How Early Would the Giants Consider Wide Receiver in the 2012 NFL Draft

I’ve been working so hard on getting our scouting reports updated and completed (over a 100 scouting reports are now on our scouting report page) that I’ve been neglecting my weekly New York Giants draft posts. But I’m back today with some New York Giants draft goodies. We all know the tried and true cliche for Jerry Reese and the New York Giants, “we take the best player available on our board” which leads me to this question. With the play of Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham, and Ramses Barden how early would the Giants consider a WR in the draft. And specifically, would the Giants draft Norte Dame WR Michael Floyd if he were available lateish in the first round? Floyd is an unber talented prospect who would give the Giants possibly the best 1-2 WR combo in the league in two years.

I wonder this outloud because in my mock draft update last week, I found myself excatly in that position. The New York Giants were picking 26th overall with most of the top OL talent and all the first round Linebackers off the board. I could have gone cornerback, but I just couldn’t resist grabbing Floyd, he was by far and way the top player available on my big board.

I wonder if the Giants would consider Floyd if he was available. He’s a huge target at 6’3 and 225 pounds and runs fast enough (about a 4.5 40) to keep defenses honest. On top of that he really fights for the ball in the air like Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks.

Here’s what I said about Floyd in my scouting report of him.

Michael Floyd is an absolute monster. He has great size, he catches everything thrown his way. He can run with the ball in his hands. What seperates him from most wide receivers his is ability to catch the football with people draped all over him and with his ability to get the ball always at its highest point. Floyd has the ability to be a monster in the Red-zone and is a number one WR in the N.F.L. I love him as a prospect. Of course the “character concerns” always bother you, but his talent on the field is top rate.

Yes, Mario Manningham is talented and makes a lot of plays, but he’ll be a free agent soon and with how many miscommunications Manningham has I wonder if the Giants would consider letting him go. He’s also likely to remain their #2 or #3 Wide receiver and might not get a big enough contract from the Giants to stay happy with them, especially if he continues to put up numbers.

Last year the Giants drafted Jerel Jernigan in the third round, but Jernigan is destined to be their slot WR and return man, not their number two wide receiver. Ramses Barden has flashed when he’s played, but he’s been passed on the depth chart by Victor Cruz. Do the Giants trust Cruz as their number two man?

These are all intriguing questions and why I think there is a realistic chance that come draft day the Giants could consider Wide Receiver, especially if the talented Michael Floyd is available late (or Alshon Jefferey-if he continues to struggle to produce and doens’t run well at the 40 with all of the questions there are about his speed).