New York Giants Draft Preview: Linebacker

Will the New York Giants take a linebacker during the 2016 NFL Draft? We break down their current situation at the position heading into the draft and the likelihood of one being selected.

The New York Giants had a strong start to their offseason with a spending spree to start free agency. But, if the Giants want to truly have a great offseason, they will need to find some success in the NFL Draft beginning Thursday. The Giants have a few holes remaining that they would like to fill, and the draft will afford them that chance.

For this article and others to follow, we will break down the current outlook by position for the Giants, and how much of a need it will be heading into the 2016 NFL Draft. The seventh position we will take a look at is linebacker.

Current Depth Chart:

Projected Starters: OLB J.T. Thomas, MLB Keenan Robinson, OLB Devon Kennard

Backups: MLB Uani Unga, MLB Kelvin Sheppard, MLB Jasper Brinkley, OLB Jonathan Casillas, MLB Nico Johnson, MLB Mark Herzlich, LB James Morris

Same story different year for the Giants at linebacker. This is just not a position that Jerry Reese puts any stock into despite the storied history of the linebacker position that the Giants’ franchise has. After having players such as Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks and Antonio Pierce as leaders at the linebacker position for Super Bowl victories, the position has gone mostly ignored recently.

Reese has selected some linebackers, but they always seem to be throwing darts when he picks as they haven’t given any production, or were great fits. Clint Sintim was the highest selected linebacker in Round 2 of the 2009 draft and was a huge bust. He hasn’t selected a linebacker since 2011 when he used sixth round picks in Greg Jones and Jacquian Williams. Sintim was the only linebacker Reese selected before the fourth round during his tenure, and it shows.

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As a result, the Giants could really use some linebacker help in the 2016 NFL Draft. Reese has ignored the position for long enough, and with the No.10 overall pick he could have a chance to add an impact player at the second level and give the Giants a cornerstone for their defense.

One player to keep an eye on is Georgia’s Leonard Floyd. He is flying up draft boards and could go as high as No.5 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Another player to watch is Myles Jack. Jack no doubt is a top talent in this draft having arguably the highest ceiling, but the knee injury he suffered last season has teams knocking him off their draft board altogether. The Giants supposedly gave a passing grade to his knee, but rumor has it that the Giants are not interested in selecting Jack if he falls to No.10.

Another player to keep an eye on at No.10 is Darron Lee of Ohio State. All three players should be under consideration for the Giants, as linebacker is arguably their most pressing need heading into the draft. In the second round someone such as Kamalei Correa of Boise State or Noah Spence of Eastern Kentucky could be available. While Spence is talented, his off-field concerns are something that would turn off the Giants, as he was kicked out of Ohio State for repeated violations.

Next: New York Giants Seven-Round Mock Draft

The likelihood of the Giants selecting a linebacker should be high, as close to a certainty as you can get. But, with the importance that Reese places on the position, there is a chance that it is completely ignored once again

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