Giants need it all at NFL combine ’19
Big Blue must check out every position this time
The NFL combine’s first player arrivals on Tuesday kicked off a full week of medical, character and athletic evaluations in Indianapolis.
And the Giants will be scrutinizing all of the top prospects closely, holding the No. 6 overall pick in April’s draft after selecting Saquon Barkley No. 2 overall one year ago.
The players’ independent medical tests are at the heart of the combine’s purpose, with NFL training staffs finally able to examine the specific risks of each prospect themselves.
Plus, each NFL team is allotted 60 formal player interviews, each lasting 15 minutes, and tons of additional informal interviews to cover as much face time as possible.
The on-field testing at Lucas Oil Stadium provides the public show. And this all sets the groundwork for up to 30 private player visits to NFL team facilities between the combine and the April 25 draft, in addition to player pro days.
Here is a closer look at some of the posiprospects tions and the Giants will prioritize in Indy, with the qualifier that they have needs throughout their roster, so it’s tough to count any position out with any of the Giants’ 10 draft picks.
QUARTERBACK
The Giants are closely scouting all of the top QBs for a second straight spring, even though it appears they intend to run it back for Eli Manning’s 16th season at age 38 in 2019. Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins (Highland Park, N.J.) and Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray are this year’s top two QB prospects. Murray is slightly shorter than 5-foot-10, and Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur prefer taller QBs. So Haskins is the only likely Giants QB target at No. 6.
If they want Haskins, though, they’ll probably have to trade up. Two QBs have gone in the top three picks of three of the last four drafts, and there are some wildcards picking higher (Arizona at No. 1, Oakland at No. 4), plus plenty other teams with a QB need (Jax at No. 7, Denver at No. 10, Miami at No .13, Washington at No. 15). Keep an eye, therefore, on the next tier of QBs, including the likes of Duke’s Daniel Jones, N.C. State’s Ryan Finley and Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham — perhaps in the early second round or with a late first-round pick acquired via trade.
OFFENSIVE LINE
This isn’t a jaw-dropping O-line class, but there are several solid prospects Gettleman will consider to bolster the right side of Manning’s line and the unit’s overall depth. Injury comes into play here with Monday’s news that Florida offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor, a top-15 overall prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, will be limited in his participation due to a mild distal hamstring strain. Teams will have to look at
Taylor closely and assess the risk/reward even for a minor injury, considering this is a prospect projected to go in the first round.
Other headlining O-linemen include Oklahoma’s Cody Ford, Washington State’s Andre Dillard, Alabama’s Jonah Williams, Mississippi State’s Greg Little, Wisconsin’s David Edwards, Kansas State’s Dalton Risner, West Virginia’s Yodny Cajuste, USC’s Chuma Edoga, Alabama State’s Tytus Howard and Boston College’s Chris Lindstrom. This is a mix of interior linemen and tackles, and the Giants need more of both.
DEFENSIVE LINE AND EDGE
Gettleman always preaches that he drafts the best player available. That’s what he believes he did last year with Barkley at No. 2. And if he sticks to that mantra, the best player available at No. 6 this year likely will be an edge rusher or defensive lineman.
The defensive front is the strength of this draft. Ohio State edge Nick Bosa, Kentucky edge Josh Allen, Alabama DT Quinnen Williams, Michigan edge Rashan Gary (Paramus (N.J.) Catholic), Clemson DT Christian Wilkins, Houston DT Ed Oliver and Florida edge Jachai Polite are the big names. And the Giants need to improve both their run defense and pass rush.
Mississippi St. DT Jeffrey Simmons is a top prospect, too, but recently tore his ACL and was found guilty of simple assault in 2016 for repeatedly punching a woman.
OTHER DEFENSIVE PLAYMAKERS
A pair of LSU defensive standouts, ferocious middle linebacker Devin White and 6-2 corner Greedy Williams, are two of the bigger names at two other positions where the Giants could benefit from an infusion of defensive talent. They’re also in need of a free safety, which they may find on the free-agent market, but Delaware’s Nasir Adderley is a player to watch there.
Gettleman traded Eli Apple and Damon Harrison midseason last fall and said in his postseason press conference that the defense was the reason the Giants finished 5-11. If defensive coordinator James Bettcher is going to take the heat, then it’s only fair the GM gives him some players to work with.
OFFENSIVE SKILL POSITIONS
The Giants already have a ton of resources committed to Barkley at RB, Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard at wide receiver, and Evan Engram at tight end. But it wouldn’t hurt to spend a mid-round pick on a reliable young third receiver such as Stanford’s J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. And certainly if Gettleman trades Beckham and/or Engram, there will be a greater need not only for a playmaking receiver but also for a more well-rounded tight end.
The scenarios are impossible to predict, and this is not the Giants’ priority. But for what it’s worth, Iowa tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant are both highly rated, as are Mississippi receivers D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown. Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown recently underwent foot surgery, which could keep the projected first-rounder on the board.