The 2019 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, yet the New York Giants are still looking to fill several holes left on the roster. After all, free agency hasn’t exactly been fruitful and that avenue for improvement is dwindling by the day.
General manager Dave Gettleman does have a plethora of picks in his back pocket to help the Giants fill needs and add some more youth to this roster. And, in turn, he also has the assets to be aggressive and go after the prospects he covets most.
As it stands now, the Giants have six major needs that require attention. Let’s take a look at what those needs are and how the Giants can potentially fill each of them through free agency or the draft.
Right Tackle
The Giants have shored up every other spot on their offensive line with the exception of one: right tackle. Left tackle Nate Solder, left guard Will Hernandez and center Jon Halapio are all returning from last season, while right guard will be occupied by Kevin Zeitler, whom the G-Men acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.
Mike Remmers should be considered a favorite to sign with Big Blue, seeing as how the two sides have already met. Another veteran option like former Denver Broncos tackle Jared Veldheer could also be viewed as a potential target.
With the Giants almost certain to take a pass-rusher with the No. 6 overall pick in the NFL Draft, the team could look to the No. 17 pick to take an offensive lineman. Alabama product Jonah Williams has been a name thrown around as a possible first-round target, although the Giants might have to move up from No. 17 to get him. Alabama State’s Tytus Howard is also on the Giants’ radar.
Outside Linebacker
The signing of outside linebacker Markus Golden ensured the Giants would have at least a solid starter at the position in 2019, but a veteran player on a one-year contract is no long-term solution. Gettleman still has work to do in order to lock down a true impact pass-rusher for the future.
Justin Houston remains the Giants’ best bet for an immediate shot in the arm via free agency following a season in which he totaled nine sacks in 12 games.
At No. 6, the Giants have a slew of options thanks to such a deep defensive draft. Florida State’s Brian Burns has been climbing draft boards after a strong showing at the combine. The former Seminole finished his collegiate career with a 10-sack season and has the ability to play with his hand in the dirt or from a stand-up position. Burns has been lauded for his tremendous football IQ as well.
Cornerback
Gettleman & Co. have made a series of minor signings during the offseason to address the cornerback position, namely adding depth with the re-signings of cornerbacks Antonio Hamilton and Tony Lippett. Even Sam Beal returning in 2019, there isn’t much more going on behind the team’s best corner, Janoris Jenkins, who has seen his own struggles the past few seasons.
The cupboard is bare at this point in free agency and the Giants are looking at a collection of dart throws. A pair of 29-year-old corners, Morris Claiborne and Rashaan Melvin, are far from appealing, and older veterans like Brent Grimes (36) and Captain Munnerlyn (31) are both unappealing and on the wrong side of 30.
With biggest fish to fry reserved for the team’s two first-round picks, the Giants should take a look at cornerback with either a second-round pick or with one of the pair of third-round picks at the earliest. Cornerback will undoubtedly be one of the tougher needs to fill without a ton of depth in free agency or in the draft.
Defensive End
The luxury of signing Golden is now the Giants can take the best pass-rusher on the board in the draft, whether that be an outside linebacker or a defensive end. Regardless of the direction Gettleman goes first, this franchise cannot go on allowing quarterbacks to sit pretty in the pocket and pick apart its defense.
After a monster performance at the combine, Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat is considered an elite prospect at the defensive end position. Despite having a heart condition, Sweat’s stock appears to be intact and he will likely find himself as a top-10 pick, and right in the range of Big Blue.
If the G-Men want to address the defensive end position sooner, Ezekiel Ansah is the best free agent left. The 29-year-old has two seasons with double-digit sacks in his career, but he does come with injury concerns and his overall consistency has been an issue. Ansah notched 12 sacks in 2017, however that great season is sandwiched in between 2016 and 2018 campaigns that saw him total two sacks in 14 games and four sacks in seven games, respectively.
Quarterback
No, we’re not looking for quarterback Eli Manning’s immediate replacement. The two-time Super Bowl MVP is a lock to be the Giants’ starter in 2019 and there is nothing that can change that for the moment. Of course, having a young quarterback behind him could expedite the process should Big Blue suffer another losing season.
The Arizona Cardinals seem certain to take Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, making last year’s No. 10 overall pick, Josh Rosen, expendable. With that being the case, the Giants would be wise to kick the tires on what could be Manning’s eventual replacement.
A third-round pick for Rosen feels right and makes sense for the situation that the Giants find themselves in right now with a 38-year-old quarterback on the last year of his deal. Rosen would sit behind Manning for a season and give fans who are freaking out about the future at quarterback a reason to have hope.
Sure, Rosen’s presence on the roster would lead fans to scream for his entrance into every game should the Giants struggle in 2019, but the same could be said for any living, breathing body the team chooses to back Manning up.
Running Back
Even with a workhorse, three-down back like Saquon Barkley, the Giants need some insurance at the running back position. With Wayne Gallman returning to resume his role as the guy giving Barkley a breather, the G-Men need nothing more than a third-string back who could challenge Gallman for some of Barkley’s scraps.
Ideally the Giants would want a veteran in this spot with two young backs already on the roster. Former Houston Texans running back Alfred Blue would be a nice fit as an early-down bruiser when Barkley needs a few plays or a series off. As a career backup, this role would be nothing new for Blue.
Finding a third-string running back in the draft should be the least of Big Blue’s concerns. If Gettleman is thinking of adding another running back in April’s draft, it should be on the last day at the earliest.
