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New York Giants: Value Or Need To Be Selected On Day 2 of 2015 NFL Draft?

By Kenneth Teape

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The New York Giants surprised some people by selecting a need in offensive line in Round 1. Will that strategy continue on Day 2, or will the Giants go back to selecting for value like they had normally been doing?

With the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft in the books, teams are readying for Day 2. The beginning of Day 2 is always fun, as there is a flurry of moves as teams attempt to move up and snag some first round-worthy players that slipped through the cracks into the second round. For the New York Giants, they addressed a big need in the immediate and future times, selecting offensive lineman Ereck Flowers from Miami (FL). That broke their regular way of betting, as they clearly selected for need maybe in favor of best player available. Could that happen again Day 2?

With offensive line scratched off their list of needs, the Giants would be smart to go defense with their second and third picks. Their biggest needs remaining are at safety and to find some more pass rushers, both of which could be addressed tonight. But the question remains, will that be what the Giants do?

Recent history suggests that we should not be too sure about the Giants addressing their defensive holes, at least right away. It has been four consecutive seasons that the Giants added a player on the offensive side with their first round pick, and in two of the three previous seasons, the Giants would double up on offense, selecting another player on that side of the ball. If they are going to go that route again, expect it to be a wide receiver the Giants target.

Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes receiver Devin Smith (9) holds the College Football Playoff trophy after the game against Oregon Ducks in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants avoided the temptation with their first pick to not take a player like DeVante Parker, but there is a chance they could snag one in the second round. A lot of strong options remain, as this group is saw as strong, if not stronger, than the prospects from last season. Two options that could intrigue the Giants are Devin Smith of Ohio State and Jaelen Strong from Arizona State. Both would represent great value at No.40, something Jerry Reese loves.

If either player is available they could trump any defensive player fans would expect the Giants to target. They would add to an already deep group of wide receivers, giving Eli Manning yet another weapon at his disposal. If the Giants do select one of Smith or Strong, they would be right near the top, if not occupying the top spot, for most talented WR grouping with the most upside.

A running back could probably be crossed off the board for now. The Giants almost always add at least one back during the draft, but it would almost be shocking to see it happen today. Taking a look at Giants’ draft history, it will show if they select a running back it will be in the 4th or 7th round; David Wilson and Ron Dayne are the only outliers since 2000 as first round picks.

With wide receiver being the only real option it would seem for the Giants to select in Round 2 on offense, expect the Giants to add defense at some point. Safety is their biggest need, and if they do not select one tonight it could be considered a surprise. There are two options sitting there currently for the Giants, as top rated safety Landon Collins from Alabama is still available, and the Giants have shown some interest in Utah’s Eric Rowe.

Nov 15, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Landon Collins (26) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Each would help the Giants in their own way, as Collins is as hard a hitting player as anyone in this draft, playing safety with the looks of a linebacker. He has playmaking ability, but is much more comfortable the closer he is to the line of scrimmage, leaving the Giants still without a safety they can drop as the last line of defense.

Because of those limitations, the Giants may instead opt for a player like Rowe even if L. Collins is available. Rowe played some cornerback at Utah, and that versatility could sway the decision between the two towards him for the Giants for his ability to cover. Expect the Giants to also consider a supreme athlete such as Quinten Rollins from Miami (OH) or Doran Grant from Ohio St. as both players project as possible safeties down the road.

Nothing can be disregarded in the defensive backfield for the Giants, as they will undoubtedly add help there at some point. Another position to keep in mind back there is cornerback. The Giants are not afraid to add cornerbacks, as Jerry Reese has selected one in seven of his first eight drafts. The position is one that the Giants put a lot of value into, so seeing them select one, at any point of the draft, should not surprise anyone.

Someone to keep an eye on here is Jalen Collins from LSU. He is a pure corner and would not only help the Giants this season, but give them insurance incase Prince Amukamara isn’t retained after this season. Rollins and Grant could also fall into this category, as they played corner in college as well. Their versatility is something the Giants could find intriguing.

Another place the Giants like to add resources is on the defensive line. With Steve Spagnuolo back in the fold, expect the Giants to return to the attacking defense that led them to their first defeat of the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Putting more depth into their pash rush wouldn’t be a bad idea, as it is pretty much Jason Pierre-Paul and question marks.

Oct 4, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Miami Hurricanes linebacker Denzel Perryman (52) in action against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

There are some options there, with Nebraska linebacker Randy Gregory heading the list. While he is a supremely talented football player, he carries enough baggage that the Giants will more than likely pass on him, and it would be tough to argue against that. The Giants have experience dealing with players with off-field issues, namely Will Hill a couple of seasons ago, but he was constantly suspended and off the field, which could be something the Giants want no part of again.

Linebacker is a position the Giants basically ignore in the early parts of the draft. They have selected only two earlier than the fourth round since 1998, electing to build through the backend of the draft or free agency. Could that change this year? It would be hard to imagine the Giants passing up some other players mentioned above in favor of a linebacker, but if one of the potential middle linebacker thumpers such as Eric Kendricks of UCLA, Denzel Perryman of Miami (FL) or Benardrick McKinney of Mississippi State fall they could pounce.

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They have question marks in the middle as behind injury-prone Jon Beason and Jameel McClain; if they can address that with a player they feel will bring leadership and hard-hitting down the line, they could select them and develop him. Learning from Beason and McClain is a strong duo to pick up some things about becoming a good NFL player and even better leader of a team.

Day 2 will be imperative for the Giants as they not only continue to shape and grow their roster for the upcoming season, but also for the future. There is a chance for them to add more impact players, and hopefully they can find the same success this year as they did last year in Day 2, as Weston Richburg appeared in all 16 games, starting 15 of them, as a rookie offensive lineman. If they can get another player to give them that kind of production again this year, the Giants will have the makings of a very strong base for the future.

Next: Who Could The Giants Target On Day 2?

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