Giants Draft

Last June, I wrote somewhat extensively on the Yankee and Ranger drafts. It's not going to happen with the Giants draft, since this draft will probably bear only a cosmetic resemblance to a regular NFL draft. This is because of the current labor mess in the NFL. In a normal NFL year, the Giants and other teams would have already tendered their RFA's and signed their major UFAs's by this point. What's more, they could then use current roster players to trade around during this week's draft. None of that has or can happen at this point. Thus, normal draft trading will be curtailed to a great degree, with teams only able to use this year's picks. Of course, their may be a "future considerations" agreement between the teams, but nothing has come out about that. What's more, there's a slight chance that this is the last NFL draft. That could happen if the court decides to trust bust the NFL. So it will be a strange little oasis of ersatz NFL dealing, in the midst of a surreal offseason.

Onto our Giants. The Giants generally adhere to their board and pick the best available player. People can semantically argue this till they croak, but that's pretty much what they do. That's how we ended up with Kiwi back in `06, even after trading down. Anyway, this is another draft with a big, red chip area. The Giants have traditionally kicked ass in these kind of drafts and I expect them to do so again this week.

The way the services are stacking the boards, it seems like the BPA when the Giants pick will likely be a DL, OL, CB, and possibly even an RB or a WR.

On the DL side, Liuget, Wilkerson, Paea and a few others should be available. If it's going to be a DT, they will probably pick the best passrusher from that group. They've been looking for an interior passrusher who isn't normally a DE, since Hammer hung them up. Likewise, if an elite passrushing DE, like De'Quan Bowers or Robert Quinn falls, they could even take him. What? You say. Another DE? Yup. Passrushers are worth first round picks to the Giants and most teams. Quinn and Bowers aren't just a DE, they are Giant-type DE and it wouldn't surprise me if they drafted one.

On the OL side, I'm not really on board with drafting right tackles or interior linemen with first round picks, but the Giants just might pounce on Mike Pouncey, the developing C from Florida. The tackles, Solder, Costanza and Carimi have been associated the Giants in some mocks, but it makes no sense to me. David Diehl is already only the third best Left Tackle on the team after Andrews and Beatty, so if they want to move him to guard they can. I'm hearing Andrews will be back, and Beatty showed nothing but upside when he played last year. I won't kill the pick if it's an OT, but I'd rather trade down than do that at 19. Pouncey, I can live with since I've been calling for them to draft O'Hara's replacement for years.

BREAKING NEWS: THE COURT HAS DENIED THE OWNERS' APPEAL!

Wow, I wonder if this will change anything before the draft. It would seem the owners now have to make a deal with the players. Btw, this also means there will be no NBA lockout.

Now, back to our draft post.

There are a couple of CB's who could be there, like Jimmy Smith, but I have not heard anything linking them to the Giants.

There are; however, two offensive playmakers, either of whom could be the Giants pick. The first is Jonathan Baldwin, the big WR from Pitt. With uncertainty over the health of Steve Smith, and a talent like Baldwin staring right at them - to team with Hakeem Nicks - the Giants would have to give it serious thought.

The other is Mark Ingram from Alabama. He's been getting dinged, but a very good case can be made that he is a franchise back. He's super productive as a rusher, receiver and blocker, and when he's not rehabbing, he can break big plays. And he doesn't fumble! He'd be a perfect fit for the Giants in fact, and that's exactly why they might take him.

In all, there doesn't really seem like there will be a clear cut BPA at 19, as we'll be in the red chip area by then. If I were the Giants, I'd be entertaining trade down offers, and I sort of hope that's what they do. Go Giants!