The Giants had seven picks in this weekend's draft, adding depth to a number of key positions, including offensive and defensive line, running back and the secondary. Of course, a position that remained untouched was linebacker.
From the top:
The Giants had seven picks in this weekend's draft, adding depth to a number of key positions, including offensive and defensive line, running back and the secondary. Of course, a position that remained untouched was linebacker.
From the top:
In Rotoworld's Evan Silva's two-round mock draft, the analyst projects the Giants to nab offensive guard Chance Warmack and cornerback Darius Slay in the first two rounds.
Silva's prediction of a guard goes along with the theme of addressing an aging line. Warmack is not the prototypical name that has been linked to the Giants, though. Other mock drafts have tended to connect the team with offensive tackles -- including Warmack's former teammate at Alabama, D.J. Fluker, and Menelik Watson out of Florida State.
Not Gil Brandt.
The NFL.com senior analyst has pegged former Florida State offensive tackle Menelik Watson falling to New York at 19, a name that has not been linked to the team thus far.
Numerous mock drafts have the Giants looking to bolster a couple different directions, including linebacker, offensive and defensive lines and the secondary. Among the players most commonly connected to Big Blue are linebackers Manti Te'o and Alec Ogletree, offensive tackle D.J. Fluker and cornerback Desmond Trufant.
Over the weekend, the New York Daily News diagnosed those same four positions as areas of need for the Giants in this year's draft, pointing out the linebacking unit lost Michael Boley and Chase Blackburn, and Mathias Kiwanuka has returned to the defensive line. It adds the offensive line -- aside from left tackle Will Beatty -- is aging; Justin Tuck and Kiwanuka are aging; and questions continue to surround cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Jayron Hosley.
Jeremiah indicates this is conditional upon the Cowboys passing on Fluker at No. 18, then falling into the G-Men's laps, where he could slide in at right tackle or perhaps fit in at guard.
Fluker has been the hot name of late, climbing numerous draft boards and even rumored to be coveted by the Miami Dolphins sitting with the No. 12 overall selection.
The first scenario is the Giants taking highly coveted offensive tackle D.J. Fluker. The former Alabama lineman has recently climbed up draft boards and has been rumored to be an option for Miami at No. 12.
"The Giants aren't known for taking offensive linemen early, but Fluker would offer a boost up front with his balance, footwork and mauling presence in the running game," writes McShay.Scenario 2 has Big Blue sweeping former Georgia middle linebacker Alec Ogletree off the board. Ogletree is considered among the top two or three inside backers in this year's draft, including Manti Te'o of Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish have produced some of the better NFL-caliber tight ends in recent years, including Kyle Rudolph of the Minnesota Vikings, as well Anthony Fasano of the Miami Dolphins and John Carlson, also with the Vikings.
The Giants' tight end situation is a bit?murky?with Martellus Bennett a free agent this off-season.