New York Giants: Draft Grades, Off-Season Recap, and 53 Man Roster Projection

Following the 2010 NFL season the Giants took a lax approach to free agency choosing to fill holes from within. Jerry Reese received a lot of flack from professional writers and bloggers alike as players like Kevin Boss and Steve Smith left via free agency, while only signing center/guard Davis Bass. All the Giants did was win the NFC East and get hot enough to win the Superbowl. The Giants took a similar approach in free agency this year-letting players leave like Mario Manningham. Will the Giants see similar results after the 2012 season? Let’s take a look at their off-season.

NFL Draft

1st round-David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech

Nothing during Jerry Reese’s tenure with the New York Giants as head scout or general manager suggested he would spend a high running back, but he surprised many people with the selection of David Wilson out of Virginia Tech. There are people who believe the Buccaneers “stole” Doug Martin from the Giants and the Giants settled for David Wilson. I do actually believe that Wilson was the running back the Giants prefer because of his unique physical abilities, and because of his background in the ACC. I also had Wilson higher on my board than Martin. I had Wilson as a borderline first round value pick. Pretty good value and filling a need makes a good pick. B+

Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

The Giants do a good job of taking the best players available early in the draft, while also filling depth issues. This is true again with the Randle pick. With Manningham leaving for San Francisco, and the uncertainty of the other outside WR–is it Domenik Hixon, Ramses Barden the training camp sensation, or Jerel Jernigan last year’s third round pick?–Randle will have a chance to make an impact in 2012. Randle was well regarded around the league and likely would not have been available for the Giants if there was not some minor concerns about his knee. Randle was a high second round pick for me. Good value pick for the Giants as they retool their offense early in the 2012 NFL DRaft. A

Jayron Hosley, CB, VA Tech

I know that Eric Galko of optimumscouting.com sang the praises of Hosley prior to the draft and for good reason. He’s athletic, has terrific ball skills, can help in the return game, and is feisty. But he is also undersized and failed a drug test at the combine. This is another value/need pick for the Giants. The Giants were lost in their nickel coverage last year against smaller quicker WR like Wes Welker as Amukamara, Aaron Ross, or Corey Webster were not ideally suited to cover these types of players. Hosley could excel in Perry Fewell’s read and react secondary principles because of his plus ball skills and instincts. He’ll have to beat out Justin Tyron/Terrell Thomas/Prince Amukamara to see the field a lot. Solid value for me here.

4th round-Adrien Robinson, TE, Cincinnati

To me, it seems the Giants, use the fourth round to secure a player they like, but that would often be considered a reach to other teams. Their fourth round picks have not been great under Jerry Reese as General Manager (James Brewer Philip Dillard, Andre Brown, Bryan Kehl, Zak De Ossie), but that could change with Robinson. I did not love Robinson, but I like the fit with the Giants. If there is a better TE coach in the league than Mike Pope please direct me to him. The Giants have had an extremely gifted TE since Jeremy Shockey, but have managed to get enough production from the spot. Robinson probably will not contribute much in 2012 as a pass catcher, but he could develop into a good one in time. I am having a hard time deciding if this pick is a reach or not…would he have been available for the Giants in the fifth round? With how weak the TE class is I think not. B-

4^th round-Brandon Mosley, OL, Auburn

The Giants have compared Mosley to David Diehl. That is suppose to be high recommendation from the Giants who love Diehl, but it’s scary for Giants fans who do not love Diehl. The Giants are hoping between Mosley, Beatty, Brewer, and McCants there are two solid starting tackles for the future. Mosley could have been drafted earlier Good value, fills a need. B/B+

6^th Round-Matt McCants, T, Alabama Birmingham

This might have been my favorite Giants pick outside of Randle from a value stand-point. I would have been comfortable with a team selecting McCants two rounds earlier. He has to get stronger, but he has NFL LT feet and size. He has to become much more consistent, but he’s well worth the gamble in the 6^th round the problem with the pick here though is he has an uphill battle to make the roster with all the developmental tackles currently on the Giants roster. B-

7^th round-Markus Kuhn, DT, North Carolina State

The Giants saw something in Kuhn I did not. I did not have Kuhn as a draftable player, but the Giants took a flier on him. Kuhn has yet to practice because he has had trouble getting a work visa from his native Germany. I also do not think Kuhn has an inside track at making the team. Curious pick for me and one I do not love. C

Overall

The Giants just do a solid job in the draft year in and year out. Reese has probably the best tracker record since 2007 with first round picks—Ross, Phillips, Nicks, Pierre Paul, Amukamara. That is one All-pro, one Pro bowl player, Phillips is a good player, and Ross is a starting NFL cornerback-Amukamara remains to be seen. I can’t see Wilson completely busting for the Giants. He might end up being more Felix Jones for the Giants than he is Ray Rice, but he’ll still help the Giants in some capacity. I’d bet on him being better than Jones as well. Randle, Hosley seem like picks that fit the Giants systems perfectly. Robinson, mosley, McCants, follow the Giants philosophy of drafting players with big time NFL traits and hoping their plus coaching staff can coach them up. Good solid draft for the Giants thought it was much more offensively focused than I thought it would be. B+

Off-season recap: (via walterfootball.com)

Giants re-sign DT Rocky Bernard
~~Redskins sign ILB Jonathan Goff~~
Giants sign DT Shaun Rogers
Giants re-sign ILB Chase Blackburn
Giants acquire OLB Keith Rivers from Bengals for 5th-round pick
Giants sign CB Antwaun Molden
Giants sign OT Sean Locklear
~~Raiders sign DE Dave Tollefson~~
Giants sign S Stevie Brown
~~49ers sign RB Brandon Jacobs~~
~~Bears sign WR Devin Thomas~~
~~Jaguars sign CB Aaron Ross~~
~~49ers sign WR Mario Manningham~~
Giants re-sign P Steve Weatherford
Giants sign TE Martellus Bennett
Giants re-sign QB David Carr
Giants re-sign CB Terrell Thomas
~~Giants cut RB Brandon Jacobs~~
Giants re-sign WR/KR Domenik Hixon

53 Man Roster projection

Quarterback (2): Eli Manning, David Carr

Running back (5): Ahmad Bradshaw, David Wilson, D.J. Ware, Da’rel Scott, Heny Hynoski

Wide Receiver (6): Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle, Jerel Jernigan, Ramses Barden, Domenik Hixon (name to watch: Brandon Collins)

Tight End (3): Martellus Bennett, Bear Pascoe, Adrien Robinson

Offensive line (9): Will Beatty, Kevin Boothe, Davis Baas, Chris Snee, David Diehl, James Brewer, Brandon Mosley, Mitch Petrus, Sean Locklear

Defensive line (8): Jason Pierre Paul, Justin Tuck, Osi Umeinyora, Chris Canty, Linval Joseph, Marvin Austin, Justin Trattou, Rocky Bernard

Linebacker (7): Michael Boley, Chase Blackburn, Mathias Kiwanuka, Jacquian Williams, Keith Rivers, Mark Herzlich, Greg Jones

Cornerback (6): Corey Webster, Terrel Thomas, Prince Amukamara, Justin Tyron, Jayron Hosley, Antwaun Molden

Safety (4): Kenny Phillips, Antrel Rolle, Tyler Sash, Will Hill

Kicker (1): Lawrence Tynes

Punter (1): Steve Weatherford

Long Snapper (1): Zak DeOssie

Positions of strength:

Defensive line: The strength of the team is clearly in the quarterback play and the defensive line. The Giants have arguably the best defensive line in the entire league.

Cornerback: I really think the Giants have an abundance of talent at the cornerback position. If Thomas comes back healthy, Webster, Amukamara, Thomas are one of the league’s top three cornerback trios, though they lack a true shut-down corner. Add in Hosley and Justin Tyron and it could be a special group.

Positions of weakness-

Runningback-Bradshaw can’t stay healthy and Wilson might be a liability until he learns the offense. This weakness could easily turn into a strength by the end of season, but right now it’s an unproven and potentially poor unit.

Offensive line-the Giants must play better on the offensive line if they want to have a realistic chance of repeating as Superbowl champions.

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