New York Giants: 5 biggest draft needs and prospects to watch
By Sean Dyer
1. Offensive Line
New York Giants fans know that the offensive line has been their biggest need for quite some time and adding Nate Solder is just the tip of the iceberg. Don’t get me wrong, signing Solder is a big-time move for Big Blue. He should solidify the blindside and will allow Ereck Flowers to move to right tackle where, hopefully, his terrible technique can be hidden. But Dave Gettleman’s offensive line rebuild is far from over.
Solder has left tackle locked down but there’s no guarantee that Flowers will succeed at right tackle. The Giants brought in Patrick Omameh to join John Jerry at guard but neither are long-term answers. Brett Jones showed he has the potential to be a starting center in 2017 but he’ll need to back that up in 2018 in order for the Giants to invest in him for the long haul.
If the Giants hold on to the No. 2 overall pick, an offensive lineman may be a stretch and they could look to the second or third round to address Eli Manning’s protection. If they trade back in the first round, every top offensive lineman comes into play.
The New York Giants teams that won Super Bowls featured top offensive lines and Gettleman is ready to get back to that style of play by adding as many “hog mollies” as possible.
Prospects to watch: OT – Mike McGlinchey (Notre Dame), Connor Williams (Texas), Kolton Miller (UCLA), Orlando Brown (Oklahoma), Chukwuma Okorafor (Western Michigan), Tyrell Crosby (Oregon), Martinas Rankin (Mississippi State), Jamarco Jones (Ohio State), Brian O’Neill (Pittsburgh), Alex Cappa (Humboldt State); OG – Quenton Nelson (Notre Dame), Isaiah Wynn (Georgia), Will Hernandez (UTEP), Billy Price (Ohio State), Braden Smith (Auburn), Wyatt Teller (Virginia Tech); OC – James Daniels (Iowa), Frank Ragnow (Arkansas)
Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Sean Dyer’s First-Round Mock 2.0
The New York Giants were a playoff team just two years ago before falling to 3-13 last season. They have fewer holes than most 3-13 teams but they are not without their faults. With a new regime in charge, no one truly knows what direction the team is headed in. Are they building for the future or are they trying to win now? Either way, they have specific areas to address and focusing on these five needs will help Big Blue get back to the playoffs as soon as possible.