New York Giants: 2017 Team Is A Few Years In The Making

After a couple years of rebuilding, the 2017 New York Giants look like a team poised for a Super Bowl run.

The 2013 New York Giants opened their season 0-6. Highlighted by a horrible 31-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, the Giants season was lost before the midway point. It was the beginning of a rebuilding period for New York.

It wasn’t a rebuild like the cross-town rivals New York Jets or the Cleveland Browns have gone through, but it was a rebuild. The 2013 season marked the second of four straight seasons the Giants would go on to miss the playoffs.

Though New York had won the Super Bowl just two seasons prior, it was quickly falling apart. Star players Antrel Rolle and Hakeem Nicks were on the decline and New York was a mess.

More from New York Giants

The Giants offensive line was in shambles and their defense couldn’t stop teams from scoring. Although it might not have been obvious at the time, General Manager Jerry Reese knew he had to rebuild his team.

Reese’s time as GM hadn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. Although he had won two Super Bowls in New York, the NFL is all about what you have accomplished recently. Recently hadn’t been kind to Reese.

He whiffed on numerous picks, especially late in drafts. In recent years he missed on Demontre Moore, Andre Williams, and possibly Jay Bromley. Not to mention a complete miss in the 2012 draft. Reese drafted the likes of Jayron Hosley and Rueben Randle. None of the players from that draft are still on the New York Giants.

The rebuild started in 2013 when Reese addressed the offensive line. Although some fans are still not happy with where the line is, it is miles ahead of where it was in 2013.

Reese added starting guard Justin Pugh in the 2013 draft. Center Weston Richburg was picked in the 2014 draft, and tackle Ereck Flowers in the 2015 draft. Although Flowers hasn’t lived up to his potential, he is still young and can improve. Pugh and Richburg have been studs up front protecting Eli Manning.

The departure of Hakeem Nicks in 2014 left a void at the receiver position. Reese then responded by drafting All-Pro Odell Beckham in 2014 and Sterling Sheppard in 2016.

Lastly, Reese needed to fix the defense. The star-studded defense we saw in 2015 began in 2013 when Reese drafted defensive tackle, Jonathan Hankins. Reese later traded up for and drafted Landon Collins in the second round of the 2015 draft. Reese complimented the safety rotation by drafting Nat Berhe, Mykelle Thompson and Darian Thompson in various drafts.

The rebuild started with the draft, but Reese later turned to free agency to put the pieces together. The additions of Janoris Jenkins, Olivier Vernon, and Damon Harrison helped the Giants reach the playoff last season for the first time since winning the Super Bowl in 2011.

Although Jenkins was the only signing to make the Pro Bowl, Harrison’s absence was one of the biggest snubs of the season. All three free agents Reese signed received positive marks from Pro Football Focus.

So far this offseason the Giants added Brandon Marshall, who signed a two-year, $12 million dollar contract. They also brought in tight end/fullback Rhett Ellison, and offensive lineman D.J. Fluker. Reese also re-signed Jason Piere-Paul to a long-term contract.

Lastly, the Giants will look to the draft to plug the rest of the holes in their roster. Adding a competent offensive tackle and linebacker will be a priority. A running back or tight end will likely come on day two and three of the draft.

After the draft, this Giants team will most likely be complete; it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Next: Full First Round NFL Mock Draft

Eli Manning is 36. He’s on the back end of his career, and not getting any younger. New York will enter cap difficulties soon with Beckham, Collins, and Pugh coming off their rookie contracts. This is the team fans and executives have envisioned since the 2013 rebuild and will be a lot of fun to watch.

Home/New York Giants