh
I had a hard time accepting the fact that Donald was indeed one of the top players in the draft. I usually want guys with size inside, guys with consistent power presence that cannot be moved. But after watching almost 10+ games of Pittsburgh dating back to last year, I’m convinced Donald will be a star. He is the pass rushing presence that NYG has lacked inside for a long time and I think he is a better run defender than most will give him credit for. It’s easy to look at his size and say he can’t handle the physical power needed to anchor a position against the run. But when I scout him, I see a guy that can not only maintain position, but push linemen back, get off their blocks, and chase down the ball carrier like a linebacker. Donald will likely be my pick for NYG should be available at #12.
Runner Up: Rashede Hageman – Minnesota
Day Two Target:
Stephon Tuitt – Notre Dame
Tuitt could easily grade out as a first rounder if you go by is 2012 tape. He’s had a few physical issues over the past year and I did factor them in to his grade. Now with that said, I only have so much access to his medical information but from everyone I have spoken with and everything I have read, he should be at 100% by this summer. Tuitt played outside in ND’s 3-4 front, but I think he can easily move inside and play a Chris Canty-type role in a 4-3. He is enormous and very hard to move but also shows the short area quickness to beat blockers one on one. He is certainly a matchup problem because he can beat you a few different ways. If NYG ignores the defensive line in round one, Tuitt will likely be the guy I want in round two if he is still there.
Runner Up: DaQuan Jones – Penn State
Day Three Target:
Brent Urban – Virginia
Some view Urban as a 3-4 only player, but I disagree. When looking for defensive linemen, I am always looking for versatility. Urban can play outside in certain looks, even in a 4-3, but he can also play a three-technique role and control a couple inside gaps. I’ve even seen him play the A gap and make a difference. Urban plays a similar role and style as JJ Watt. While I don’t think he has the same upside, Urban could be a day three steal and I think he’ll be available early round 4. I love his ability to bend and pursue. He uses his hands and long arms to control blockers and he can get off them consistently. I can see him doing well here right away as a rotational defender and eventually becoming an every down difference maker because of his size, movement, and versatility.
Runner Up: Taylor Hart – Oregon
Most Overrated:
Anthony Johnson – LSU (59)
Johnson was one of the top recruits out of high school a few years ago, and rightfully so. I can remember watching his first college game and thinking he would eventually be a top 5 lock. But Johnson has failed to progress and if anything, he’s gone backwards since that first game. He looks the part and he’ll deliver some bone jarring hits here and there, but he is a poor defender play-to-play. He doesn’t anchor against single, straight blockers let alone double teams. He can’t reach the QB consistently, and he doesn’t have a long enough lasting motor. Nothing about his game is appealing to me, and I have him graded in the 7th/UDFA area. I see some labeling him a possible 2nd round pick and I question if that is simply a result of him being a top tier recruit years ago.
Runner Up: Daniel McCullers – Tennessee (64)
NYG Approach:
When looking at what is currently on the roster, I can’t see how anybody can refute the enormous need for another able body inside. NYG needs one of these rookies that can come in and contribute right away, and that’s not even accounting for any injuries to their current tackles. While they have a couple of serviceable, able bodies in there, none of these guys will alter the game plan of any offense. There is a severe lack of presence inside. This is not a group that linebackers will want to play behind nor will they take pressure of the ends against the pass. This class is a solid group of defensive tackles for days 1 and 2 of the draft and I am confident the right value will be there with one of their first three picks. The sooner the better, as I would put the need for a DT right up there with the offensive line as the top targets for the weekend.
Totally agree. I think he'll have a better career than Joseph which is why I didn't mind letting him walk, especially for the money he got.
8th in Defense
30th in Offense
Now where should there priority be - especially considering that Donald does not fit the stated profile of Giant on the line
Gidie where is this profile stated?
BBI makes fun of Kuhn but they ir'd Rogers to keep him so I think the Giants may see more in him than the fans.
I think the DT strategy will be to add another body in FA and draft a someone late. A run stuffer in on day 3 is how I think it shakes out.
In a draft as deep as it is this is exactly why I wouldn't touch this guy with a 10ft pole. I've watched him for the last 2 years and the guy just disappears. It's almost like he just going through the motions and doesn't care.
I also know a few guys on the team and other athletes that know him and they say the dude is just bat shit crazy. He's just not all there mentally.
As for donald, he is very risky for us because he doesnt fit our scheme as an everydown player. Of course neither did marv austin and we took him anyway
I remember draft experts having Donald rated 4 or 5 best DT back in January and I was like what the hell are they watching? This guy is the real deal for sure.
Arc, I completely disagree with you. As of right now the NFL is a passing league, name one team that wouldn't want a pass rushing DT that can seriously get to the QB?
Hell this guy would be good as a 3-4 DE. He's taken a lot of snaps at DE in college too and played well.
As far as the Gmen go we use the Nascar package a lot. You don't think this guy would be a big upgrade for us as far a pass rushing goes?
Man I toltally disagree with you...he would be a great fit and great addition to the DL for us.
As for donald, he is very risky for us because he doesnt fit our scheme as an everydown player. Of course neither did marv austin and we took him anyway
Why doesn't he fit our scheme as an every-down player? Has has quickness/speed to burn, is preternaturally strong, and has proved his ability against top-flight collegiate competition which, coincidentally, comprises some of the very same guys he'll go up against in the NFL.
The only exposure I got to Caraun Reid was during the Senior Bowl, but he really impressed me. He was really quick off the snap and his swim move seemed to work almost every time. He had two sacks on two consecutive plays in the Senior Bowl.
And for that matter, same goes for Deandre Coleman. Another guy I didn't get to see (Cal was awful and they're not shown a lot here in NYC unless they're playing like USC), but he impressed me at the Senior Bowl. Very stout against the run and has some decent push. I honestly wasn't keying in on him though so I couldn't tell you a whole lot of what I saw; just from the little I did see I was very impressed. I also remember that analysts were touting Coleman for consistently beating Gabe Ikard and Travis Swanson...top 5 OC according to Mike Mayock.
Daniel McCullers...I mean he's a mountain of a man. I didn't watch Tennessee a lot this year because they don't really have many prospects (though some say Raijon Neal could be a steal) that intrigued me to start the season. I know some analysts love Tiny Richardson and JuWuan James, but I don't know, I couldn't focus in on the O-Line the whole time so I just didn't really bother. Anyway, I think he ended up with 1.5 sacks so he's not good against the pass, but for someone his size...I mean every play, I'm guessing you'd need 2 or 3 guys on him. That could free up guys like Jenkins, JPP, Moore, etc. to get in the backfield.
Another guy who I've heard analysts like is Eathyn Manumaleuna.
With Donald, and if JPP is JPP again, we could have an elite DLine again.
And an elite DLine (especially Tuck being a beast inside) plus Eli were the main reasons we one two SBs recently.
Good point. Everyone raves about Donald, but Sutton actually outplayed Donald his junior year. He had 13 sacks and 23.5 for loss. I know Pete Prisco likes him.
there are plenty of penetrating schemes around the league he would fit much better in
as a pass rusher, i love him but i want an everydown stud at 12. jmo, give me a guy who kicks ass and does not come off the field ever
2nd round? yes please
2012 Will Sutton will always have a special place in my heart. Whoever told him to bulk up should be publicly shamed.
Daniel Jeremiah ‏@MoveTheSticks Mar 26
I'm intrigued by ASU DT Will Sutton…gained too much weight this yr but he's still one of the better interior pass rushers in the draft.
Sutton apparently weighed in at his Pro Day at 295 and I believe he played around 315-320 all year so that's something to note. At 295, he may have regained the quickness he had during his Junior year.
He did give Yankey a handful though, there is some talent there. I would simply prefer other guys,
As for donald, he is very risky for us because he doesnt fit our scheme as an everydown player. Of course neither did marv austin and we took him anyway
When you have a chance for a talent like that you adjust the scheme to take advantage of his strengths. It can be done.
I think he's a capable starter with some NFL conditioning in this league. I think cbs has him compared to Geno Atkins, which I think is definetly the type of player Sutton can be.
there are plenty of penetrating schemes around the league he would fit much better in
as a pass rusher, i love him but i want an everydown stud at 12. jmo, give me a guy who kicks ass and does not come off the field ever
He has more than adequately demonstrated that he can, indeed, "hold the line" but I think you're quite mistaken that this is what the Giants actually want from their D-Line interior. Yes, the 1-tech serves to be a bottleneck, but a really good 3-tech, which the Giants haven't had since Hammer, is an exact fit for their pass-rushing philosophy. He's one of the more perfect picks for the Giants tat has come along in recent years. I hope he's still there at 12; then it's in Jerry's lap.
The Giants have a major need at DT and a major need at DE/pass-rusher. This guy would add legs to the DT rotation and would be an impact situational pass-rusher from day 1. He is definitely the guy I want at #12.
Explaining this organziation's premium they put on pass rush ability plays a major role in why we could potnetially want Donald.
That's a tough one for me, While Barr may have a higher ceiling he is very raw and will absolutely be a project with many question marks. Donald, you know what he is capable of, but will it translate against bigger, and better OL in the NFL.
Donald, Jones, Urban, and Bromley are my favorites. I hope we get at least one. There is also Ellis from Louisiana Tech. Kerr is also worth late round consideration from what I hear.
So if Donald is there at 12, I have a hard time imagining the Giants passing him up, assuming Sy's grade and assessment are correct.
Last time (prior to Hankins) the Giants drafted a big jamook space eater type DT Linval Joseph, the next year they took the supposed complementary piece 3 Tech DT in round 2 - Marvin Austin. Austin turned out to be bag of wind, so finally they gave up on him last year and scrounged through the FA heap to sign Jenkins and Patterson, who've been OK stopgaps, but they are not answers.
They will likely grab a DT high this year again, and Donald stands out, and he'd be the complementary 3 to Hankins 1.
That's a tough one for me, While Barr may have a higher ceiling he is very raw and will absolutely be a project with many question marks. Donald, you know what he is capable of, but will it translate against bigger, and better OL in the NFL.
I'd go Donald. Pass rush up the middle is much more disruptive then pass rush off the edge.
If you restrict yourself to just 2 or 3 positions for a first round pick, you limit yourself. You can't limit yourself when trying to build a team via the draft, it's foolish.
Short-sighted????
I think the view of Donald supporters is MyOpIcally rose colored -
In my view the Giants can't afford to indulge in this type of thinking - They must do something about the Offensive Line and Offensive Skill players - and this year's draft has the depth in those areas to make it so
Jenkins needs an heir apparent but played quite well both in the ground attack and as an effective pass rusher and backfield disruptor. He showed no reason why we shouldn't expect a similar campaign this year.
I agree the position needs better quality depth but the cupboard isn't nearly as bare as your analysis indicates.
Gids where have they neglected. The signed one of the top OGs on the FA market. A center who they probably evaluated as healthy and was very good when healthy. And a couple depth/potential starters in Brown/Jerry.
Is it a need area . Yes. But not nearly as desperate as before. Lastly we can for the millionth time get a damn good OL at 43.
You take the BPA who is on another tier than everyone else in Donald then get a plug and play OL @43. Then nab a WR and TE in rounds 3-4.
If they go Donald round 1 they MUST go OL in round 2 or latest 3. They should be able to pluck a very good and possible day 1 starter at 43 and perhaps even in round 3.
But they are at least almost certainly better than DD or Brewer were last year. Schwartz is an upgrade over Boothe. Walton hopefully an upgrade over Cordle.
Maybe even Brown is an upgrade over a very troubled Beatty last year, or a motivational tool to push Beatty at least.
I don't get the optimism about our DTs unless one assumes Kuhn is ready to bust out.
Aaron Donald is as promising as Geno Atkins (of the Bengals)."
Futures: Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald - ( New Window )