Who are the core players to build around.

If we're only counting young-ish players and with an eye to teh future, 'd define "core" as someone who can be a starter on a good team for a comparatively of long period of time in the present/immediate future. You want to hope rookies like Owa are on there, but I don't think a 3rd round pick is a core player by definition of his draft status until he proves something on the field. Someone like Eli is core but I don't think that's what you're looking for.

I'd consider Flowers core since he was a 1st rd pick. Other core players: Pugh, OBJ, arguably Cruz, Prince, JPP (still), Hankins, Collins, Richburg.

Those are the players the Giants are going to hang onto that are currently on the roster. Some of these are based on potential (Richburg), but the others are good young players who could greatly contribute on a championship caliber team. By championship caliber, I mean a team that can get streaky and win it all as opposed to a dominant regular season team.

Wynn, Moore, Odi, Hankins, Bromley

Kennard, Prince, DRC(still young enough), Collins

Richburg, Pugh, Flowers,

Cruz(also still young enough), OBJ, Randle(I hope we retain him)

Donnell, Vereen, Hunt, Williams, Hyno(though replaceable)

Eli(5-6 years or so left imo)

Harris(Specials, perhaps more; Still rather young)

I know I'm leaving out a bunch

Hankins Kennard, OO, DRC Collins Harris Vereen

On the core bubble: Eli, Jennings, Randle, Donnell, Prince, Schwartz, Pugh, Beatty, Taylor, JPP and Moore.

Randle is in a contract year and we now find out he's been "managing " knee tendinitis since college. Don't want any part of that with. Big money contract. Is Cruz still. $7 million a year player? Guys like Wynn are just JAGS easily replaceable. As Eric has said is Eli really worth $20 million a year? Jenkins is old for a RB. Guys who are injury risks (Beason,Primce) can't be core players, DRC is around 30 also. I looked at this the way a new regime would when they took over and looked at the roster. (Not necessarily who the best players are now

In comment 12445416 Dave on the UWS said:

Quote:

As Eric has said is Eli really worth $20 million a year?

No. Absolutely not. He's worth more than $20m.

Eli/nassib
Vereen
Obj
Flowers/richburg/Pugh

Hankins
Owa
Kennard
Collins

Any additional is either too much projection or homerism

It shouldnt just be a list of anyone young and not hurt.

Build around Eli, the 3 young high pick OLs, Odell, and maybe Cruz. Schwartz but only by reputation/contract. That's the building blocks. Everyone else is useful, but if RR or Donnell are gone in a year, whatever. On defense, it's thin. Hankins, hopefully JPP; too soon to guess on OO, Moore and Bromley IMO. In the back 7 I like Kennard but I dont consider him a building block. DRC, Prince, and Collins are building blocks for now.

We need to develop some young talent and turn those kids into commodities or guys to build around. There are a lot of young players on this team that may or may not stick. We need a lot of them to develop. If the running incessant narrative of this team wasnt so win or else this would be a fun time. I love young teams and the Giants have proven themselves to be quite adept at bullding through draft. But it's win or else and three straight years no playoffs bla bla bla.. I guess two super bowl titles isn't enough.

If people focused on the now and the future instead of the past, let things develop and see where this franchise stands in January 2016 maybe we'd enjoy this season. But that's just me...

Eli,OBJ,Cruz,Flowers,Pugh,Ritchburg on Offense
Hankins,Collins and Prince on Defense
Hopefully OO and Kennard also.

Offense:
Beckham
Flowers
Richburg
Pugh

Defense:
Hankins
Odi
Moore
Kennard
Prince
Collins

Here is who is going to be on the Giants' roster for the next two years (barring injury) . More than that doesn't matter in today's NFL

Eli, Nassib, Jennings, Williams, Darkwa, Vereen, Flowers, Pugh, Richburg, Schwartz, Donnell, Cunningham, OBJ, Cruz, Harris, Davis, Wynn, Hankins, Bromley, OO, Moore, Kennard, Thomas, Castillas, DRC, Collins, Taylor, Berhe and probably Prince.

And that's no matter who the coach is.

"Core players" needs a definition.

Someone that other teams have to account for. Someone that is fierce and can rush the passer. Someone like JJ Watt. Not many teams have it, but we need that guy. Actually JPP could have been that guy, but I don't want to open that can of worms again.

It's what you think it is. Above average players you can win with. It looks like most of us are on the same page. The lists are pretty much the same as mine. This team is not devoid of talent. But they will be hard pressed to compete this year.
If we did the same analysis of Dallas for example, what kind of list would we get? My gut tells me that they would have the same number of "core"
Players so what's the difference in the rosters? The number of Elote players, the depth, better players at the other positions? Let's get some input here.

how does that effect your core?

the league for the next 5 years minimum. I count three players:

Defense
Johnathan Hankins

Offense
Beckham
Flowers

Everyone else are either:
1. Question marks due to injury and unproven (JPP and Cruz);
2. Young guys with unproven potential (Odighizuwa, Moore, Collins, Richburg, Pugh);
3. Too old to be guaranteed starter for most teams for MINIMUM of 5+ years (Eli; Cromartie);
4. or are nice players but at the end of the day "just another guy" (Vereen, Bromley, Kennard, Amukamara (struggled with him))
5. Not worth mentioning

Staying Put Under Most Any Circumstances:

Eli Manning: Unless his contract demands are too outlandish or his play falls off a cliff this year.
OBJ: Face of the franchise. Offense will be running through him for foreseeable future barring catastrophic injury
Flowers: Monster talent
Hankins: Turning into top echelon interior D-Lineman
Collins: Young starter with major upside
Kennard: Best linebacker prospect on roster. Major upside in either 4-3 or 3-4
DRC: Most talented cover corner in NFC East in his physical prime
OO: Already flashing major upside. Big time physical talent who needs to refine his skills as a pass rusher

Not a certainty but likely to stick under most circumstances:
Richburg: Struggles at times but back in his natural position with room to grow into a solid player
Pugh: A mixed bag but has flashed more good than bad and a solid locker room guy
Prince: When healthy one of the better cover corners in the league. Can he string together a full season? If not he may be gone.
Damonster: Talented pass rusher, but light bulb hasn't gone on yet. May actually be more useful in a 3-4? Probably too much talent to cut bait quite yet.
Cruz: Top echelon slot receiver if fully healthy as well as a face of the franchise. Can he come all the way back from
devastating knee injury?
Andre Williams: Can he show enough this season to unseat Jennings as the top dog in this backfield?
Vereen: Will chemistry with Eli and his versatility allow him to carve out a large role in this offense or will he end up being more of a gadget guy?

Just missing the cut: Wynn, Bromley, Darkwa, Hart, Randle

Everyone else on the roster would probably be a major question mark to stick based on scheme fit, cost vs actual productivity, injury history, or talent.

Jennings, Ayers, Beason, and Schwartz are the big time core contributors this year who will have to really step it up. If they don't play to a true starting caliber level and prove they can go a full season with their bloated contracts and younger, fresher, cheaper guys waiting in the wings, their days on the Giants will most likely be over. JT Thomas has to prove he's a real player and not an overpriced reach. Beatty and JPP look finished as Giants barring a miracle.

In comment 12445704 baadbill said:

Quote:

the league for the next 5 years minimum. I count three players: Defense Johnathan Hankins Offense Beckham Flowers Everyone else are either: 1. Question marks due to injury and unproven (JPP and Cruz); 2. Young guys with unproven potential (Odighizuwa, Moore, Collins, Richburg, Pugh); 3. Too old to be guaranteed starter for most teams for MINIMUM of 5+ years (Eli; Cromartie); 4. or are nice players but at the end of the day "just another guy" (Vereen, Bromley, Kennard, Amukamara (struggled with him)) 5. Not worth mentioning

I agree with most of this. Hankins had an awesome season, I think at this point, he's a potential building block. He will most certainly be that if he puts together another great year this upcoming season.

is ever going to be a full-time starter. (He doesn't look accurate enough to me). If he looking like a starter to anyone, the Giants would already be fielding offers for him. Very few mid rounders turn into Tom Brady.