isaiah simmons

New York Giants: The dream draft scenario in the first round

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There are many avenues the New York Giants can explore in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, but there’s one scenario that would set the team up with a top offensive tackle and a star linebacker.

First and foremost, this scenario depends on a few different factors:

  1. The Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions remain steady with the No. 2-3 picks
  2. The Lions don’t select a quarterback
  3. The Miami Dolphins/Chargers are willing to trade up for a quarterback (for the right price)

There’s evidence to suggest Washington will select Chase Young with the 2nd overall pick, and the Lions land Jeff Okudah at No. 3. The Giants now have all the leverage to trade away the 4th overall pick and put themselves in a position to add draft-capital to their arsenal of resources.

Ideally, Miami is willing to trade up to No. 4 and give up at least a second-round pick in the process, which would not only guarantee the Giants a shot at Clemons linebacker, Isaiah Simmons, but also an opportunity to orchestrate a trade up into the first round.

The New York Giants aren’t this crafty:

Dave Gettleman has never traded back in his entire career as a general manager in the NFL, but there’s never been an opportunity as golden as this for the Giants. They have two QB-needy teams waiting in the wings and need to take full advantage of that reality. Both Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert will be on the board for the taking, and selling the idea that the Chargers are attempting to swap picks should be enough to convince Miami that they need to make a move…fast. It’s all about creating leverage in a high-pressure situation, so please, Gettleman, pick up the phone this time.

In the scenario that this all works out and the Giants add a second-rounder to their draft pick allocation, they will now have the ability to find a tackle in the first round. Pairing those second-rounders will give them enough ammo to move up and have a shot at prospects like Tristan Wirfs, Mekhi Becton, or Josh Jones.

This finely choreographed move would plug a quality rookie into one of the more expensive positions in football, and it would guarantee they find their defensive playmaker in Simmons. We can dream, right?

New York Giants: Is Miami having a change of heart on Tua?

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Tua Tagovailoa

It’s no secret that the New York Giants are sitting in a great spot with the number four overall pick.  April’s draft could still become much more interesting if things go a little differently than expected.

The Miami Herald’s Armando Salguero suggests that the Miami Dolphins might prefer Oregon’s Justin Herbert over Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa.  Per Salguero, the Dolphins are not fully sold on Tua’s durability. The Alabama star suffered a season-ending hip injury against Mississippi State.  This was not the first setback for Tua.  In the 2018 season alone, Tagovailoa suffered injuries to his knee, quad, and ankle on three separate occasions. This string of knocks could certainly raise serious concerns for a team searching for their franchise QB.

What this could mean for the Giants’ draft plans.

It is nothing new to suggest Miami could use their draft capital to third with the Detroit Lions to acquire Tua.  They very well could do the same for Justin Herbert.  

This wouldn’t change things for the Giants if they were to stay at four.  They’d still have their pick of an offensive tackle, or a defensive playmaker, such as Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons.  However, if Tua is still available at four, the return for a trade back by the Giants could increase.

It has already been well documented that the Los Angeles Chargers and QB Philip Rivers have parted ways.  The Carolina Panthers and Cam Newton’s divorce seems inevitable.  As well, with the young QB guru Joe Brady on board, a new signal-caller makes plenty of sense.  Let us also not forget Jon Gruden and the Las Vegas Raiders. Although going from fourth to the twelve spots is unappealing, acquiring another first-round pick (Las Vegas owns the 19th pick as well) is not something to easily shy away from.

These teams have already been rumored as potential trade partners for the Giants.  However, if Tua and his talents are available, that bidding war could become much more intense.  

What could the Giants get for the 4th overall pick?

As ESM’s Anthony Rivardo suggested last week, the New York Giants return on a trade back from fourth for a QB could already be large.  If one of these quarterback-needy teams prefers Tua’s skillset to Herbert’s and Tagovailoa is available at four, the likelihood of a future first-round pick being in the return increases significantly.  

It is far too early to speculate let 2021 NFL Draft and remaining optimistic for the 2020 NFL season is important.  However, for a team that is really not soon making any deep playoff runs, these extra picks this year and beyond are critical.  Although Dave Gettleman has never traded back in the first before, now would be the year to do so.

Giants’ Dave Gettleman might do something he’s never done in 2020

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New York Giants, Dave Gettleman

When Dave Gettleman traded with the New York Jets for Leonard Williams, he cost the New York Giants a high third-round pick and a fourth-rounder, given they re-sign him before the new league year.

With Williams reportedly looking for a $15 million per season deal, the reality of signing him is becoming bleaker, however, the draft capital Gettleman spent cannot be regained. If Williams walks, they will likely earn a pick in the mid-90s as a compensatory selection, but trading back in the draft would inject more draft capital into their holdings.

SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano stated:

He “seems more open to the idea” of trading back this year — even in the first round, according to a source familiar with the Giants thinking. And a team source, while saying it’s all wildly premature and there have been no actual trade discussions, acknowledged a rare trade back in the first round can’t be ruled out.

The New York Giants need to be strategic:

Depending on how the Giants approach free agency will drastically alter their draft plans, as they have the option of selecting Clemson standout defender Isaiah Simmons or trading back and collecting picks. The offensive line needs allocations, and so does the defense, but Gettleman has plenty of ammo to utilize in the coming months.

Gettleman must be open to doing something he’s never done before in the draft, and that’s trading back. With two quarterback hungry teams sitting right behind Big Blue (Miami Dolphins & Los Angeles Chargers), the Giants are in a prime position to trade back and still land a player like Simmons.

A little luck will be needed to perfect their strategy, but they may walk away with a top defender and tackle in the first round. An article I wrote recently detailed how the Giants can add a second-round pick and combined their existing pick to move into the first round and draft a tackle prospect like Mekhi Becton.

 

How can the New York Giants upgrade their secondary?

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New York Jets, Logan Ryan, Tennessee Titans

The New York Giants pass defense was well documented as being one of the worst in the league last season.  The Giants secondary gave up more than 4,200 passing yards on the season (28th overall) and 7.1 yards per pass attempt (29th overall).  New York must upgrade their pass defense, but according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, those upgrades will not come from spending big in the cornerback market in free agency.

How will the New York Giants improve their pass defense?

Much of the headaches in the pass defense could be attributed to the lack of experience in the secondary.  Only three of the cornerbacks that saw impactful snap counts for the Giants defense last season had any playing time before last season.  Only one, Janoris Jenkins, started more than ten games heading into 2019. 

Many believe that the New York Giants may look at the top of the 2020 NFL Draft to help upgrade the cornerback position, but is adding more inexperience a good move?  Maybe. Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah seems to have the talent. However, adding a veteran presence to replace Janoris Jenkins looks to be the better move for New York.

If the rumors are true and the Giants won’t spend big on the cornerback market in free agency, who does that leave?  It most certainly rules out Byron Jones, assuming he doesn’t get an extension from Dallas. Jones will be one of the most highly sought free agents on the market and will likely get paid as such.  

Chris Harris, Jr., Logan Ryan, Bradley Roby, and Jimmy Smith are all free agents that made at or above $10 million per year on average.  However, is $10 million the bar for the Giants? Also, was their performance or age going to impact their number? I wouldn’t rule these names out like I would with Jones, but they may be just outside where New York is willing to go for the position.

So, who could the Giants target in free agency?

Former first-round selection for the Minnesota Vikings, Trae Waynes found himself not having an excellent coverage year in 2019.  His speed is his top trait, and he consistently has been good as a run defender. Unfortunately, his coverage ability has not been as consistent.  He shows flashes, but in the last four seasons has given up 16 touchdowns.

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard is another intriguing name for New York to keep an eye on.  He’s a solid cornerback, particularly in the slot, but has not been the most durable. With only one full season in the last six, health should undoubtedly be a concern for the Giants.  

I am sure the Giants would love to take Byron Jones away from a divisional rival and excel.  However, if the cost is an issue, there may be another option. Enter former Eagle Ronald Darby. Darby had an extremely forgetful 2019 season, posting an abysmal 45.9 grade with PFF.  He has battled injuries throughout his career and was put on injured reserve in December for a hip injury. Before 2019, Darby had been a very reliable starter, when healthy. Could he return to that form?

What is the Giants answer at improving the pass defense?

All of these options are risky.  Spend less money on inconsistent talent or durability concerns.  This has been the gamble that has hurt the New York Giants in other recent free agency moves.  The best way to help an inexperienced pass defense is to upgrade the pass rush. It’s been the story for the Giants all along, and that will not change.  

Yannick Ngakoue, Shaquil Barrett, and Kyle Van Noy could all be and should be considerations for the Giants.  The Chase Young dream is unlikely. Isaiah Simmons is versatile and talented, but will that translate to a consistent threat in disrupting the quarterback?  Trading back and somehow taking a K’Lavon Chaisson, AJ Epenesa, or any of the other next tier rookie edge defenders is an option. Whatever the case, if the Giants want to improve the pass defense without spending big in free agency, the best way to do that is to spend big in getting to the quarterback.

The Real Question for the New York Giants at 4

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New York Giants, DeAndre Baker

The New York Giants have a very real dilemma if they do not trade back in the 2020 NFL Draft this April.  Of course, any Giant fan will hold on to the dream of Chase Young falling to New York, but the roads to get there are nearly impassable.  

It would take a team willing to outbid the Miami Dolphins, who hold five picks in the first two rounds this year, for Washington’s pick.  Which would also mean the Redskins would be willing to move outside the Top 5.

Possible? Sure. So is me winning a lottery jackpot upwards of one billion dollars?

What options do the Giants realistically have at 4?

Fans of the New York Giants should stick to three options assuming they stay at number 4.  Those options are offensive tackle, a versatile defensive unicorn, and another young cornerback.

Offensive Tackle

Fortunately for the Giants, the offensive tackle class has some very good talent.  There are four options right now that the Giants could consider at the 4th overall. Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, and Mekhi Becton out of Louisville.  

Jedrick Wills seems to be separating himself a bit from the rest, but Mekhi Becton has been gaining quite a bit of steam heading into the pre-draft process.  I wrote in my most recent mock draft that I believe Andrew Thomas would be the best fit for the Giants run game, but Becton Wills and Wirfs all have their arguments as well.  Admittedly, I’m beginning to lean more towards Wills, while not being able to deny the lateral movement of Becton. Regardless, if Dave Gettleman wants to add a hog molly with the 4th pick, there are plenty of options.

The Unicorn

All I really need to say here is the name “Isaiah Simmons” and end this paragraph.  Everyone knows his name and what he can do. He’s versatile, he’s talented and he has very few, if any, weaknesses to his game.  Simmons can play a variety of positions, which is what makes him attractive for the Giants here. He wouldn’t fix all of the defenses issues, but wherever he plays best would be an upgrade for New York.

His best fit for the Giants would likely be linebacker.  Either as an interior LB or as the WILL in a 4-3 front. Regardless, he can cover running backs, tight ends and even wide receivers, as well as be an impact blitzer.  If you’ve been a fan of the Giants for awhile, you likely desire a talented sideline-to-sideline linebacker that can defend the pass against running backs and tightends as much as I have.  Simmons is that answer.

Cornerback

Albeit the least likely of the three options, one can not rule out the Giants potential attraction to Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah.  Okudah’s man coverage skills and athletic ability may result in him evolving into one of, if not the best cornerback in the NFL during his time.  He is physical and can stay on a receivers hip through any route. Okudah’s ball skills are tremendous. He may need to work on his zone presence a little, but the value he adds in the pass game outweighs that.

The Dilemma

To me, the real debate for the Giants if they choose to stay at four is simple.  Linebacker or offensive tackle. Of course, Simmons can play more than just linebacker, but he is best suited for the middle of the defense.  He’s not a true EDGE rusher and putting him at safety takes him away from being a consistent impact on every rep. If the Giants draft Simmons, it is to play him at linebacker.  

As much as I covet a game-changing linebacker for this team, is a linebacker more valuable and more of a dire need for the New York Giants?  It certainly is something they need to address, but let’s not ignore the issues at offensive line.

The problems along the offensive line have been rampant for the Giants for years.  Nate Solder was given a big contract but has not lived up to it. The right tackle has been a carousel of players with no clear answer.  Misfortune and durability have crippled the starting center role. Trying to patch the line up can no longer be an answer.  

OL Nick Gates showed promise last season.  He stepped in when Mike Remmers was injured and looked good.  Whether or not he can be a consistent starter quality talent for New York is still a question.  Free-agent Jack Conklin has been a name linked to the Giants for some time now, but his signing with Big Blue is no certainty either.  Even with the addition of Conklin, do either him or Gates have what it takes to play left tackle? Can Nate Solder drastically improve?  

Finding a talented offensive line is not just a problem that plagues the Giants.  Every team in the NFL values talent on their line every off-season. There are plenty of teams with good lines, but having depth is another thing.  Jack Conklin could command big money in free agency, which the Giants have, but are they willing and able to outbid other suitors? Time will tell. 

The 2020 offensive tackle class this year is pretty talented.  As noted earlier, there are four options for the Giants with the 4th pick.  Usually, if a position of need is deep, I am all for waiting to select a player.  However, is this really something worth risking to wait until taking with the 2nd pick?  Would players like Josh Jones, Lucas Niang and Austin Jackson have the same impact and longevity? They might, but why let another team dictate who you can pick if you have the fortune of being able to choose whoever you want?

Isaiah Simmons is a fantastic athlete and I will not be disappointed to hear his name called to the Giants in April.  I will be the first in line to buy his jersey.  However, when it comes down to it, offensive tackle is a much more important need than a linebacker. The Giants have taken risks in the last two drafts.  A running back with the 2nd overall pick, and then a controversial QB selection in 2019. It is imperative for the success of the team to give both of those players help.  Even if that means sacrificing a unicorn in the process.

New York Giants land elite defender in latest Todd McShay mock draft

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New York Giants looking at Isaiah Simmons in 2020 NFL Draft?

The New York Giants have already landed their franchise quarterback for the future in Daniel Jones, which gives them the confidence they need to begin piecing together a defense that ranked towards the bottom of the NFL in 2019.

The 2020 NFL Draft represents an opportunity for Big Blue to secure either a top tackle to hold down the offensive line or a defensive talent to re-shape a unit in need of assistance.

In ESPN’s Todd McShay’s latest mock draft, he has the Giants looking no further than Clemson stud linebacker, Isaiah Simmons, with their first-round pick.

I’d love to get second-year quarterback Daniel Jones a weapon on the outside here, but wide receiver is a deep group and offers plenty of midround options. And quite frankly, defense as a whole is a more serious problem for the Giants. Let’s get them a do-it-all linebacker — their first Round 1 ‘backer since 1984 (Carl Banks) — who found his way into just about every statistical category on the Clemson stat sheet. Simmons is what every NFL team dreams of having at its disposal. He can rush the passer, he can stand up against the run and he can drop into coverage. With Markus Golden and his 10 sacks headed toward free agency, the athletic Simmons could help fill the void.

The New York Giants have options:

Surprisingly, the Detroit Lions draft cornerback, Jeff Okudah, just before the Giants’ pick at No. 4, which might open up doors for a team in need of draft capital. After GM Dave Gettleman gave up a third-round selection for Leonard Williams, adding high-round picks should be a consideration.

The Bengals pluck Joe Burrow with the first overall pick, which leaves Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert for the taking. Gettleman has never traded back in the draft before, but this is as good a time as any, considering Big Blue could still land Simmons with the 5-6 pick.

Regardless of where he’s selected, Simmons would bring an exciting blend of speed and athleticism to the team. His 8.0 sacks, 16.5 tackles for a loss, three interceptions, and eight passes defended last season only attests to his diverse skill-set. If the Giants are serious about building the middle of the defense, picking Simmons is the right move.

Don’t forget to check out the BRAND NEW “Fireside Giants” podcast! 

New York Giants: 3-round Mock Draft to fix positions of ‘need’ and not ‘want’

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With the New York Giants in dire need of talent on the defensive side of the ball, we can only hope that GM Dave Gettleman will appropriate a healthy amount of draft capital towards fixing the existing holes. However, the team is also weak in the offensive line category, trotting out a terrible Nate Solder in 2019 at left tackle and Mike Remmers, who played adequately in the second half of the season at right tackle.

The reality is, there might be too many holes on both sides of the ball for the Giants to fix this offseason, but there are several top talents they can look to in the draft to help bolster their weaker spots.

Heres’s a three-round New York Giants mock draft:

1.) 4th overall pick – Hybrid LB/S Isaiah Simmons

Simmons is one of the more polarizing players in the upcoming draft, and some might disagree with my selection here, but the Giants are in dire need of a defensive stud to move around in the middle of the field and lockdown running backs for years to come. The last time the Giants has a Pro-Bowl caliber linebacker was when they fielded Antonio Pierce, and guess what, they won a Super Bowl with him controlling the defense.

What I like the most about Simmons is his versatility, and ability not only to play safety and cornerback to not only line up at linebacker but also play safety and cornerback if needed. He reminds me of a bigger, more physcial version of Minkah Fitzpatrick. His coverage skills aren’t as elevated, but he has more of a dynamic approach to his game. Simmons accounted for 8.0 sacks, three interceptions, 16.5 tackles for a loss, eight passes defended, and 104 total tackles in his junior year. He ranks just behind Chase Young in terms of draft stock, and the Giants ould be silly to overlook him unless they receive a trade-back offer they can’t refuse.

2.)  36th overall pick – OT Josh Jones

Josh Jones out of Houston is a fascinating prospect that has begun to climb draft boards in recent weeks. With offensive tackle being a strong position in the upcoming draft, Jones could easily slip to the second round for the Giants, who could take a similar approach as they did with Will Hernandez.

As per The Draft Network:

PROS: Enticing project caliber prospect — he’s got a lot of intriguing physical traits. Most notable among them is desirable length to play on the edge, as well as an athletic build and some tenacity in the trenches to dog defenders along the line of scrimmage. Jones moves well in space as a blocker pulling out in front of runs and folding up into the LOS, he’s light on his feet. Experienced starter with several years under his belt after redshirting his true freshman season. If he’s paired with an effective offensive line coach, he’s got the raw physical skills to be a starter at the NFL level.

Jones’ struggles present themselves in the form of awareness and his initial punch off the line of scrimmage. His athletic build and raw skill present Marc Colombo, the New York Giants’ offensive line coach, with plenty of talent to work with, but he would need a bit of time before he can be a starting level OT in the NFL. However, his ceiling is high enough to take a risk.

3.) 68th overall pick – Gettleman traded it away

The trading for Leonard Williams might be Gettleman’s biggest gaffe during his two-year tenure with the Giants. If the Giants re-sign the interior defensive lineman, they will likely lose out on a third-round selection. However, if he walks, they will re-gain a selection in the mid-’90s. They essentially forfeited a high third-round pick and moved back 25 slots for a rental. While this isn’t a fireable offense, considering the reasoning behind the move, it undoubtedly fuels the fire.

Let’s say the Giants do gain the 95th overall pick, for giggles, they could look towards a player like Texas’ Devin Duvernay. The senior wide receiver had a fantastic 2019 campaign with the Long Horns, amassing 1,386 yards and nine touchdowns. His size is rather average at the NFL level, 5-11, 210-pounds, but he has solid speed and hands.

New York Giants land versatile linebacker at No. 4 in latest mock draft

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New York Giants looking at Isaiah Simmons in 2020 NFL Draft?

There are several avenues the New York Giants can choose from in the upcoming draft, but ultimately, their defense is in dire need of a real playmaker. Aside from their offensive line struggles, Big Blue needs a versatile linebacker who can move around the field and make plays consistently.

That’s where Clemson standout, Isaiah Simmons, enters the mix. In Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft, the Giants don’t hesitate by taking Simmons at No. 4, locking arguably the most dynamic defensive player in the draft and injecting an unparalleled talent into the defense.

With Ryan Connelly recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season, pairing Simmons with the former Badger would be exciting. Having a strong instinctual linebacker in Connelly who can shoot the gap and a game-manager like Simmons in the middle of the defense is encouraging for the future.

4. New York Giants

Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson

An off-ball linebacker in the top five? Believe it — Simmons is that good. He is the perfect run-and-cover linebacker for today’s NFL, and he can do anything and play every down. Just look at his incredible stat line from 2019: 104 tackles, eight sacks, three interceptions and 16 total tackles for loss. The Giants have many needs, but Simmons is the type of defender who makes everyone around him better. This is another spot to watch for a rising pass-rusher, but I don’t have another one graded this high. I also thought about offensive line; New York could upgrade at both tackle spots. By the way: The last time the Giants picked No. 4 overall, they ended up with a pretty good player (good luck in retirement, Eli).

Kiper is right, the Giants need OL talent at both tackle spots, but having a high second-round pick should open up the door for an excellent talent to be plucked off the board. They could always trade back up into the first round as they did in 2019 to ensure they get their guy.

If the Giants can walk away with a top defensive talent and a potential starting tackle, it would be a massive success for the team and new head coach, Joe Judge.

Debate: Should the New York Giants take a WR at 4?

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New York Giants, DeAndre Baker

As the NFL season comes to a close, fans of the New York Giants have already begun speculating moves that their beloved team should do this offseason.  Something that has become all too familiar over the last few seasons.

One position of intrigue and debate is wide receiver.  After trading away Odell Beckham Jr. and being thin at the position, many wonders if the Giants will take an elite receiver at the top of this April’s NFL Draft.  Others, on the other hand, believe this would be a mistake. Which side are you on?

Making the case for a WR in Round 1

With the 4th overall pick in hand and considering the needs of Washington and Detroit in front of them, the New York Giants very likely could miss out on a premier defensive talent yet again.  Chase Young seems bound for Washington. Isaiah Simmons’ performance has made him a strong candidate to go 3rd overall. So, what does that mean for the Giants?

Popular options include trading back to a quarterback hungry team, taking a young offensive tackle or grabbing another cornerback.  However, many others think the New York Giants should be taking a wide receiver. 

Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy and Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb have been considered by some to be ideal selections for the Giants.  Jeudy has been compared to the Cowboys’ Amari Cooper and can be the outside receiver New York covets. His speed and agility make him a threat at all levels.  

Then there is CeeDee Lamb.  Lamb has incredible ball skills and control of his 6’2” frame.  Many compare Lamb to Houston’s Deandre Hopkins or even 6-time Pro Bowler, Reggie Wayne.  How could the New York Giants pass on that?

Even if the Giants were to trade down, the talent in this draft class at the receiver is very deep.  Clemon’s Tee Higgins, Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III, LSU’s Justin Jefferson, and Colorado’s Laviska Shenault Jr. are just some of the names that could be called in the 1st round.

Making the case against a WR in Round 1

The depth of this receiving class may be the strongest case against taking a receiver in the first round.  It is no secret that the New York Giants have needed all over, especially on the defense and offensive line.  Is taking a receiver in the Top 5 really the best use of draft capital?

Without trading out, the Giants are sitting in a great position to address many needs with premier talent.  Isaiah Simmons is an ideal fit, but may not be available. Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah is another top prospect that will be available with the 4th pick.  The tackle position is very top-heavy, with Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas all being considered as the best tackle prospect in the class. 

The Giants have a talented group of receivers already, but they are thin at the position.  With the injuries they suffered last season, having depth is critical. Taking a wide receiver later in the draft may be their best option.  Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk, Southern Cal’s Michael Pittman Jr. and Ohio State’s K.J.Hill are just some of the names the Giants could call at any point in the later rounds.  Temple wide receiver Isaiah Wright has been impressing scouts this week at the Shrine Bowl and could very well be a breakout player in the NFL.

What about the free-agent market?

The New York Giants are going to have a ton of money available for free agency.  If they prioritize the offensive line and defense in the NFL Draft, they have some options in free agency in order to build out the depth at wide receiver.

New York can definitely bring back guys that WR Coach Tyke Tolbert is familiar with.  Cody Latimer, Cody Core, and even Da’Mari Scott would all be unsurprising returns to the Giants.  If the G-Men dip elsewhere in free agency, they do have options. They could look to add a veteran with a one year deal, much like Randall Cobb, Demaryius Thomas or Danny Amendola.  The veteran option giving them depth, talent, and experience as a stop-gap for the season.

What about a younger option that could be signed for a longer deal?  WR Amari Cooper hasn’t be resigned by Dallas… yet. The Jets Robby Anderson looks to be headed to the open market and will be sought after.  There are also options like Rashard Higgins, who showed flashes with his time in Cleveland before the Browns brought in Landry and Odell.

Whatever the case may be, the New York Giants will have to address the lack of depth at wide receiver.  The talent is there, especially with the emergence of Darius Slayton, but there is a longevity concern that will need to be taken into consideration.  

New York Giants: Antonio Pierce a very real option to claim vacant coaching position

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New York Giants, Antonio Pierce

Hiring ex-players seem to be a matter of when than why, and for the New York Giants, they have an opportunity to not only bring in a respected player but coach as well.

The New York Giants have a great option they can explore at LB coaching position:

Former linebacker for Big Blue, Antonio Pierce, spent five years with the team, derailing the undefeated Patriots in 2007 during his tenure. His knowledge and respect from the players make him an intriguing option, and former teammate, Justin Tuck, had nothing but positive things to say about him.

“Please God tell me @Giants are hiring him. Unbelievable smart football player. Probably the smartest football player I played with and that is saying a lot.”

 

Ryan Dunleavy of the NY Post adds that Pierce “could slide” right into the vacant linebacker coaching position. The Giants are preparing to invest in the spot, especially with Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons as an option at No. 4. If the Giants remain in the 3-4 scheme, Pierce would be coaching inside linebackers and outside linebackers, allowing him to instill his knowledge on rushing the passer and stopping the run.

Pierce’s instinctual abilities against the run would go a long way for the linebacker corps that struggled in that facet during the 2019 season. If the Giants are willing to invest in the position, Pierce might fit the job perfectly.