After another disappointing season, the NY Giants have the fourth-overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft and nine total picks, we examine their ideal draft.
After finishing 4-12 in 2019, the NY Giants have the fourth-overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft and subsequently have a number of needs to fill. They will need to maximize the output from all nine of the picks they possess in the upcoming draft if they hope to dramatically improve upon last year’s results.
The NY Giants will need to upgrade the linebacker position. Currently, Markus Golden, David Mayo, and Deone Bucannon are all unrestricted free agents. Meanwhile, Alec Ogletree and Kareem Martin represent players who are likely to be cap casualties this offseason.
That leaves the team with Lorenzo Carter, Oshane Ximines and Ryan Connelly, who is working his way back from a torn ACL injury, as the only three remaining linebackers on the roster. As a result, the linebacker position will certainly be an area of focus in the draft.
Upgrading the offensive line will also be a priority this offseason. Last season the offensive line of the Giants wildly underperformed. The team could look to move on from Nate Solder and his massive contract. In addition, they could look to upgrade the center position and right tackle Mike Remmers is an unrestricted free agent.
The Giants lack anything that represents an edge rusher on their roster. They are expected to leverage their positive salary cap situation to help address the need for a pass rusher, in a free-agent market that includes superstar pass-rushing options such as Jadeveon Clowney, Yannick Ngakoue, Shaq Barrett and Vic Beasley to name a few. That said, they are likely to add a pass rusher or two in the draft.
Safety is another position of need. With Jabrill Peppers, Julian Love and undrafted free agent Sean Chandler likely to be the only safeties on the roster, the Giants will need to add depth at the position. Veterans Antoine Bethea and Michael Thomas are unlikely to be retained, as Bethea represents a likely cap casualty and Thomas is an unrestricted free agent.
The cornerback position is an additional area that the Giants could look to add depth. After cutting former Pro Bowl corner Janoris Jenkins for making offensive comments on social media, the team has Deandre Baker, Sam Beal, Corey Ballentine and Grant Haley on their roster. Baker, Beal, and Ballentine were all rookies last season and Haley just completed his second season after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State in 2018.
Wide receiver represents yet another potential area of need for the Giants. Cody Latimer, Russell Shepard, Corey Coleman, and Cody Core all are unrestricted free agents this offseason. Veteran wideout Golden Tate III represents a player who could be cut to add additional cap space. That would leave the Giants with only Sterling Shepard and rookie sensation Darius Slayton as the only two wide receivers on the team.
With so many needs to fill on the roster, it is imperative that the New York Giants maximize their draft picks. With that in mind, here is the ideal seven-round mock draft for the Giants to drastically improve their roster going into next season.