Trading Osi

The Giants head into the 2012 with 7 picks, having traded their 5th for Rivers and added a compensatory 4th for Cofield. The two 4's are close together, and they might be able to trade their regular 4 if they want to move up for something they like between their first two picks. Or they could trade Osi for another pick in that area and keep the rest of their picks.

The Osi issue is sort of a big one for the Giants. Though he has been a little petulant from time to time, he isn't radioactive like Shockey was when he forced his way off the Giants. Osi's just sort of cosmically screwed because he got injured when they were getting ready to bump up his deal after Super Bowl 42. And ever since Osi hurt his hip and missed the 2008 season, the Giants have wisely resisted indulging an oft injured player. But Osi feels that the Giants broke a promise to him, and really wants to get paid again. Thus the situation that could lead the Giants to trading him come draft day.

But if the Giants do want to trade him, they better think long and hard about it and get top value for him. I'm not kidding. On our two Super Bowl runs, Osi has been one of the best players on the field both times. Heck, in a big game he will even play the run like a champ. Of course, he doesn't care about the run from week to week, but when there's something to be won, he'll do it.

And just because Osi is 31 or whatever he is doesn't mean the Giants should buckle and accept anything other than a late one or early 2 for him. Though he gets banged up, passrushers with his explosive first step last. Look at John Abraham! He's like 100 and still ticking. So, if the Giants trade Osi they really have to hold fast for value or hang onto him, sweeten his deal a bit and put up with his pouting.

The other issue is: who replaces him in the passrush rotation? The Giants would obviously have to find another passrush piece in the draft. Preferably with either their first rounder or the pick they get for Osi. I happen to favor adding a young passrusher just about every year. This year Whitney Mercilus seems like a Giant Type passrusher, complete with long arms and an explosive first step. He might be the ideal guy to grab if they move Osi, but he could be long gone before the window opens. Nick Perry is a tweener from USC with an explosive first step who has tested better than he has played.

That brings us to Chandler Jones of Syracuse. This is a big lanky kid with a projectable frame, who is relentless in pursuit. What he doesn't appear to be is a great passrusher, and he doesn't have the great first step the Giants seem to prefer. But my understanding is the Giants really like him, and I would defer to them if he's one of their picks. I'm not a big fan of Vinny Curry or any of the other DE's who could be in our window at 32. Of course if Coples falls like Kiwi did, that's a different story.

So it's like this: the Giants can trade Osi, draft another DE with their first or the Osi pick, and move Kiwi back to DE or they can just keep Osi and maybe throw him some more cash. I'm not sure what they will do, but they better get great value if they trade Osi and not the crap they got for Shockey. When Osi plays, he produces sacks, and those are the lifeblood of the Giant defense as they have been since the time of Katcavage.