New York Giants biggest hole remaining is running back according to Football Outsiders
Do you agree with Football Outsiders that the New York Giants biggest hole after the draft is at running back?
The New York Giants had a wide range of opinions about how they did in the 2017 NFL Draft. Some people thought they did well, filling some needs and adding some weapons to the offense. Some people didn’t like that they reached for a number of their selections. ESPN’s Mel Kiper thought the Giants had an average draft.
There is one thing that everyone can agree on and it is that the Giants didn’t address some of their biggest needs. Coming into the 2017 NFL Draft, the Giants needed help along their offensive line, linebacker, and running back.
To the surprise of no one, the Giants didn’t select a linebacker. They had a chance in the first two rounds and passed. They waited as long as possible to add an offensive lineman, selecting Pittsburgh’s Adam Bisnowaty with their sixth round pick. The Giants also added two intriguing prospects as undrafted free agents.
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The also addressed the running back spot in the fourth round. The Giants selected Clemson running back Wayne Gallman. Gallman was very productive as both a receiver and ball carrier for the Tigers. He should help the Giants on early downs and in short yardage situations as a bigger back.
Gallman fills a need for the Giants. But, Football Outsiders still believes the biggest hole for the Giants after the draft is at running back. Football Outsiders put together an article of the biggest holes for each team on ESPN, and running back was the Giants selection.
Here is what they had to say about the running back position for the Giants.
"New York had only 30 runs of 10 or more yards last year. Only two teams had fewer: The Vikings, who drafted Florida State’s Dalvin Cook in the second round, and the Rams, who are hopeful Todd Gurley will recover from his sophomore slump. The Giants? They didn’t pick a runner until late in the fourth round, when they grabbed Clemson’s Wayne Gallman. Gallman is a thumper who seems to lack the foot speed to generate big plays — his 4.6-second 40-yard dash was 19th out of 27 running backs at the combine this year. That leaves the Giants looking to their plethora of underwhelming veterans to generate some kind of spark. Neither Paul Perkins, Shane Vereen, Shaun Draughn nor Orleans Darkwa has run for even 500 yards in a season, and Perkins’ 102-yard effort in Week 17 against Washington last year is the only time any of them has run for 100 yards in the past three years."
It is true that the Giants don’t have a running back that should dominate touches. But, that is not necessarily a bad thing. The Giants have running backs that can excel in different areas of the game. Vereen and Draughn are great for the passing game. Perkins can handle early-down work with Gallman. Darkwa was a key special teams player.
None are prototypical short-yardage and goal line backs, but there are rumors that the Giants are not done adding players at running back. One player to keep an eye on is LeGarrette Blount.
The Giants should be able to mix-and-match their running back spot. There is enough diversity in the player’s games to make it work. Where the Giants really missed in the NFL Draft is at linebacker. But, the offensive line is probably their biggest hole still.
The Giants have players they like at linebacker. Keenan Robinson was retained. They are hoping for a second-year jump from B.J. Goodson. Devon Kennard is a good pass rusher. There are players to like there. Along the offensive line, the options aren’t great.
The Giants failed to address left tackle. It looks like Ereck Flowers will be starting there yet again. Flowers has struggled mightily in his career at left tackle. The Giants had the worst offensive tackle duo in the NFL last season with Flowers and Bobby Hart. They added some competition for Hart, but Flowers looks to be the starter once again.
Next: Complete 2017 NFL Draft First Round Grades
That is the biggest hole the Giants have after the 2017 NFL Draft. They have a plan in place, it would seem, at running back and linebacker. The same cannot be said for the offensive line, where the Giants are hoping players improve upon what has been underwhelming production thus far.