New York Giants: Top 5 takeaways from the Senior Bowl

The Senior Bowl officially wrapped on Saturday with the South blowing out the North 45-16.

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur were in Mobile, Alabama this week to scout some of the top prospects in this year’s draft class.

After a 3-13 season, the G-Men have plenty of holes to fill on their roster. Gettleman has said he plans to let free agency set up the team’s draft strategy, but New York will have little wiggle room with their cap space this offseason.

Big Blue has a franchise-changing decision to make with the No. 2 overall pick. Do they take their quarterback of the future? Does Gettleman trade back? Or do they take the top talent, Penn State running back Saquon Barkley?

While only one player, Josh Allen, is likely worthy of the No. 2 overall in this year’s Senior Bowl, there were plenty of future NFL starters on the field at the All-Star event.

The Giants struggled to find consistent talent in the draft under former general manager Jerry Reese, and Gettleman has already started changing Big Blue’s draft strategy. The Giants new general manager fired executive vice president of player evaluation Marc Ross within within a week of accepting the job.

The G-Men need to get back to building their roster through the draft. The Senior Bowl provides another opportunity for teams to see some of the top college players in the country compete on the same field. Unlike the Scouting Combine, these players are in pads, running actual football drills.

Here’s a closer look at the top five takeaways from the Senior Bowl from a New York Giants perspective.

#5 – Darius Leonard, Shaquem Griffin, Harrison Phillips Potential Draft Fits

There were multiple defensive standouts at the Senior Bowl this week. But three players, in particular, showcased skill-sets that could help Big Blue.

The Giants are in need of a clear upgrade at linebacker. South Carolina State’s Darius Leonard showed why he climbing up big boards this draft season. The 6-foot-2, 229-pound inside linebacker racked up a game-high 14 tackles and has drawn comparisons to Jaguars Pro Bowl linebacker Telvin Smith.

UCF outside linebacker Shaquem Griffin and Stanford defensive tackle Harrison Phillips also stood out both in practice and in the game on Saturday. The Giants need to add some young talent at outside linebacker under new defensive coordinator James Bettcher.

The G-Men looked set at the defensive tackle position with both Damon Harrison and Dalvin Tomlinson. But they may need to add another defensive lineman up front with the switch to a 3-4 defensive scheme. Bettcher is known for switching up his defensive packages, making Phillips a potential mid-round target. The 6-foot-3, 303-pound defensive lineman has the ability to play both defensive tackle in a 4-3 front and defensive end in a 3-4 front at the next level.

#4 – Rashaad Penny Can Be A Three-Down RB

Iowa running back Akrum Wadley may have turned heads during the week, but it was Penny that stole the show on Saturday.

The San Diego State prospect showed that he can be a three-down back at the next level. He picked up 64 yards on nine carries and scored a touchdown on a 73-yard reception. The 5-foot-11, 220-pound running back led the FBS with 2,248 rushing yards and scored 25 touchdowns in his senior year.

Penny answered questions about his ability to catch passes out of the backfield this week and likely only helped his draft stock with his play in Mobile.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt shined in last year’s Senior Bowl and just finished the 2017 season as the NFL’s leading rusher. Penny may not have the same immediate impact in his rookie season, but he will be making plays for some NFL franchise in 2018.

The Giants have to solve their offensive line before they can fix their ground game, but the San Diego State prospect should be on Big Blue’s radar.

LSU wide receiver DJ Chark, Colorado State wide receiver Michael Gallup, and Notre Dame tight end Durham Smythe were some other notable offensive playmakers to leave a mark on Saturday’s All-Star event.

#3 – Marcus Davenport Is The Real Deal

Any hope of Davenport falling to New York at the start of the second-round is likely gone. The UTSA prospect showcased why some draft analyst believe he is the second best pass rusher in this year’s draft.

He measured in at just under 6-foot-6 and has the length and athleticism to excel at the next level. Davenport recorded 2 tackles, a sack, a half a tackle for a loss, and scored a defensive touchdown in Saturday’s game.

He got the best off Pittsburgh offensive tackle Brian O’Neill, who ESPN’s Mel Kiper lists as the second best offensive tackle in this year’s draft class.

The Giants and Bettcher would surely love to add Davenport to New York’s roster this April, but his play in Mobile this week makes that unlikely.

USC’s Uchenna Nwosu, Ohio State’s Jalyn Holmes and Tyquan Lewis, Oklahoma’s Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, and Wisconsin’s Garret Dooley were some other notable pass rushers that made their presences felt this week.

#2 – Will Hernandez, Isaiah Wynn, Alex Cappa Boost Draft Stock

While Brian O’Neill may have hurt his value, guards Will Hernandez and Isaiah Wynn both boosted their draft stock with their play over the week.

Wynn did not participate in the game on Saturday but was named offensive lineman practice player of the week, according to NFL Network’s Andrew Siciliano. The Bulldogs 6-foot-2, 308-pound prospect was playing with a torn labrum in practice and is scheduled to undergo surgery next week.

Wynn wasn’t the only offensive lineman to raise his draft stock in Mobile. UTEP’s Will Hernandez continued to boost his draft value with a great week at the Senior Bowl.

The Miners 6-foot-2, 340-pound offensive lineman was already on NFL teams’ radars ahead of the All-Star event. But some NFL franchises likely now consider him the second best guard prospect in the draft, trailing only Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson.

Both Wynn and Hernandez might not test off the charts at the Scouting Combine but proved themselves future NFL starters by showcasing their skills on the gridiron.

Division II offensive tackle Alex Cappa out of Humboldt State is another prospect that likely boosted his draft value in Mobile. NFL Network’s draft analyst Mike Mayock had high praise for Cappa, saying “he had the nastiest tape I’ve ever seen.”

The 6-foot-5, 299-pound offensive tackle should be on Big Blue’s radar. He could be a potential draft steal, depending on his selection.

#1 – Mike White, Kyle Lauletta, Josh Allen Showcase

Of course, quarterbacks lead the list of takeaways. All week it was about Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield, but it was Western Kentucky’s Mike White that stole the show in the first half.

The Hilltoppers 6-foot-4, 221-pound quarterback completed 8-of-11 passes for 128 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Tre’Quan Smith. White also threw a beautiful deep ball to Chark down the sideline.

In the second half, it was the Allen and Kyle Lauletta show. Wyoming’s 6-foot-5, 237-pound quarterback struggled in the first half, going three-and-out twice. But Allen wouldn’t let that be the end of his Senior Bowl experience.

He came out firing in the second half, leading the North to their only two touchdown drives of the game. Allen ended the day completing 9-of-13 passes for 158 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also answered questions about his accuracy with a teardrop touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Conklin.

While the Giants surely had their eyes on Allen all week, Lauletta earned the Most Outstanding Player award.

The 6-foot-2, 217-pound FCS prospect completed 8-of-12 passes for 198 yards and threw three touchdowns and no interceptions.

If the Giants decide not to take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick, both White and Lauletta could be mid-round options with starter potential down the road.

Next: Big Blue Targeting Andrew Norwell In Free Agency?