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.
Thanks!
The National Championship game when he kept checking out of the game...
Joking. To be fair, he was sick.
You misunderstand the point of not paying him. IT was not wise to pay him for a number of reasons:
B - The replacement for Lin-Jo is on the roster already for the 1-technique spot in the person of Johnatahn Hankins, last year's 2nd round pick. Hankins's 2014 cap # is $916,068 (his cash # is $588,213).
If you compare the difference between Lin-Jo's and Hankins's cap and cash numbers, it becomes easy to understand why the Giants didn't pony up and pay Lin-Jo, and that's without taking into consideration other positions and the future expenditures that are slated to take place (i.e., paying JPP, paying Prince, extending Eli next year, setting aside money for another big money acquisition at another position that is traditionally more costly in cap dollars than the 1-technique position is, etc).
The cap space saved from not pursuing Linval was $5,683,932. This amount of cap space allowed the Giants to go out and get some key players. Take Jon Beason (2014 cap # of $3,141,666) and Geoff Schwartz (2014 cap # of $2,325,000) for instance. Combine the 2014 cap numbers for Beason and Schwartz and you get a total of $5,466,666.
This is roughly what the Giants gained by letting Lin-Jo walk, not even counting the replacement already on the roster in Hankins. The Giants just need to find a back-up 1-technique DY to take the place of Hankins as the backup last year in their rotation in 2014 and going forward. That's how roster management works. Would you trade Lin-Jo for those three? (Hankins was not going to stick around after his rookie contract to back-up Lin-Jo, especially since he's not really a 3-technique at this level). It's chess, not checkers.
Linval Joseph's salary cap page from overthecap.com - 2014 Vikings' team page - ( New Window )
Here are the names that Donald compares to over the past few years (within 1 point better or worse)
2013 - Sheldon Richardson, Sharif Floyd
2012 - Dontari Poe
2011 - Phil Taylor, Marcell Dareus
2010 - NONE
Here are the names that Donald finished BEHIND by more than a point
2013 - Star Lotulelei
2012 - Michael Brockers
2011 - NONE
2010 - Gerald McCoy, Ndamukong Suh
I agree. In fact, the same should be said for the offensive line. When you consider the fact that we essentially have been dominated on the line of scrimmage lately, we can expect no change in that area IF we went into the season with today's roster. This is why I am not as optimistic as others after the flurry of free agent signings. Yes, we see improvement in other areas (away from the line of scrimmage) but not in the areas where you can control the game.
So, we will have to see not only what happens in the draft but what Reese is able to do in the free agent market through July.
That is why I like Donald in Round 1. He is super strong and will be an excellent NFL player. Austin was lazy from what I hear and that is why he failed. Donald doesn't have that rep.
In a couple more years when Hankins contract is up, maybe the team will have the room to resign him. Given the way last season panned out, and the team clearly trying to factor in keeping guys like JPP, they drafted to replace positions that were more expendable. I'm sure they would have loved to keep Joseph, just not at the expense of not retaining their best player on the DL, and tying their hands with other FA acquisitions. It was more or less just timing and luck of the draw.
I agree. In fact, the same should be said for the offensive line. When you consider the fact that we essentially have been dominated on the line of scrimmage lately, we can expect no change in that area IF we went into the season with today's roster. This is why I am not as optimistic as others after the flurry of free agent signings. Yes, we see improvement in other areas (away from the line of scrimmage) but not in the areas where you can control the game.
So, we will have to see not only what happens in the draft but what Reese is able to do in the free agent market through July.
All of the Free Agents brought in have some skill and have NFL experience. Different systems and a change of scenary can sometimes create successful results. For some, the light-bulb comes on and they improve. There's also the impact of other players around you... so you never really know how they'll perform until they start to play some pre-season games together. I, for one, remain optimistic. I think an addition of a back-up center and tackle, from the draft, will make folks a little more comfortable and I will be as well. Right now it's not necessarily skill that I'm concerned about, along the oline, but health of the LT, RG and Center. If those three come into camp relatively healthy, I think they will come together quite well.
On the DLine, I think the same can be said, but we do need that difference maker to go along with a rejuvenated JPP and an improved Moore. I think Donald will provide that energy and enthusiasm that is needed along the DLine. He's strong and quick. I don't think he'll be that much of a risk. He's a guy that will continue to work hard and improve too. Draft Donald in round 1, then focus on offense for the next few rounds (WR, TE, OL, etc).
If you had continued your analysis to 2015, it would show that the cap number for Joseph is $4.6 million while the combined cap for Beason and Schwartz is a whopping $12.3 million. The cap for Beason alone is $7.4 million. So, in 2015, who would you rather have -- Linval Joseph plus an extra $2.8 million to spend, or Jon Beason and no money?
I would not call what Reese did solid cap management. It's just another example of kicking the can down the road and mortgaging the future.
It wouldn't be surprising considering that Hankins's last 2 predecessors did just that. Cofield's and Linval's agents did right by their respective clients. The Giants don't traditionally pay a lot to their 1-technique DT.
If you had continued your analysis to 2015, it would show that the cap number for Joseph is $4.6 million while the combined cap for Beason and Schwartz is a whopping $12.3 million. The cap for Beason alone is $7.4 million. So, in 2015, who would you rather have -- Linval Joseph plus an extra $2.8 million to spend, or Jon Beason and no money?
I would not call what Reese did solid cap management. It's just another example of kicking the can down the road and mortgaging the future.
We'll just agree to disagree. I still think that not re-signing Linval was the correct course of action. You have a limited allocation of money for a position that the Giants just don't invest a lot of cap space into. You have to save where you can, whenever you can. It goes beyond Beason and Schwartz. The flexibility needed to manage the roster decreases with Linval on the team at this point in his career. It's a common-sense approach to cap management.
The decision to not re-sign Linval was coming from a mile away. Besides, the space from the two players I mentioned would still be available if they were to be cut---space that would be allocated to Linval. In the NFL today you don't look past 2 or 3 years when it comes to cap management. I bet you money that Beason and Schwartz won't be on this team come 2017.
Nothing is guaranteed in life dude. What's your point?
You play the percentages. Donald has dominated EVERYTHING from on film to Senior Bowl practices to Senior Bowl Game to the combine. Has has great character and work ethic. He has been relatively injury free. That sounds like a damn good percentage play to me at 12 should he make it.
Donald vs Atkins - ( New Window )