New York Giants

South Carolina Linebacker Could Be Great Option For Giants In Draft

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As the New York Giants prepare for free agency and the NFL Draft, one of the most pressing concerns remains at the linebacker position.

Free agency has several decent options to offer (Navarro Bowman and Nigel Bradham), but the most efficient way allocate talent to the position would be through the draft.

There’s one specific player that hold an extremely high up-side along and might even slip to the third-round.

According to Walterfootball.com:

University of South Carolina’s’ Darius Leonard stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs in at 229-pounds. Leonard is an inside linebacker specialist as his ability to shoot the gap and stop runners in the backfield is apparent. Scouts stated that they were really impressed with the young linebacker last fall, as he was seen running sideline-to-sideline in pursuit of the football.

Last season he amassed 113 total tackles, eight of which were for a loss, eight sacks, one pass defended, two interceptions and one forced fumble. Leonard is fantastic at stopping plays in the backfield, which would complement the Giants’ secondary very well. The South Carolina product is entering the league with NFL size and room to grow.

For the Giants, adding an agile big-bodied linebacker to the middle of the field would only be beneficial, and we can assume they will address the position in the draft.

 

What’re The Chances The Cleveland Browns Take Saquon Barkley At No. 1?

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Lately, I’ve seen a lot of worried New York Giants fans expressing their belief that the Cleveland Browns may start off the 2018 NFL Draft with a Saquon Barkley selection.

Taking the star Penn State running back would immediately improve any offense willing to take a shot at the polarizing athlete. But the question here is: How likely are the Browns to take Barkley with the No. 1 overall pick?

The Browns need a quarterback, and they could potential take Barkley at No. 1 and move on to take a QB at No. 4, but how risky would that be? There’s no doubt that a running back holds less value than a top-flight quarterback, so why would the Browns pass up on ensuring they can acquire their first-choice at QB to go RB? It makes no logical sense…

Additionally, people might say, “well, why would the Giants pass on a quarterback if they hold more value than a running back?” Davis Webb, that’s why. I’m a believer that Webb has the necessary skills to succeed with an offense headlined by Odell Beckham Jr., Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard and Saquon Barkley. If you want proof of Webb’s improvements, follow this link.

The fact of the matter here is that Cleveland would be foolish to risk losing out on their quarterback by waiting until the fourth overall pick. Reports have the Browns interested in Rosen and Darnold, who could both be off the board before the Browns reach their second selection.

This puts the Giants in a very good position, as it allows them to game-plan for Barkley, Rosen, Nelson, and/or a potential trade-back. Depending on what the Browns do, New York had a multitude of directions they could go with the pick.

 

 

Former New York Giants Receiver Helping Ground Breaking Pro Athlete Organization

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The New York Giants have always been an organization of honor and respect, and one of their former players is carrying on that tradition off the field.

Ron Dixon, also known as the only player in NFL history to run back two kick returns in the post-season, is at the fore-front of an organization out to help all former professional athletes. As head of the Football division (NFL, AFL, and USFL) of WSA (World Sports Alumni), Dixon is making ground-breaking progress in solving what’s a major problem in the sports industry: The lack of assistance for former professionals.

“I’m very honored to be chosen by my fellow NFL peers to head our WSA International Pro Football Division. We have an amazing team and an even more amazing agenda. Every professional athlete I’ve spoken to is so behind us. Whether you are a NFL pro, NBA, MLB or other, I can truly tell you this is an organization unlike any other you have ever been a part of. The synergy is off the charts. So check us out,” said Dixon who was raised in Wildwood, Florida.”

“Ron is really a wonderful guy. We are fortunate to have a player of his stature represent us. He’s a great leader and also has great values which you can see as he always takes his family everywhere he goes. I speak for many NFL players when I say that we look forward to Ron leading our sports division in the WSA”, said Bruce Rothschild, former San Diego Charger, and current WSA member. He is also the President of  Your Backyard Superstore which is a WSA Business Sponsor partner.

The WSA helps athletes make the most out of their brand and provides them with resources to make a difference in society. Dixon and the WSA host events (Super Bowl party’s, football camps, etc.), to promote their cause, which has attracted hundreds of professional athletes and dedicated fans. With over one hundred athletes under their umbrella, they’re expecting to see a growth of 200% in former players by the end of 2018 (over 300).

Attending one of their events isn’t simply a meet and greet, you receive the opportunity to spend a night out with the former pros; enjoying their company and seeing what it’s like to spend a night in their shoes.

One of WSA’s key representatives is Brandon Meriweather, former safety for the New York Giants. As they begin to spread across the country and expand what’s a massive development for former players, we will have the opportunity to enjoy their company and events as dedicated fans.

Showing them our support is essential, as former athletes often fall into the pits of bankruptcy and legal troubles due to a lack of education or financial guidance. Providing our support will only help us in the long run develop relationships with these great players, and influence society in a great way.

Additionally, CEO/founder of WSA and former No. 1 Billiards player in the world, Charlie Williams, is displaying incredible passion and determination in creating what’s going to be one of the world’s most influential sports alumni organizations.

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.