Giants

Report: Giants Moving Cornerback DRC To Compete With Darian Thompson At Safety

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The New York Giants are making some changes on defense, as they have reportedly decided to move cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to safety to compete with safety Darian Thompson for the starting job.

This has been the consensus for some time now, but now it’s becoming a realistic arrangements that may lead to the Giants taking a corner later in the draft.

The Giants’ new coaching staff with bring defensive coordinator James Bettcher to the team, a 3-4 scheme specialist.

Allowing DRC to move to safety will prolong his career, and enable him to continue playing at a high level for at least another 2-3 years. His elite speed and ball-hawk abilities could be a significant upgrade at safety if Thompson can’t make a big jump in 2018.

Thompson was coming off a season-ending foot injury in 2017, forcing him to regain his form coming into the NFL from Boise State where he recorded 19 interceptions in four-seasons. The move for DRC should give Thompson some healthy competition in training camp, and it will enable Bettcher to pick the hot-hand on any given day.

Rodgers-Cromartie can also be slid up into the slot position where he is one of the best slot-corners in the NFL. His elite speed and strength will provide a dynamic tool on defense moving forward. The question will be his contract, and if the Giants can keep him on the team for less than a $8.5 cap-hit he currently costs.

If Giants Lose Out On Barkley they Must Consider These Three Running Backs

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The fan-base for the New York Giants is on a Saquon Barkley craze, and rightfully so as he posted incredible NFL combine numbers; running the 40-yard dash faster (4.41) than Odell Beckham Jr. and jumping higher (41 inches) than Julio Jones. Barkley clocked in at 233-pounds of pure muscle, making him one of the draft’s heaviest running backs.

But the consensus is that Barkley might be on short list for the Cleveland Browns at No. 1 overall, so realistically, we must evaluate the other running back talent in the draft.

Here are the top three behind Barkley:

Georgia, Sony Michel:

Michel is believed to be the second-best back in the league behind Barkley, after averaging 7.9 yards per carry in 2017 and recording 1,227 yards with 16 touchdowns. The Georgia product is a workhorse back. In the NFL, we should expect to see him handling a full load.

Michel could fall to the second-round and land with the Giants at No. 34 overall if they can’t secure Barkely int he first.

LSU, Derrius Guice:

Averaging 5.3 yards per carry in 2017, Guice is among the nations best running backs. He additionally totaled 1,251 yards and 11 touchdowns. Drafting Guice would add a power runner to the mix for the Giants; a player with good instincts and ability with the ball in his hands.

If drafted in the second-round, he could be a workhorse back for the Giants in 2018.

Georgia, Nick Chubb:

https://twitter.com/NFL_drafthub/status/969225793657278465

Splitting carries with Sony Michel at Georgia was Nick Chubb;  a physical back with tackle-breaking abilities. He averaged 6 yards per carry in 2017 for 1,345 with 15 touchdowns. If Michel wasn’t stealing the spotlight from Chubb, he may have seen much improved stock going into the combine.

He could be a solid scoop for the Giants in the third-round if he falls.

 

 

 

If The Giants’ Offense Looked Like This In 2018, Would You Be Happy?

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For the New York Giants to make the most out of the 2018 NFL Draft, they will have to secure two players that can come in and start right away. Drafting a QB could be a solid plan for the future, but by the time he’s ready to take over the starting job from Eli Manning, it will be rebuilding time for the defense.

The Giants can solve their problems on offense this offseason, but it would mean that they are planning for the near-future and not three-four seasons down the line. Now, it’s not out of the question that the Giants can make a Rams-esque jump into relevancy, but it will take some masterful salary-cap tinkering from Dave Gettleman, and an amazing coach in Pat Shurmur.

Here’s what the best possible offensive would look like for the Giants in 2018:

QB: Eli Manning

RB: Saquon Barkley

TE: Evan Engram

TE: Rhett Ellison

WR: Odell Beckham Jr.

WR: Sterling Shepard

WR: Roger Lewis

RT: Ereck Flowers/Chad Wheeler

RG: Will Hernandez

C: Brett Jones

LG: Andrew Norwell

LT: Nate Solder

Now, one might look at the offensive line and say “how on earth can we get both Norwell and Solder?”

Well, Solder has struggled with injuries in recent years, but he’s the only left tackle worth exploring in free agency. His injuries will lower his stock and might land him in the $7-9 million per-season range, far less than a young and quality tackle would make. In addition to the injuries, Solder is 30-years old, putting his future playing career in question. Offering him a three-year, $30 million deal with $15 guaranteed and incentives might swing him the our way.

The trio:

I can’t get this image out of my head… Odell Beckham Jr., Evan Engram and Saquon Barkley taking the field at the same time. Does that not sounds like the most devastating offensive trio you’ve ever seen?

Barkley would force teams to stack the box on the nearly every play which would place man-coverage on Beckham Jr., or Sterling Shepard. This would open up the pass game significantly and it would enable an extremely dangerous screen game as well. Additionally, you’d have Engram running up the screen or facing off against linebackers… An easy task for the continuously improving tight end.

Our new right guard:

The Giants are reportedly very interest in offensive lineman Will Hernandez, who put up great numbers in the NFL Combine.

40-yard dash: 5.15 seconds

37 reps on bench press

24 inch vertical jump

104 inch broad jump

He weighs in at 348-pounds and is 6-foot-2. His draft stock has risen exponentially in recent days, making him a probable top-40 pick. Luckily, the Giants have the 34 overall pick in the draft (2nd pick in the second-round).

If the Giants can secure Hernandez in the second-round, they could be looking at one of the best drafts they’ve had in years.

New York Giants: How Much Should Odell Beckham Jr. Actually Be Paid?

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Let’s get this out of the way first and foremost; Odell Beckham Jr. is not receiving $20 million per-year from the New York Giants. That’s an extremely high number for a player who has been injury prone throughout his career and is coming off a broken ankle.

But, in lieu of his injury, Beckham Jr. should be paid his worth. The question is: What exactly is his worth?

As a player that has shattered several NFL records and recorded 4,442 yards in virtually three complete seasons, he is worth a boat load of cash. Additionally, he has racked up 38 career touchdowns.

What’s his worth compared to other receivers?

At the top of the list is Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Brown, who has compiled 6,349 yards in the last four-seasons, along with 44 total touchdowns. That’s nearly 2,000 more yards than OBJ… And it also shows Brown’s ability to to stay healthy throughout the season.

So, from looking at these stats, we can easily determine that OBJ doesn’t deserve to be paid more than Brown, but maybe the same. As the salary cap increases every season, it also increases the value of players and how much money teams can spend.

By comparing Beckham JR.’s stats to Browns’, we can say that they deserve to be paid about the same when incorporating the increase in market value for the Giants wide receiver.

Another interesting point to make is: Can we trust Beckham Jr. to return as the same player he was ‘before’ his ankle injury? I think the Giants should franchise tag him and find out.

Potential long-term deal: 5-years, $85 million ($55 million guaranteed).

Here’s What The Giants Could Do With Quenton Nelson And Ereck Flowers

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The consensus going into the NFL Combine is that Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson is the top offensive lineman coming out of college. He’s listed as a guard, but with his size, the New York Giants should consider him elsewhere.

There’s not a single Giants fan that wants to see Ereck Flowers remain as the starting left tackle in 2018, so what can they do to change that? Well, how about sticking Nelson there instead?

According to a CBS Sports analysis:

“Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame. Sooooo … is Nelson a guard or tackle? Because 6-foot-5, 325 pounds and 33 6/8-inch arms is tackle size. Those numbers certainly lend credence to Nelson’s mauler reputation.”

The mauling guard certainly fit the mold for the Fighting Irish, and any team willing to invest their first-round pick in him will reap the benefits. The Giants will likely find it hard to take him at No. 2, but if they are offered a deal to trade back and remain in the top 6, they could snag him for a steal.

Adding a talent like Nelson would instantly improve the offensive line, especially if Dave Gettleman manages to swing Andrew Norwell to the right side of the fence.

How about this idea:

Since allowing Flowers to continue starting at left tackle is inadvisable, what if they start Nelson at LT and put Flowers at RG? Everybody is talking about Flowers playing right tackle, but what if he was move to guard, where he can’t let edge rushers blow by him on nearly every play.

Something to consider, and it could be a move the Giants experiment with give they take Nelson.

 

 

How Does Saquon Barkley’s Measurements Stack Up Against Other RB’s?

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The New York Giants are very much in the race to grab Penn State running back Saquon Barkley in the first-round of the 2018 NFL Draft, but how does he stack up against other running backs?

Here’s a list of several other running backs entering the draft this year, according to CBS Sports:

PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT (LBS)
Kalen Ballage 6’1-4/8″ 228
Saquon Barkley 6’0″ 233
Nick Chubb 5’10-7/8″ 227
Derrius Guice 5’10-4/8″ 224
Nyheim Hines 5’8-3/4″ 198
Kerryon Johnson 5’11-4/8″ 213
Ronald Jones 5’11” 205
John Kelly 5’9-7/8″ 216
Sony Michel 5’10-5/8″ 214
Rashaad Penny 5’11” 220

How do these running backs compare to Barkley, and how can we apply these measurements to ability in the NFL?

Barkley stands at 6’0″ and weighs in at 233-pounds, far and away the heaviest back in this running back group. A five pound difference for a running back is a big one for all you sticklers out there.

The Penn State product has the size of a linebacker and the running ability of a premium half-back. For those that think Barkley can’t break a tackle, or can’t run through small holes, here’s a video to prove otherwise.

This is all 24 of Barkley’s rushing and receiving touchdowns in 2017, and as you can see in the video, he can break tackles if need be. But his greatest talent isn’t breaking tackles, it’s his sub 4.5 40-yard dash time, and his ability to change directions on a dime. A 233-pound running back with the quickness of LeVeon Bell and the strength of Brandon Jacobs sounds awfully enticing.

https://twitter.com/NFLDraftInsider/status/969322491431804929

Adding a piece like Barkley to the offense would be a huge step up for the Giants, but they must build a quality offensive line around him, otherwise he will be a waste of talent.

Barkley additionally put up 29 reps on the bench press, which is absurd for a running back. Strength like that is seen in most All-Pro defensive lineman.

Two Quality Offensive Lineman Set To Leave New York Giants In Free Agency

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Early today we reported center Weston Richburg may be headed to the New York Jets, and now guard D.J. Fluker might be on his way out as well.

Fluker signed a one-year prove it deal after struggling to live up to his potential with the San Diego Chargers. The guard proved his worth in 2017 with the New York Giants, and will likely be searching for the highest bidder which may not be New York.

The Giants are trying to find the most value in free agency for their offensive line, and by letting Richburg and Fluker go, it will leave them two quality lineman down. Reports of general manager Dave Gettleman pursuing star guard for the Carolina Panthers, Andrew Norwell, is the only offensive line addition that has been expressed.

It’s possible Gettleman decides to take a lineman in the draft to replace Ereck Flowers or Fluker. Besides Fluker and Richburg leaving the Giants, former tackle Bobby Hart was also released leaving Big Blue with three less lineman.

The options in free agency are slim, which begs the question:

How can the Giants put together a serviceable offensive line in 2018 with the options available in free agency?

The answer is, they can’t… They will need to address the position in the draft.

Weston Richburg Is Preparing to Sign With New Team, Should Giants Match?

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Well, it seems like New York Giants free agent Weston Richburg might be taking his talents to a new team, but not a new city.

Richburg is in extensive talks with the New York Jets to become their new center. With the Giants unwilling to pay top dollar for their lineman, letting him go became the consensus after the 2017 season.

Richburg played well in 2017, but after being diagnosed with a concussions he never made it back to the playing field, despite advocating for his return.

The Jets would acquire a “B” graded center to add to their offense, who will likely have a new starting quarterback by the end of the 2018 NFL Draft as well. The Giants on the other hand have the opportunity to try and re-sign Richburg, or find value elsewhere.

I assume the Giants will vote to keep reserve lineman Brett Jones and make him their starting center for a steal of a price. Richburg will likely be earning upwards of $7 million per-season, where as Jones would be earning in the $2-3 million range.

Can Jones hold down the center of the line?

The big question is: Can Jones play well for an entire season as the starting center?

After Richburg went down with a concussion, Jones filled his role valiantly, performing well and earning high marks. Per PFF, Jones graded out with a 63.9, ranking 18th in the league. We can give him some leg-room with these number considering he didn’t play the entire season, and didn’t have any help around him (thanks Bobby Hart).

If the Giants decide to address the position elsewhere, it will have to be low-cost and great value, something that the current market for centers is lacking.

Here’s What Pat Shurmur Looks For In A Starting Running Back

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New York Giants, Dave Gettleman

The New York Giants are preparing to begin their evaluation of college players at the annual NFL Combine. Coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Dave Gettleman offered various answers in regard to their wants and needs from the incoming college class.

Coach Shurmur was asked about his preference at running back, and was hinted towards a potential Saquon Barkley pick at No. 2 overall.

Here’s Shurmur’s response:

The former Vikings offensive coordinator had Latavius Murray and Jerrick McKinnon to work with last season. One was a bruiser and the other a change-of-pace back with work-horse capabilities.

Ideally, the Giants would have an all-around back that would open up a roster spot for another position of need.

Is drafting a running back at No. 2 a bad idea?

The argument against drafting a running back in the top-10 picks is nonsense.

The more frequent argument I hear is: Running backs have a short shelf life, making them expendable sooner than most players.

That argument is irrelevant, since the average playing career of an NFL player is 3.3 years, where as running backs can be effective for up to 7-8 years. Now, I’m not saying drafting Saquon Barkley is the right move, but it surely does make a lot of sense for a team that hasn’t had a big-time back since the days of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs.

What the Giants’ staff spewed out into the media could have been a smokecreen, but we must take it at face-value for now.

 

New York Giants Likely Preparing To Release Veteran Linebacker

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As the New York Giants begin to address the mess of a team Jerry Reese and Ben McAdoo left behind, several players are fearing for their jobs in the wake of the staff overhaul.

Veteran linebacker Jonathan Casillas was known as a leader on the team, but after injuring his neck and wrist in 2017, his durability is in question.

According to ProFootballTalk.com, Casillas thinks his time in New York might be coming to an end:

“I’ve spoken to (the Giants) briefly. I didn’t have a formal conversation with them about any contract or getting me back there or anything like that,” Casillas said, via Alex Marvez of the Sporting News. “It doesn’t seem like they love me as much as the old staff did.”

There’s no doubt that Casillas brings a sense of professionalism and leadership to the team and locker room, but after last season’s melt-down, the new regime seems keen on gutting the team of aging veterans.

Finding young players that are obsessed with winning is the new standard for the Giants (OBJ anyone?), meaning Casillas might catch the short end of the stick this time around.

Casillas was allocated $3.6 million in 2017, but could find his way back onto the roster if he takes a steep pay-cut. The Giants are in dire need of linebackers and signing Casillas to a team-friendly deal ($1.5-2 million) might be a solid option. His leadership and wisdom could go a long way in helping to develop young players Gettleman may select in the NFL Draft.

“I’ve been around enough to understand the game,” Casillas said. “I might not be as hot a commodity as I used to be. But whoever gets me, if it’s somebody else and not the Giants, they’re going to get a great player and a great leader in the locker room.”

Essentially, teams would be paying for his presence in the locker room and leadership on the field, because his talent has surely seen a drop-off since his days in New England.