The New York Giants have plenty of holes thanks to injuries, lack of talent in certain areas, and bad play calling. Due to everything, it has all played a part in Big Blue currently sitting at a disappointing 5-9 this season. We all know that there will be changes this coming offseason and a big part of that will be what they choose to do in free agency and the upcoming 2015 NFL Draft.
One area of the team that must be a high priority is the defensive front seven. We all know the offensive line has struggled, but with a healthy Geoff Schwartz and an improved Weston Richburg at center, the Giants offensive line is only one big interior lineman away from being a solid unit. The defensive line and the linebacking corps however, needs much more work.
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With star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul set to hit free agency at the end of this season, the Giants have a big decision to make in regards to either opening the check book for JPP and dedicating a lot of much needed cap space to him, or let him walk and risk losing his talents for good.
The Giants must prepare for both scenarios by adding a pass rusher or two from the very deep and talented defensive end class in next year’s draft.
With fellow defensive ends Damontre Moore still developing and Robert Ayers coming off a very productive season before being sidelined with an injury, scoring on a first round defensive end pick would do wonders for a Giants team that is in need of a spark when it comes to rushing the passer. When it comes to defensive tackle, the Giants have a great player in Johnathan Hankins who can make plays against the run as well as the pass.
Cullen Jenkins is a nice compliment to Big Hank, but with the uncertain futures of Mike Patterson and Markus Kuhn, it would be wise to add another defensive tackle in free agency as well as giving more opportunity for Jay Bromley to develop. Hopefully the Giants can resign JPP at the right price so they aren’t handcuffed to a player who has tons of talent, but has yet to match his breakout 2011 season in terms of production.
The Giants must also focus on their below average linebackers that have become a recurring theme for a team that once prided itself on having some of the best linebackers to ever lace up a pair of cleats. Rookie Devon Kennard has developed into the team’s best linebacker this season and has a bright future with Big Blue.
Jon Beason could also be a nice piece at middle linebacker, but has been hampered by injuries this year and his status with the team remains uncertain going into next year. Jacquian Williams has good speed, but still lacks the awareness to be an every down linebacker as Spencer Paysinger and Mark Herzlich look to be not much more than just backups unfortunately.
This means that the Giants should take advantage of another deep class in next year’s draft and that is the linebacker class. The Giants can find great value in the second round at linebacker with the possibility of being a long term solution for a unit that has been on a search for that solution for years.
If Beason can come back healthy and having Kennard at one of the outside spots, adding one more outside linebacker as well as a middle linebacker for the future would be a great idea to compliment a secondary that is very solid when healthy.
This offseason will be huge for rebuilding the G-Men, and general manager Jerry Reese must make the right moves in free agency and in the draft or else there will be many more losing seasons ahead for Big Blue. Making the correct moves will make the Giants contenders once again.
The question is, do you trust Reese and the Giants to make the righht moves to rebuild this team? Leave a comment below and tell us what moves you would make if you were the team’s general manager!