New York Giants Positional Needs Update

For awhile I was doing the bi-weekly New York Giants positional need update, but I got busy doing scouting reports and the like so I haven’t done one in awhile, I’ll get back to making Wednesday and Thursday’s New York Giants draft central (along with all of our all around draft coverage).

No one saw this coming the Giants winning the Superbowl it was a thrilling ride, but now the Giants have to buckle down, weather some inevitable losses and upgrade some positions that could have easily derailed their season.

First let’s take a look at potential free agents

Offense:

Quarterback: David Carr

Linemen: Kareem McKenzie, Stacey Andrews, and Tony Ugoh

WR: Mario Manningham, and Devin Thomas

Defense:

Defensive linemen: Dave Tollefson, Rocky Bernard, Jimmy Kennedy

Linebacker: Jon Goff and Chase Blackburn

Cornerback: Terrell Thomas, Aaron Ross, Justin Tyron, Will Blackmon

Safety: Deon Grant, Derrick Martin

Special Teams:

Punter: Steve Weatherford

Return man: Will Blackmon (also listed at cornerback)

Gunner: Devin Thomas (also listed at WR)

Potential Cap Casualties and/or Trade Bait

DE Osi Ueminyora and RB Brandon Jacobs

I’m going to operate on the assumption that the Giants only sign two of these players because there are only two I’m certain they will sign. I think it is a lock that they bring back Punter Steve Weatherford, the punter is not too expensive to cause any cap problems and the Giants won’t find better in the draft or in free agency. Weatherford has been terrific this year. The other player I’m almost positive they bring back is QB David Carr. As long as Carr no longer has aspirations of starting in the N.F.L. (and I don’t think there any places that would give him that opportunity) I think Carr will stay with the Giants. He knows the system, they trust him in a pinch, and this team can compete with a back up quarterback and have shown they want a veteran behind Eli Manning.

The player I think is most likely to return are CB Terrell Thomas because the Giants will get him on the cheap. I’d be surprised if they didn’t take a long look at Jon Goff as well, but could move on for him.

And now the positional needs by descending order of importance.

Right Tackle

Kareem McKenzie looked old and slow for much of the season. The Giants have some internal options to fill this void. They could move David Diehl to RT and hope that they can find a guard to draft to play that position. They could hope ton draft a center and move Baas to guard. They could pursue a terrific guard like Carl Nicks in free agency. They could draft a RT and let Diehl slide back to guard with Will Beatty moving back to LT.

Whatever they decide to do, they have to improve their running game.

Tight End:

The Giants had a need tight end before the Superbowl, but after the game in which they lost Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum to A.C.L. tears this becomes the primary need for the New York Giants. The Giants are looking for Tight Ends that are able to block first and then also catch the football. The Giants philosophy has been to take big slower tight ends with soft hands who are considered blockers later in the draft (or sign them as UDFA) as of late. This is not an area they have spent money on in free agency, and that will probably continue this year. The tight end Free Agent class is not deep or terrific outside of Jermichael Finley and Fred Davis.

Possible options at the end of the first round are: Clemson TE Dwayne Allen (the best combo tight end in the draft as a guy who can catch the football but also block), TE Orson Charles (a matchup tight end, similar to what they were hoping to get with Travis Beckum), and Stanford TE Coby Fleener-a big athletic tight end who is long and lean. Fleener might have the most upside for the Giants if he can add weight without losing his athleticism.

Cornerback

Cornerback would be the number one need for the New York Giants if Ballard and Beckum had not tore their ACLs in the Superbowl game. Right now the only guarantees to be on the team next year are Corey Webster and Prince Amukamara which is a nice one two punch. The Giants seem likely to bring back Thomas at a discount, but that’s not a guarantee. I also think the Giants might have seen what they liked from the talented Justin Tyron before his injury and he could be another cheap option to bring back. With those two signings cornerback would not be much of a need, but depth would still be needed for this tea.

SAM linebacker

This depends on what the Giants do with Mathias Kiwanuka. My gut feeling is that the Giants trade Osi Umeinyora because they will have to pay Jason Pierre Paul and Victor Cruz major money soon and they can ot afford everyone. With that move they will move Osi Umeinyora to DE because they do not love Kiwanuka at SAM linebacker-he was gradually phased out of the defense down the stretch. If that occurs and even if that does not occur the Giants do not have a proven every down SAM linebacker on their roster.

Safety:

Secondary depth is the theme of the day. With Deon Grant potentially leaving via free agency the Giants would only have Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips, and Tyler Sash. Sash has not shown an ability to play coverage consistently at the N.F.L. level. Without improving the talent at safety an injury to Rolle or Phillips could potentially derail the Giants season (see 2009 for an example-that is C.C. Brown’s short lived Giants career). The other issue is this: Perry Fewell likes to use a lot of three safety sets as he has done his first two seasons with the Giants. He also used three safeties or a S/LB hybrid often when he was with Buffalo.

Mark Barron is the only safety worth taking in the first round. If Markelle Martin were available at the end of the second round that wouldn’t be a bad pick either. Lastly look for Boise State S George Iloka who wowed at the Senior Bowl and oozes of upside. The Giants won’t attack this position in free agency with a big signing.

Middle Linebacker:

This is less of a major need to me because the Giants have a fine combination MLB. Herzlich has shown he can be a two day MLB in limited duty and Chase Blackburn could be resigned as well. He played very well down the stretch. Jacquian Williams was terrific during the Giants 6 game winning streak. Between those two players they have a middle linebacker, but if they can upgrade in the draft I think they will consider it.

Players to watch at the end of the first round:

Boston College LB Luke Kuechly is a bit of a limited athlete, but a terrific football player because he has terrific instincts.

ASU linebacker Vontaze Burfict is big, mean, athletic, has long arms, can rush the passer and has worlds of upside. He is, however, sometimes uncontrollable, and very undisciplined on the field.

Former Titans and Detroit Lions MLB Stephen Tulloch could be available in free agency.

Wide Receiver

Again this is less of a position of need in my mind because the Giants have a few options that are available to them on their roster. They drafted Jerl Jernigan to return punts and kicks and replace Steve Smith. It turned out that Victor Cruz was that player and Jernigan rode the bench most of the year, but Mario Manningham did the same thing in year one. Eli Manning has done a terrific job helping young WR develop and I expect that Jernigan could be a big contributor in 2012. I also have a feeling that Eagles WR Steve Smith gets a long look (only at a discount) with the Giants as their slot WR.

Running back:

Brandon Jacobs will likely be released, but even in that event the Giants still have Bradshaw, Ware, Darell Scott, and former 4th round pick and now practice squad player Andre Brown. A running back in the draft is a possibility, but the value would have to be terrific.

What do you think Giants fans?

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