BigPete

Tom Coughlin was paying alot of attention to Manny Lawson at his workout if he is on the table at #25, we will very likely be a giant Lawson has played LB at college before, he has great speed and athleticism (significantly better than almost all the LBs this year) just look at these combine results: (from nfldraftcountdown.com) Manny Lawson North Carolina St. 6'5", 241 lbs, 4.43 40 time A.J. Hawk Ohio St. 6'1", 248 lbs, 4.59 40 time Thomas Howard U.T.E.P. 6'3", 239 lbs, 4.42 40 time DeMeco Ryans Alabama, 6'1", 236 lbs, 4.62 40 time Ernie Sims Florida St. 5'11", 231 lbs, 4.50 40 time You don't draft for immediate impact, you draft for the best player in 2-3 years take Osi Umenyiora for example, he didn't impact right away, but ended up being a great value pick in the late 2nd round btw some other pretty good LBs such as Mike Vrabel and Teddy Bruschi were college DEs

A good analysis, it gives a general idea of how it works. Although to confuse things more, often the media will include the signing bonus in their reporting (they get more hype that way) for the Will Allen example, it would be a 5 year $25 million contract that includes a $5 million signing bonus Also there are bonuses such as roster bonuses, performance bonused etc

I think we could probably trade down to the early 2nd round (for an extra day 1 pick) and still get one of the stud LBs (probably Jackson) The LB class is ridiculously deep this year and LB is not a premium draft position

Plaxico and Toomer are good starters Jamaar Taylor has potential, he could still develop into a good WR David Tyree also provides useful depth I see our main problem is #3 WR. I think we are best suited to filling that need in free agency with someone like Jabaar Gaffney. That would give us a pretty decent WR group: Plaxico Burress Amani Toomer Jabaar Gaffney Jamaar Taylor David Tyree we could also get a decent developmental WR on day 2 of the draft

Ernie Sims has bulked up alot, he should be around 230lbs now, which will answer alot of the critics regarding his size I think D'Qwell Jackson is very similar to Jonathon Vilma, they both have very similar measurables and top intangibles. Jackson is a fierce LB who would bring back some old school attitude to our OLBs that we have not had for some time. Jackson is a good tackler, good blitzer and has good quicknees and mobility. He also sheds blocks well and has good coverage skills. D'Qwell Jackson is who I would most like to see at WLB for the Giants

We do have a few needs, but not that many. Say we get resign Will Allen or another free agent. And solid a sign free agent DT, FS and WR and we draft a LB, DT, FS, CB and WR that is all our positions of need addressed with two extra picks available (assuming we don't trade down) With the depth at TE this year, if we get the chance of grabbing a good talent in later rounds, it should be considered. There is a big difference between a pure blocking TE and a good blocking TE with decent hands, particularly in the two tight end formations. Also the NFL is really looking for multi-dimensional fullbacks. Mills also fits this role

The fact that Shiancoe only will have a 1 year deal, indicates to me, the front office are not sold on him. Sean Berton was not as good as advertised I think we do need to add a good TE into the mix. Mills has top intangibles, is a hard worker and team player.

a good measure of quickness can be found by subtracting the short shuttle time from the 40 time 40 time Chris Chester Oklahoma 4.88 Daryn Colledge Boise St. 5.04 Chris Kuper North Dakota 5.10 Nick Mangold Ohio St. 5.05 Will Montgomery Virgina Tech 5.09 Guy Whimper East Carolina 4.95 Eric Winston Miami (Fla.) 4.94 short shuttle Chris Chester Oklahoma 4.50 Daryn Colledge Boise St. 4.58 Chris Kuper North Dakota 4.60 Nick Mangold Ohio State 4.36 Will Montgomery Virginia Tech 4.43 Guy Whimper East Carolina 4.59 Eric Winston Miami(FL) 4.44 Quickness Chris Chester Oklahoma 0.38 Daryn Colledge Boise St. 0.46 Chris Kuper North Dakota 0.50 Nick Mangold Ohio St. 0.69 Will Montgomery Virgina Tech 0.66 Guy Whimper East Carolina 0.36 Eric Winston Miami (Fla.) 0.50 (0.50 or better is very good)

It is worth noting the two DTs that the Giants have interviewed Haloti Ngata and Gabe Watson Both are big space eaters. This is a good indication of the style of DT we are looking at in the draft. I think we are more likely to draft Babatunde Oshinowo than Claude Wroten in the 2nd round or Montavious Stanley, Steve Fifita or Manaia Brown in later rounds

TE Garrett Mills (Tulsa) could be an interesting option for the Giants on day 2 of the draft. He has great quickness (0.59 - 40 time/short shuttle difference) and good speed (4.64 40 time) He weighed in at at 6'1" 241 lbs Mills is a solid runner, decent blocker and has very good hands Mills would be a decent #3 TE option behind Shiancoe, would backup Jum Finn, and could also play H-Back. He would also be a quality special teams player. Extra TE depth could be important as Shiancoe will only have a 1 year tender. Mills with his versatility would be a usefull addition for the Giants.

It is worth noting that despite his blazing speed, Davis does have great quickness TE short shuttle times Vernon Davis Maryland 4.17 Tony Scheffler W. Michigan 4.01 Garrett Mills Tulsa 4.05 Owen Daniels Wisconsin 4.10 Davis was the slowest of these in the short shuttle! TE 40 times: Verrnon Davis Maryland 4.38 Tony Scheffler W. Michigan 4.54 Garrett Mills Tulsa 4.64 Owen Daniels Wisconsin 4.65 Quickness: a good measure of quickness can be found by subtracting the short shuttle time from the 40 time Verrnon Davis Maryland 0.21 Tony Scheffler W. Michigan 0.53 Garrett Mills Tulsa 0.59 Owen Daniels Wisconsin 0.55 (0.50 or better is very good) Sheffer, Mills and Daniels have very good quickness Vernon Davis has great linear speed, but ordinary quickness

I am not surprised, I was trying to tell people about him I would expect Nande to run around 4.45 or so He has ordinary LB skills, so is a project, but he has great physical tools

We don't need a stud CB in the draft There is a decent chance that Will Allen will resign, if not we sign a solid veteran to replace him (maybe Deshea Townsend) Alot will depend on Will Peterson, if he is healthy, we have no problem. If not, we will sign a solid free agent. Corey Webster will be alot better with a season of development, he will be competeing for a start Curtis Deloatch has talent and started alot of 2005, he is at least quality depth. EA has confidence he can be a good CB. I think we are much better with talented developmental CB prospect like Will Blackmon (he ran a 4.46 at the combine) and addressing other needs early (such as DT, OLB, FS etc)

I don't see how Stoutmire can be a viable option He was beaten out by both Brent Alexander and Shaun Williams Even with Williams, and Alexander, the Giants are upgrading the safety position (Hence both Alexander and Williams will be elsewhere). Our main problem at safety was our speed and our coverage skills Ryan Clark, Corey Chavous and Lance Shulters are decently priced FA options. If EA wants to open up the cheque book a little, then Chris Hope is another option. It is worth noting that we will need the veteran experince in our secondary. The age of the free agent we sign will impact on where we draft a safety (if at all). Donte Whitner is a good draft option, he has the speed and coverage skills of a CB and the tackling ability of a SS. James Butler does have potential, but I can't see that relying on him to be a solid starter is upgrading our secondary. Butler will be in the competition for safety in camp.

my prefered solution is to draft Donte Whitner

When Whittle was brought in, the cupboard was bare, we had alot of problems on our Oline, which have only really been addressed this year with McKenzie anchoring RT, Diehl moving to LG and Seubert being healthy EA did say that he would resign Whittle if there was an increase in the 2006 salary cap due to the new CBA (if it gets signed). Whittle was not cut for poor playing ability, but we need to invest that money in other areas of our team (ie: defensive back seven)

Either Green or Emmons was going to be released Really it was 50-50 who would be back I was leaning to Green staying due to age, obviously his injury history, size and possibly attitude were bigger issues for the Giants. With this years draft and free agency, we can upgrade WLB, which is why Green is gone. Emmons has more versatility (he can cover more positions if needed), has been healthier than Green, but also has alot of valuable experience. At 33, he isn't a long term solution, so it hints strongly at a good LB in the draft.

With Barrett Green gone, the Giants #52 is available for D'Qwell Jackson

I can only assume the Giants are viewing Manny Lawson as a possible LB Greg Blue mentioned that one team was looking at him as a WLB, I wonder if that was the Giants

We don't need a LB of Peterson's calibre we have a good core of players, combined with quality draft picks we have a decent group if we go with a LB in free agency, someone like Ben Leber or David Thornton would be good value for us

Actually, I believe we save more cap space by cutting Green than Emmons they both signed 5 year deals, Emmons' contract had a $4.5 million signing bomus Barrett Green's contract had a 2.75 million signing bonus Emmons has a $2.0 million base salary for 2006 Green had a $2.5 million base salary for 2006

If you want someone to impact straight away, you go with a free agenct. A rookie you want to develop behind/ and compete with starters. You can't expect a quality college player and expect them to be a good nfl player right away. The problem with our offense was mostly with our execution

I see us getting a CB and a FS in free agency. Emmons will probably stay, he adds valuable experience. I think we will draft a quality LB early in the draft. They may be able to beat out Emmons at WLB I think we will draft 2 LBs in the draft though

I don't see WR as a major need. We already have a an explosive offense and almost our entire offense is returning. The major problem with our offense was our execution, Tom Coughlin is well aware of this and this will be addressed this offseason. Also with our offense almost entirely intact our chemistry and combinations will be alot better. Yes we could upgrade at WR, But we have solid starters in Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, behind them, the cupboard isn't completely bare. I think a solid reasonably priced vet like Jabaar Gaffney or Corey Bradford will do the job. I see our defensive back seven as our most critical need. Ernie Accori and Tom Coughlin have both admitted as much (which is unusual in itself) At LB, Reggie Torbor should be ready to start at SLB, and Barrett Green should be healthy at WLB. I think Emmons is likely gone due to age, injury history and cap value, Greisen is gone as well, but he is very replaceable. We have decent starters at LB, but we need some quality talent behind to develop behind them and add legitimate competition for our starters at OLB. I see OLB as porbably our main draft priority At CB, we need at least one good veteran (whether that is Will Allen or someone else). Corey Webster and Curtis Deloatch add good depth and Webster should be competeing for a starting position. Will Peterson should be ok to go this season, but if he isn't, we will bring in a solid vet (maybe not a genuine starter). We don't need an immediate starter in the draft at CB. What we need is a talented CB t develop for the future and add quality depth, in this draft, we should be able to add someone like that late day 1 or early day 2 in the draft. A S, Brent Alexander and Shaun Williams are almost certainly gone. This leaces us with Gibril Wilson (a good solid (but not great) starter, with some experince, and James Bulter who has shown potenital, but isn't ready to start and may never be more than a quality backup/ role player and special teamer. I think there is a good chance we will look at adding a decent free agent. Depending on which FA, we may look at drafting someone to develop for the future at some point. DT will also be a need if Kendrick Clancy doesn't resign, but we will add another free agent. We could liklely also add a decent DT to develop behind our starters at some point in this draft, possibly on day 2. Ernie Accorsi will already be well aware of which of the Giants needs are likely to be able to be met in free agency and which will be addressed in the draft. Remember, both Ernie Accorsi and Tom Coughlin believe in using Free Agency to fill needs, and in using the draft to build the team for the future. The LB, CB, DT and S draft classes are stacked with top talent, we should be able to get great value picks at these positions. We are not going to go into the draft with a rigid draft strategy. We will go in with a general idea of what positions we would like to draft and which players may be available at each pick. But Ernie Accorsi and Tom Coughlin will have their own draft board, this will be based on the Giants' assessment of each player's talent, upside and their value to the Giants (eg: team needs), we will draft the highest rated player on our draft board. Players rise and fall in every draft, ERnie Accorsi and Tom Coughlin will do their utmost to get the best value out of the draft.

Greisen is all but gone. Peronally, I think the core of Torbor, Pierce and Greisen is ok I don't think we need a free agent. I like Ben Leber, but he is going to want to start. I think quality LBs in the draft is the best way to stock up our LB corps. We may not need two day 1 LBs, but I think the 2nd LB at some point will be the best player available It also ensures that our LBs will be a quality unit for several years.