New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman has made some significant personnel changes since taking over in late December.
Big Blue has moved on from Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg, Jason Pierre-Paul, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Devon Kennard, Brad Wing, and Dwayne Harris over the past month. Despite the loss of five starters and a punter, the New York Giants have arguably improved since the start of free agency.
The G-Men have acquired a former second-team All-Pro in Alec Ogletree and landed the top left tackle on the free agent market, Nate Solder. Gettleman has also addressed New York’s lack of depth following an injury-plagued season.
The Giants have added depth to their secondary with the signings of B.W. Webb, Curtis Riley, and Teddy Williams. Big Blue’s new general manager signed a special teams ace and potential free safety starter in Michael Thomas. He also inked two of James Bettcher’s former players, Kareem Martin and Josh Mauro.
On the offensive side of the ball, the signing of Patrick Omameh gives New York some much-needed competition at the guard position. Cody Latimer will likely help Big Blue on special teams, but he also gives the coaching staff another offensive weapon when needed.
The Giants have moved up three spots on ESPN’s Powers Rankings since the start of free agency, but they still rank 27th out of 32 NFL franchises.
There’s still plenty of work to be done. Gettleman may look to add a couple more pieces to the roster ahead of the 2018 NFL Draft, but Big Blue currently has less than $5 million in cap space for the upcoming season, according to Over the Cap.
The G-Men will need close to $10 million in cap space to sign their six draft picks. Gettleman will have to clear cap space one way or another.
Brandon Marshall could still be on the chopping block. He has yet to pass his physical after spending the majority of his first season with the franchise on injured reserve.
The Giants still have multiple needs to address. Gettleman will certainly look to target some of New York’s biggest holes in the upcoming draft.
Here’s a look at Big Blue’s top 10 needs following their free agent signings and trades.
#10 – Punter
Heading into the offseason it seemed fairly obvious the Giants needed an upgrade at kicker. Aldrick Rosas connected on just 72 percent of his field goal attempts, ranking worst among NFL kickers with a minimum of 20 attempts.
But instead of moving on from Rosas, the Giants elected to cut punter Brad Wing. The news didn’t come as a shock given Wing’s play. He had the leagues’ worst net average (36.7) in 2017.
The Giants had few options in free agency. They were reportedly interested in Pat O’Donnell. The 27-year-old decided to re-sign with the Chicago Bears on a one-year deal. New York’s other two free agent options Dustin Colquitt and Kevin Huber returned to their respective teams on three-year contracts.
The Giants do have punter Austin Rehkow under contract. The 23-year-old has yet to take a regular season snap and averaged just 41.6 yards per punt in his senior year at Idaho.
Big Blue will have some options in the upcoming draft. They could also look to sign an undrafted prospect. Texas punter Michael Dickson is considered the top punter in this year’s draft class. He would immediately solve New York’s need for a punter, but the Ray Guy Award winner could be off the board as early as the fourth-round.
Big Blue’s six draft selections are all in the first five rounds. It’s unknown if Gettleman would be willing to use a draft selection on a punter. He did use a draft pick on kicker Harrison Butker just last year, but that was Carolina’s seventh-round draft selection (No. 233).
Florida’s Jonny Townsend and Alabama’s J.K. Scott are two other notable punters in this year’s draft class.
It may not seem like a glaring hole, but the Giants do need to address the punter position. At the very least they need to bring in competition for the specialist role.
#9 – Free Safety
The addition of Thomas gives New York some much-needed competition at the free safety position. Big Blue can no longer afford to wait for Darian Thompson to develop.
The 2016 third-round pick started all 16 games in 2017 but struggled in both coverage and against the run. He is likely the frontrunner to hold onto the position, but Thomas should at least challenge him for the starting role.
Gettleman may also look to add another safety in the upcoming draft, but Big Blue does have more pressing needs. Andrew Adams has also shown some promise in his first two seasons. He could be a sleeper to steal the starting role in 2018.
Tyrann Mathieu filled the free safety role in Bettcher’s defense in Arizona. The Giants will look to pair their best option with Landon Collins at the back end of their defense.
Whether that player is already on New York’s roster is unknown. Either way Big Blue needs to see improved play at the free safety position in 2018. The Giants had the NFL’s second worst passing defense in terms of yards allowed and gave up a league-high 32 touchdown receptions last season.
#8 – Inside Linebacker
The Giants have seven linebackers listed on their current roster, including recently signed outside linebacker Kareem Martin. It’s already known that Ogletree will start at inside linebacker in Bettcher’s defense.
He has experience in both 4-3 and 3-4 defenses. Ogletree recorded 95 tackles, 10 passes defended, two sacks, and an interception in his first season in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense.
Bettcher will look to take advantage of the 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker’s skill set, but it’s still unclear who will be starting alongside Ogletree in 2018.
B.J. Goodson is considered the frontrunner for the starting role. That doesn’t mean Gettleman won’t add competition to the inside linebacker position in the upcoming draft.
Goodson was limited to seven starts this past season due to an ankle injury. The fourth-round pick out of Clemson has shown some promise in his first two seasons but has been a liability in pass coverage.
Goodson wants to be a part of the franchise’s turnaround. He will need to stay healthy and prove he can earn the starting role in training camp and the preseason.
The Giants will have plenty of opportunities to add an inside linebacker in this year’s draft. While players like Roquan Smith and Rashaan Evans will likely be off the board before New York’s second-round pick, Big Blue will have options in the mid-rounds should they choose to address the position.
Leighton Vander Esch, Josey Jewell, Darius Leonard, Malik Jefferson, and Micah Kiser are some options that could fit nicely next to Ogletree.
The Giants also have Calvin Munson and Ray-Ray Armstrong under contract. Neither player is considered an upgrade over Goodson. But Kelvin Sheppard could a player to keep an eye on.
The Giants re-signed the seven-year veteran midseason. He started six games down the stretch and recorded 49 tackles, four passes defended, and two interceptions. Sheppard is currently an unrestricted free agent but a return on team-friendly contract is surely not out of question. It will depend on New York’s salary cap decisions in the coming weeks and months.
If Gettleman decides not to add another inside linebacker to the roster in the draft or free agency, it likely means Big Blue’s front office and coaching staff believe Goodson can fill the role.
#7 – Running Back
The New York Giants have not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Ahmad Bradshaw in 2012. Lack of talent at the running back position has been part of the reason for Big Blue’s poor ground game in recent years. But the construction of New York’s offensive line also has played a significant factor.
The Giants have used three draft picks on running backs over the past four years. Former general manager Jerry Reese selected Andre Williams in the fourth-round of the 2014 draft. He then took Paul Perkins in the fifth-round of the 2016 draft and selected Wayne Gallman in the fourth-round last year.
Perkins showed promise in his rookie season but averaged just 2.2 yards per carry in 2017. Gallman made the most of his opportunities and proved himself a dual-threat out of the backfield in his rookie year.
Orleans Darkwa was the team’s leading rusher, but it was Gallman who earned Pro Football Focus’ top running back grade (75.2) on the Giants.
Gettleman added veteran running back Jonathan Stewart to the backfield this offseason. The 31-year-old is coming off arguably the worst season of his 10-year career.
Signing Stewart does give New York a goal line and short yardage running back, but his addition surely won’t stop Gettleman from taking a running back in the upcoming draft.
Stewart and Gallman could serve as a solid one-two punch behind a revamped offensive line. The draft will provide them another option and a potential upgrade.
If the Giants decide to select Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 overall pick, they would have an immediate three-down running back with All-Pro potential. Gettleman could also look to focus on the position later in the draft due to the value of New York’s first-round selection.
Derrius Guice, Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, Royce Freeman, Kerryon Johnson, Rashaad Penny, and Ronald Jones are just some options that could be available on the second day of the draft.
The Giants aren’t necessarily desperate to add another running back. But the depth of talent at the position in this year’s class should lead Big Blue to take a tailback at some point of the 2018 draft.
#6 – Quarterback
Gettleman and Pat Shurmur believe Eli Manning still has some gas left in the tank. They also know the end of his NFL career is approaching.
The Giants only have two quarterbacks on their current roster. Manning and last year’s third-round pick Davis Webb. With Manning under contract, the Giants don’t have a pressing need for a quarterback in 2018. That doesn’t mean Gettleman and Shurmur aren’t planning for the future.
The Giants have a franchise-changing decision to make with the No. 2 overall pick. Selecting Manning’s eventual successor makes plenty of sense, especially if Gettleman and Shurmur aren’t sold on Webb.
The Giants also don’t have a legitimate backup plan in place for Manning next season. Unless they believe Webb is a viable second-string option. If Gettleman decides to select one of this year’s top quarterbacks, that player could leapfrog Webb on the depth chart.
The fact that Steve Spagnuolo and Ben McAdoo decided not to give Webb any regular season snaps was not a good sign. But to be fair, not many understood why McAdoo benched Manning for Geno Smith, and Spags was fighting to earn the full-time role as the interim head coach.
This year’s draft class has multiple potential franchise quarterbacks. Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield are considered the top tier of quarterbacks. Lamar Jackson, Mason Rudolph, and Mike White are in the next tier, but all of the quarterbacks listed have the ability to develop into starters at the next level.
So while the Giants may not have an immediate pressing need at the quarterback position, they still need to plan for the future. Whether Webb remains an option will depend on Big Blue’s selection with the No. 2 overall pick.
#5 – 3-4 Defensive End
The transition to Bettcher’s 3-4 defense has created plenty of questions this offseason. The Giants have answered a few of those questions already, signing outside linebacker Kareem Martin and defensive lineman Josh Mauro.
Mauro is projected to start at defensive end opposite second-year defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson. Damon Harrison is expected to transition back to nose tackle, a position he dominated when playing with the New York Jets.
The three defensive linemen should fit nicely in Bettcher’s defense, but the player with the most experience under Big Blue’s new defensive coordinator won’t be available for the team’s first four games.
Mauro has been suspended for a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. Gettleman and New York’s coaching staff knew of Mauro’s four-game suspension before signing him to a one-year deal.
The Giants do have some replacement options on their roster, but adding a 3-4 defensive end in the draft should be among their priorities. With Mauro only under a one-year contract, New York’s front office needs to plan for the future as well.
Kerry Wynn and Romeo Okwara are two players on New York’s roster that have the ability and size to move inside. The Giants re-signed Wynn on a one-year contract this offseason. A move inside may be in his best interest. He has proven himself a strong run defender in year’s past but has struggled as a pass rusher.
Adding a 3-4 defensive end is unlikely to be Gettleman’s top priority ahead of the draft, but it is clearly a need for Big Blue.
The Giants will have options in the mid-rounds with Week 1 starter potential. Harrison Phillips, B.J. Hill, Rasheem Green, Da’Shawn Hand, and Breeland Speaks are some prospects that could fit Bettcher’s defense as 3-4 defensive ends. All five will probably still be on the board entering the second day of the draft.
#4 – 3-4 Outside Linebacker
The Giants needed to address their depth at the outside linebacker position prior to free agency. It still remains a priority.
While Gettleman added an immediate starter in Kareem Martin, he also traded away one of the team’s top edge rushers, Pierre-Paul. The decision to trade JPP made sense from a financial standpoint. At the same time, it also makes New York’s 3-4 outside linebacker position a more significant need ahead of the draft.
Martin explained the importance of the outside linebacker position in Bettcher’s defense when signing with the team, via New York’s team website.
"“I feel like the outside linebacker position is probably the most important. We have the most responsibilities. We’re expected to set the edge on the run, rush the quarterback and drop in coverage. As far as learning curve goes, there is a slight learning curve, but when JB, when he was in Arizona, he started with the outside linebackers, so he spends a lot of time with those guys to make sure that we understand the in’s and out’s of the defense because he’s going to expect a lot from us in that position.”"
Martin and Olivier Vernon give New York two starters at outside linebacker for Week 1, but Giants fans saw firsthand how the lack of depth on the edge hurt the team’s defense in 2017.
New York’s coaching staff relied too heavily on JPP and Vernon last season. Big Blue needs depth on the edge and will have plenty of options in the upcoming draft.
Bradley Chubb is considered the top edge rusher in this year’s class. He’s definitely in play for the No. 2 overall pick. The Giants will also have options after the first-round and could look to target a player like Marcus Davenport if they elected to trade back from the No. 2 overall pick.
Harold Landry, Arden Key, Uchenna Nwosu, Dorance Armstrong, Lorenzo Carter, and Jeff Holland are some potential prospects that could fit in Bettcher’s defense as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
The development of Avery Moss will also be important to New York’s front-seven. The fifth-round pick out of Youngstown State will likely be asked to take on a bigger role in his second season.
#3 – Offensive Tackle
Despite adding this year’s top free agent offensive tackle, the Giants still have a significant need for a right tackle this offseason.
After signing Solder, Shurmur informed former first-round pick Ereck Flowers that he would be competing for the starting right tackle role. The Giants are unlikely to pick up Flowers’ fifth-year option on his rookie contract after landing Solder, but that doesn’t mean his future with Big Blue is necessarily over.
Flowers’ current competition for the starting right tackle role is Chad Wheeler and Adam Bisnowaty. Wheeler started five games as an undrafted free agent. Bisnowaty, a 2017 sixth-round draft selection, started in the team’s regular season finale.
Both players showed some promise in their rookie seasons. At the same time, neither are considered upgrades when compared to Flowers. The hope is that Bisnowaty and Wheeler continue to develop in year two, but Giants fans also know better than to just expect players to progress from year to year.
Just ask Reese. His blind faith in Flowers’ development is part of the reason he is no longer with the organization.
Adding a tackle in the upcoming draft makes plenty of sense for the Giants. This year’s class may not be as deep at the tackle position as years past, but there are prospects with Week 1 starter potential.
Mike McGlinchey, Connor Williams, Kolton Miller, and Orlando Brown are considered the top tackles in this year’s class. Brown’s draft stock took a hit at the NFL Scouting Combine, while Miller may have moved into the first-round with an impressive workout.
Martinas Rankin, Brian O’Neill, Tyrell Crosby, Chukwuma Okorafor, and Jamarco Jones are some other options that are likely to be available at the start of day two.
The Giants could also hope a player like McGlinchey or Miller slides to the second-round. The Jacksonville Jaguars lucked out with Cam Robinson falling to them at No. 34 overall just last year.
The G-Men are not only in need of an upgrade at right tackle, they also need to plan for the future. Solder has plenty of football left ahead, but he does turn 30-years-old this April.
#2 – Cornerback
Despite the additions of Riley, Webb, and Williams, the Giants still have a significant need at cornerback.
Gettleman and Shurmur have both said Eli Apple has a “clean slate.” Right now he is slotted to be Big Blue’s starting cornerback opposite Janoris Jenkins. The decision to cut Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has left a glaring hole at the position.
The Giants not only need to add a cornerback to compete with Apple for the starting role next season, they also need to find a viable solution for their slot cornerback position. Bettcher heavily relied on the nickel formation during his tenure in Arizona and is known for consistently changing his defensive packages.
Donte Deayon is currently projected to be New York’s starting slot cornerback. He has played in just four games through his first two seasons. He spent the majority of his rookie year on Big Blue’s practice squad.
The Giants could add two cornerbacks in the upcoming draft but only hold six selections. Adding a slot cornerback should be the priority but finding competition for Apple also shouldn’t be overlooked.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Denzel Ward, and Josh Jackson are considered the top three cornerbacks in this year’s class. Fitzpatrick has the ability to play both cornerback and safety at the next level, making him only more valuable.
While the Giants are highly unlikely to use the No. 2 overall pick on a cornerback, there are some prospects worth keeping an eye on at the start of the second-round.
Jaire Alexander, Donte Jackson, Isaiah Oliver, and Anthony Averett could all be available on day two. All four could challenge Apple for the No. 2 cornerback role in 2018. Jackson also has the talent to play both the slot and on the outside when needed.
If Gettleman elects to hold off adding a cornerback early, he will need to find a slot cornerback prospect with starter potential in the mid-rounds.
Duke Dawson, M.J. Stewart, Darius Phillips, Tony Brown, and D.J. Reed all have the potential to fit that role. Stewart also has the ability to play multiple positions in a secondary. Phillips and Reed bring significant special teams value as kickoff and punt returners.
#1 – Interior Offensive Line
This should come as no surprise. After losing out on Andrew Norwell in free agency, the Giants have done little to fix their interior offensive line.
The addition of Solder undoubtedly will improve the entire unit, but questions still remain at center and both guard positions. The Giants reportedly placed a second-round tender on center Brett Jones. The team has yet to announce the move, but the former CFL All-Star has already signed the one-year contract, according to Spotrac.
Jones proved himself a viable starting option in 2017, starting a career-high 13 games. He excelled in pass protection but struggled as a run blocker. The Giants likely believe he can hold down the starting center role this upcoming season. They would be foolish not to bring in competition or at least a backup.
Jones is the only center listed on Big Blue’s roster. They also have six guards under contract, but John Jerry and Omameh are projected to be the starters.
That gives New York three average starters along their interior offensive line. Jones and Jerry are also scheduled to test free agency in 2019, making it even more pressing to add youth and talent up front.
The good thing for Big Blue is this year’s draft class is loaded with interior offensive line talent. It actually might work out better that New York landed Solder instead of Norwell. It will be harder to fill a left tackle spot in this draft than any other position along the offensive line.
Billy Price, James Daniels, and Frank Ragnow top this year’s class of centers. All three have the potential to be successful starters in their rookie years. Price did suffer a pectoral injury at the NFL Scouting Combine but expects to be ready for training camp.
If the Giants decide to wait on the center position, Mason Cole, Will Clapp, and Scott Quessenberry are some mid-round options that could challenge Jones for the starting role.
Whether the Giants will address the center position is unclear. But they must add at least one guard to their roster in the draft.
Quenton Nelson is considered the top overall offensive line prospect in this year’s class. Nelson and Barkley are the two safest picks for Big Blue at No. 2 overall. Their positions could force Gettleman to pass. Running backs and guards are usually not worthy of a top two pick, but Nelson is undoubtedly in play for the Giants.
NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks has the G-Men taking the Notre Dame prospect in his most recent mock draft. If the Giants elect not to take Nelson at No. 2, they will still have several starting options from the second-round on.
Will Hernandez and Isaiah Wynn would likely be considered steals with the 34th overall pick, but it’s definitely possible one of them could still be on the board entering day two.
Braden Smith, Austin Corbett, Wyatt Teller, Tony Adams, Skyler Phillips, and Sam Jones are some mid-round prospects that have the potential to steal a starting role from Jerry or Omameh by Week 1.
Of course, putting Nelson next to Solder would be the ideal scenario. The Giants have to decide how much they value the guard position, especially when they can select a future franchise quarterback.
Next: Should Big Blue Trade OBJ?
It will be interesting to watch how Gettleman approaches his first draft as Big Blue’s general manager. His plan was to let free agency set up the team’s draft strategy.
The Giants clearly still have multiple holes after their signings and trades. That’s also to be expected after a 3-13 season.