Happy Easter to our Readers, Giants Mock Draft

April 8, 2012

NEW YORK – I would like to wish you all a very Happy Easter! It’s hard to believe that we are this deep into April already, this year is flying by very fast. I’m glad I was able to hang out with family and relax today. I hope you all had a great weekend too. Can you believe it has been two months, since the Giants beat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI to win the Super Bowl Championship for a second time against New England. My how time flies. The 2012 NFL Draft is the next big thing coming up and I expect football fans to be foaming at the mouth in Radio City Music Hall. The war room strategies and meetings have already started and coaches are discussing the roster with GM Jerry Reese. Fans will only have to wait another 3 weeks to find out the brilliant game plan put together by the Giants A-Team.

Be on the look out for my upcoming 2012 Giants Draft article. It should be a fun way to discuss the team needs and assess players for our ‘hit list’ on draft day. If you decide that you want to make your list on your own, may I suggest doing it by position. It makes for a much easier reference when you follow the draft LIVE and try to guess the rookies taken. I generally do a top five list for each position and top ten for the three positions with the most need. Example, WR, RB and OL look like three top areas of need on offense for the 2012 draft. The defense is pretty solid but could use more youth at the safety and cornerback positions in my opinion. The top three positions of need on defense are CB, S and LB.

If the money could be worked out on a deal, I would suggest bringing in a veteran offensive lineman and then use the first round pick on another offensive lineman. Protect QB Eli Manning at all costs. Then straight hit the defense for back to back rounds with a cornerback and linebacker taken, followed by a surprising wide receiver pick in the fourth. These picks are based solely on my opinion and will probably change the closer we get to the draft itself. The Giants needs change all of the time, so be sure to keep an eye on their transactions.

nygreporter mock draft, prospects by position:

1. Round 1, Pick 32

OT Mike Adams, WR Stephen Hill or maybe OG Amini Silatolu 

2. Round 2, Pick 63

LB Ronnell Lewis, WR Brian Quick or CB Trumaine Johnson

3. Round 3, Pick 94

CB Ron Brooks, WR Juron Criner or OG Brandon Washington 

4. Round 4A, Pick 127

WR Nick Toon, LB Jonathan Massaquoi or FS Aaron Henry

5. Round 4B, Pick 131

OL Tom Compton, CB Josh Norman or SS Brandon Taylor

6. Round 5, Pick 167

RB Terrence Ganaway, FB Evan Rodriguez

7. Round 6, Pick 201

CB Donnie Fletcher, OG Ryan Miller

8. Round 7, Pick 239

TE Nick Provo, TE Adrien Robinson

What are your top three areas of need for the Giants this draft?

RD – nygreporter.com – Happy Easter!

Check out New York Giants Team Captain, Justin Tuck’s camp info here Justin Tuck ProCamps.


New York Giants Roster Moves, Free Agency Signings

March 15, 2012

NEW YORK – To say that the Giants have been busy the past 48 hours is an understatement. The Giants could hit the 15-17 player signings benchmark by tonight if they continue at this pace. I see what Giants GM Jerry Reese is doing and it is fun to take this journey of evolution with him and guess what happens because he is not showing his hand. You must know the team well enough to come up with scenarios and quite frankly, if you’re one of those writers who has given up, don’t steal my formulas or ideas and print them as your own. I read everything related to the Giants daily. It’s like a kick in the gut when you put two and two together and check the timelines for story releases. If you want my work, pay me, don’t be a hack.

Now back to business, the Giants have made about a dozen deals over the last 48 hours and show no signs of stopping today. They know the cream of the crop is almost completely devoured by now and will make a couple more moves in my opinion by Friday night. It’s safe to say the Giants have addressed the tight end and cornerback areas considerably thus far. They also have S Chad Jones, CB Prince Amukamara, CB Corey Webster to work with too and TE Jake Ballard and TE Travis Beckum. How about signing both of the Andrews brothers (Shawn and Stacy)? Get those guys up to speed and on the field together and see what happens. I also think that signing DE Osi Umenyiora, S Deon Grant, LB Chase Blackburn are crucial for the defense and special teams group.

Let’s take a look at what has happened thus far. Giants GM Jerry Reese has solidified the cornerback position on defense. He knows the defensive line is fine but if a good deal presents itself, who knows? He knows the safety group is fine, maybe add one more. This tells me he will be attacking the linebacker group via the upcoming NFL draft. If he catches lightning in a bottle with a future LT, I think he will use the majority of the other picks on offense. I think it will be a LB or OL taken in round one this year. I hope it is another athletic linebacker to help out but at the same time think a ten year offensive lineman is needed right now. The recent roster moves also tell me the offensive line will be addressed via the draft and certainly the running back position.

Here are some of the recent signings by Big Blue this week. Some of the deals did not publicly state the terms.

These roster moves are valid as of 3/15/12 at 8:00 AM:

1. CB Terrell Thomas, 6’0″ 200 pounds – 4 year deal, fair and smart move.

2. WR Domenik Hixon, 6’2″ 185 pounds – 1 year deal, worth the shot.

3. CB Michael Coe, 6’0″ 190 pounds – Smart signing to bolster DB’s.

4. CB Bruce Johnson, 5’11” 185 pounds – Smart signing to bolster DB’s.

5. TE Jake Ballard, 6’6″ 256 pounds – I like this signing a lot. Well done.

6. CB Justin Tryon, 5’9″ 190 pounds – Smart signing to bolster DB’s.

7. QB David Carr, 6’3″ 215 pounds – I have always liked Carr.

8. TE Martellus Bennett, 6’6″ 270 pounds – 1 year deal, smart.

9. P Steve Weatherford, 6’2″ 211 pounds – Franchise tag, brilliant.

10. TE Larry Donnell, 6’6″ 269 pounds – No NFL experience.

11. OL Joel Reinders, 6’8″ 317 pounds – No NFL experience.

Keep an eye on players who were released, free agent markets:

1. RB Brandon Jacobs – Released by team. Surprising move and I hope he can return for a new restructured contract.

2. WR Mario Manningham – I hope we can re-sign Super Mario somehow but right now he is checking out the 49ers free agent market.

3. CB Aaron Ross – Visiting teams as we speak, Washington was the most recent. Really Aaron?

4. OL Kareem McKenzie – Restructure the contract for less money and get that 3rd ring and maybe Ring of Honor one day.

5. S Deon Grant – Both sides need to get this done. I love the way this man plays football.

6. LB Chase Blackburn – This guy is a big deal and he proved it again last season. Give him 3 years.

7. DE Dave Tollefson – He plays with the best defensive line in football and holds his own. Worth re-signing.

8. TE Kevin Boss – Rumors of him returning are doubtful after Martellus Bennett signing. Maybe not?

9. WR Plaxico Burress – Rumors of his return are most likely just that, rumors.

10. WR Steve Smith – This is an interesting possibility if they lose Mario Manningham. It’s doubtful to ever happen.

11. DE Osi Umenyiora – Pay this man the money he has earned and work it out like Manning’s contract or something.

What are your thoughts on the recent transactions made by the New York Giants? Feel free to leave a comment below.

RD – nygreporter.com

Check out New York Giants Team Captain, Justin Tuck’s camp info here Justin Tuck ProCamps.