As I always say....I think it is foolish to head in to a draft with concrete "rules" regarding which positions to go after with specific picks. With the amount of holes on this roster, NYG will have the opportunity to really go after a BPA. If you think about it....they could really take a guy at ANY position. Here are 10 candidates...assuming they finish within top 10:
OT
Most will want a new OT brought in, preferably a LT or at least a prospect that will take over the LT spot once it makes financial sense to cut Beatty loose.
Andrus Peat - OT/Stanford
He's likely to finish as the top, or second best OT grade on my sheet. Love his size and length, a tough guy for speed rushers to get around. Very powerful when he wants to put, absolutely dominated some quality players in the UCLA game.
La'el Collins - OT/LSU
A top tier name that isn't discussed often enough. Former guard that made the move to LT last season, played well. But his performance in 2014 has been outstanding. Best run blocker in the class if you ask me.
Brandon Scherff - OT/Iowa
Still trying to figure his game out. He has a few really bad plays every game. Is there a concentration issue? Conditioning? Effort? A lot to consider here. I think he can be a good OT, but also a great G. Would NYG use such a high pick on a G? After watching the past two years....I would hope so. They can have a major impact in any offense.
DE
The days of having a threat at DE are long gone. The lack of presence out there has been arguably the biggest reason why this defense as a while has taken a step backward.
Shane Ray - DE/Missouri
Love the first step. He is as explosive as it gets and there is a lot of hustle to his game. Some say he is undersized for the 4-3....but I think he can hack it out there. There are quality DEs that played at his size in college. I wouldn't get too cute in evaluation here...Ray can get to the passer. NYG could really use that right now and especially if JPP leaves.
Randy Gregory - DE/Nebraska
Another slighter-than-wanted DE here (6'6/245) but has plenty of room on his frame. Gregory might be the best overall athlete of all the DE prospects. Really good pursuit speed and explosion out of his stance. Shows consistent effort and plays the game tough. Has been dinged up a few times in 2014, butt here is still plenty of admirable tape on him.
DT
Hankins has been a nice player so far, much better than I thought he would be. But the revolving door left since the departure of Linval Joseph is an issue. Any team that gives snaps to Markus Kuhn needs to upgrade the group.
Leonard Williams - DT/USC
The do-it-all defensive linemen might be one of the best 300 pound athletes you'll ever find. And he is more than an athletic freak, he has a lot of football skills. He can win one on one battles all day and there is a presence inside against the run and pass every time he's on the field. He demands a ton of attention.
Danny Shelton - DT/Washington
One look at him and he looks like strictly a 3-4 NT. Watch him a few times and you'll notice he is one of the most active DTs in this class. He makes a lot of plays away from the point of attack. Quality pass rusher. Doesn't get pushed around but can make his way to the ball carrier as well. A lot to like here.
WR
There are bigger needs, but there are still holes at WR a the roster currently stands. If Beckham is going to be as good as some think he can be, another playmaker should be brought in besides Cruz.
Amari Cooper - WR/Alabama
Might be the top grade I have given a WR since Calvin Johnson. His game screams Larry Fitzgerald with the way he plucks the ball out of the air and tracks the deep ball. Probably a better athlete than Fitzgerald was back in 2004. WR may not be the biggest need on the roster, but Cooper might be one of those guys you just don't pass on.
Jaelen Strong - WR/Arizona State
Many of you may not have seen this kid play yet...but he is the second best WR in this group behind the elite Cooper. Strong has the the size and speed to be a major factor downfield in any offense. But he shows, every week, the ability to factor underneath in traffic. Major matchup problem for a lot of defenses. Plays aggressive too, gotta love that out of a big WR. Little more raw than Cooper, but his upside is Brandon Marshall-esque.
QB
I don't want to deal with another Eli Manning debate. But my point remains...the next QB of NYG needs to be thought about whether its in 2015, 2016, or 2017.
Marcus Mariota - WB/Oregon
Mariota is the only guy in this class I would spend a top 10 pick on. He fits in to the new wave of QBs that play well in a spread/zone-read attack. Everyone knows about the speed, but he has evolved in to a high quality thrower. He has plenty of arm strength and might be the most accurate passer in the class. Can a running QB stay healthy with the frame of Mariota? Thats what scares me the most about it. Otherwise...he is a smart kid with a great head on his shoulders and an obscene amount of talent.
Right now I say the screaming need is OL, but that's probably due to all the injuries.
Beatty Pugh Richburg Schwartz Peat
or
OBJ Cooper Cruz Donnell
Either way, we are much better offensively.
I'd probably rather go for Cooper or a DE if available.
I think we can win with Beatty and Pugh if the middle of the line is fixed, and frankly we should be able to fix it via FA and if we're picking near the top of the 2nd.
I think the best teams built an individual identity be it on offense or defense. Having a WR core of Beckham, Cooper and Cruz (hopefully) gives us the chance to build an offensive juggernaut which will be hard to stop.
If we resign Thurmond and Prince, then along with a fit DRC you'd have enough in the secondary to make it hard for teams to keep up with our aerial assault.
Of course that's all predicated on fitness and being able to fix the Oline.
But the fact of the matter is that we have Pugh and Beatty for better or for worse for the time being at tackle. Yes, we can draft an OT and move Pugh inside, I guess. Beatty will need to be upgraded soon, but he isn't the main problem with our line.
Our line is hurting inside, and I'm operating under the assumption that you can get a very solid G prospect at the top of Rd 2. Taking that into account, I would go Cooper. Cruz isn't a guarantee to come back completely healthy (though I truly hope that he does). Cooper + OBJ has the potential to solidify our WR position for 5+ years. Add Cruz to the mix, and suddenly you're a couple players on a line away from having an elite passing game. Jennings is a good enough back that we can hope to see serious numbers from a skill position set of Donnell, Jennings, Cruz, Cooper, and OBJ.
Couple questions for Sy:
1) I've heard rumblings that Cooper is a better player/prospect than Julio Jones. It sounds like you agree with that sentiment Sy.
2) Additionally, do you think it's feasible that there will be a good value on a guard at the top of Rd 2?
Ideally, I'd love the Giants to go Cooper, OG, and then DE in rd 3.
That said, I think you either grab a skills player(WR,RB, QB, CB) early or trade down to get more picks as the team could use ALOT of help. I HOPE the new set up will be better at evaluating LB's and they pick us up a decent one (purely a personal preference) but I'd say top pick on defense second and third round OL or WR then try to get more defensive minded.
Anyway, its about the first and only thing to get excited about until next preseason.....
That said, I think you either grab a skills player(WR,RB, QB, CB) early or trade down to get more picks as the team could use ALOT of help. I HOPE the new set up will be better at evaluating LB's and they pick us up a decent one (purely a personal preference) but I'd say top pick on defense second and third round OL or WR then try to get more defensive minded.
Anyway, its about the first and only thing to get excited about until next preseason.....
Thompson looks a bit sloppy to me. There isn't anything that really stands out to me there. He gets pushed back too often for my liking and his athleticism is good, but not good enough to make up for that lack of presence.
Clemmings I have only seen once. Didn't like his lack of strength as a run blocker and he didn't do well with the LBs in space. I like his frame though and he has good footwork. I don't see the 1st rounder that some label him to be.
The line is a need, but I think they only need a Guard and those can be gotten after the 1st round or in FA.
Couple questions for Sy:
1) I've heard rumblings that Cooper is a better player/prospect than Julio Jones. It sounds like you agree with that sentiment Sy.
2) Additionally, do you think it's feasible that there will be a good value on a guard at the top of Rd 2?
Ideally, I'd love the Giants to go Cooper, OG, and then DE in rd 3.
There are quality Gs available at the top of round 2 every year. I think Kouandijo from Alabama can be a nice find at that point, maybe even Tre Jackson from FSU.
As for Cooper being better than Jones...yes I think he will be.
The line is a need, but I think they only need a Guard and those can be gotten after the 1st round or in FA.
I wouldn't have a problem taking Cooper. Looks like one of the 5 best players in the draft.
An argument for DL or OL. The dream pick is DT L Williams. The run D has been unspeakably putrid and Murray/Mccoy are not leaving the division anytime soon. He'll make both Hankins and JPP (and hopefully Moore...) that much more effective. Long shot he makes it out of the top 3, though. Might go 1.
Picking top 8 is rather unique in that there is unlikely to be a "clear" BPA so I think position is taken more into account than it otherwise would be. Personally I wouldn't be surprised if Mara again calls the shots and demands an OL pick after seeing a Eli get abused for another season.
Shaq Thompson and Kevin White (if Cooper if gone), other possible picks.
It's an unfortunate reality, but it will help long-term if they lose out. Root for the Jets to upset Miami tonight,
White is right there with Strong. I've been talking about him since week 1 against Alabama.
I think Strong has some upside to him that White can't touch. Parker has been outstanding, no doubt. There are a couple parts to his game I'm not in love with though...average acceleration and speed. Not sure he'll be a great route runner...but I will say he has exceeded my expectations this season. May need to re-evaluate down the road.
I know we're discussing top 10, but Larry Donnell is JAG and shouldn't be the main guy. Maxx Williams if he falls to the 2nd (always possible with Tight Ends) or Clive Walford rnd 4. The Giants need a TE.
The line would be:
Pugh - Iupati - Richburg - Draft Pick - Beatty.
Yes, Beatty will need to be upgraded down the line, but NOW we're talking about a serious line. Of course we'll need to sign some depth to play behind them, since it's evident that all OL we draft after Rd 3 suck (the point that I'd consider someone a late rd pick).
On top of that, our skill positions would be Cruz, OBJ, Cooper, Eli, Donnell, Jennings, and Williams.
If we can add a TE or RB with potential later in the draft, we'd be golden.
In your scenario, I'd like for them to go DL in rd 3 and then RB/TE in rd 4 (unless theres a good OG who has also fallen that far who presents a good value - in that case, scoop him up).
I know we're discussing top 10, but Larry Donnell is JAG and shouldn't be the main guy. Maxx Williams if he falls to the 2nd (always possible with Tight Ends) or Clive Walford rnd 4. The Giants need a TE.
He just look like the type of WR that only comes around every few years at worst, and every decade at best. He's on that AJ Green/Julio Jones level (I know they came out the same year, but you know what I'm getting at).
Quote:
Sign Iupati and draft an interior lineman in the second.
I would LOVE THIS. This would go a LONG way towards fixing this team.
The line would be:
Pugh - Iupati - Richburg - Draft Pick - Beatty.
Yes, Beatty will need to be upgraded down the line, but NOW we're talking about a serious line. Of course we'll need to sign some depth to play behind them, since it's evident that all OL we draft after Rd 3 suck (the point that I'd consider someone a late rd pick).
On top of that, our skill positions would be Cruz, OBJ, Cooper, Eli, Donnell, Jennings, and Williams.
If we can add a TE or RB with potential later in the draft, we'd be golden.
In your scenario, I'd like for them to go DL in rd 3 and then RB/TE in rd 4 (unless theres a good OG who has also fallen that far who presents a good value - in that case, scoop him up).
I think the line would be Beatty-Iapati-Richburg-Schwartz-Pugh with the pick at guard as depth.... But yeah...
They'll need to find a guard and possibly RT in FA/later rounds, but Cooper would be dope. I just felt like bitching about Cruz's injury. The worst part in a season filled with many horrendous moments.
Lumpkin(an excellent OT prospect) from Rutgers handled him when matched up. Gregory is light in the ass for a NFL DE. I think he's a 3-4 OLB.
Lumpkin(an excellent OT prospect) from Rutgers handled him when matched up. Gregory is light in the ass for a NFL DE. I think he's a 3-4 OLB.
Injured. Didn't play
Think they'll have to be picking no lower than 4 to get Williams. Which, after yesterday, is certainly possible. I'm concerned about Gregory's bulk, or lack of same, but certainly wouldn't mind having him. Especially if they're picking 6 or lower. Collins is a no go. Predominantly an in the box safety.
Lumpkin(an excellent OT prospect) from Rutgers handled him when matched up. Gregory is light in the ass for a NFL DE. I think he's a 3-4 OLB.
He needs to add weight, but he has the frame to fill it out. He has excellent speed off the edge.
I think if he gains weight and strength, he could be a very good 4-3 DE. Him and DaMonster would be a nice, young tandem.
We can dream.
- Peat is interesting. Nothing he does blows me away but he's really solid in all aspects. He's the safest choice of the tackles.
- Sherff has the most upside of all of the tackles, but he's not ready to play now. Excellent athlete who clearly needs to get stronger.
- I don't think Collins can play LT at all. I'm not sure he can play RT either, but he shows the most dominance of any of the tackle prospects because of his run blocking.
- I don't think Shane Ray is a 4-3 DE unless the Giants are switching to the Seattle model of a 4-3.
On pure football merits, I think Winston is better than Mariota. There's only one Chip Kelly in the NFL... everyone else needs their QB to operate from the pocket in a regular NFL offense. Winston's size (very underrated quality for NFL QB), arm strength, and experience in a pro-style offense make him a better NFL prospect ON the field. The other stuff makes him rather untouchable. Mariota is very accurate, but I worry about his body type and adjustment to a NFL offense.
The fact that the Bucs, Titans, Jets (and possibly Skins) all need a QB helps the Giants greatly. And, despite his issues, I don't think Winston is going to slip very much because the talent level is too high.
Too bad crazy Al isn't around to blow the Raiders' pick. They'll probably take DT Williams.
It's to early to tell for sure, but I feel we will just miss out on Cooper, Williams or Gregory. Any one of which I would love on this team.
We should sign DT Quarels off Colts practice squad now! We have a Guard on PS, Eric Herman. We definitely need to finally draft a stud ILB. We have a need for OT, DE and WR. TE Donnel needs to learn how "not" to fumble. The last thing we need to do is draft another QB!
You absolutely pass on another overrated WR in Cooper and take the OL.
Anything else at this point is madness with the evidence on display weekly.
You absolutely pass on another overrated WR in Cooper and take the OL.
Anything else at this point is madness with the evidence on display weekly.
So you reach for need? Who is "another overrated WR"?