NFL Team Needs: New York Giants Team Needs
By Jon Dove
The New York Giants are coming off a terrible year which saw sweeping changes. It’s up to the new General Manager David Gettleman to fill the team’s needs.
It’s going to be a busy offseason for David Gettleman and the New York Giants. They have several roster holes to fill and several different routes they could take to get the job done. Their biggest asset right now is the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
They are projected by Spotrac to have around $21 Million in cap space which isn’t much to spend. It’s especially tight when you figure in the fact that Weston Richburg and Justin Pugh are pending free agents.
Below are the top 3 needs for the New York Giants:
1. Offensive Line
The Giants offensive line problems have been well document. However, the issues could get worse this offseason if Pugh and Richburg leave via free agency. Those two have been among the better performers for the Giants.
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However, the biggest key will be to find a long-term replacement for Ereck Flowers at left tackle. They have Chad Wheeler some snaps towards the end of the year, but he’s a wildcard at this point in the process.
Unfortunately, there might not be many options for New York to address this need. The draft doesn’t have a left tackle prospect worthy of the No. 2 pick.
Free agency has a few options with New England’s Nate Solder as the most intriguing option. Solder’s play has really leveled off over the years to the point where he isn’t considered a top-end left tackle.
Basically, the Giants may need to scour the trade market to see if they can land an upgrade at the position.
2. Running Back
Orelans Darkwa had a few nice games at the end of the Giants season, but overall he’s more of a situational player. The same can be said for Wayne Gallman who didn’t show anything special with his playing time.
New York will be in position to potentially draft an elite running back with the No. 2 pick. Penn State’s Saquon Barkley is a special talent with the ability to be a dominant force. His combination of size and speed make him a major weapon.
However, selecting Barkley would mean that the Giants passed on grabbing a quarterback. That seems like a tough choice for a team that needs to find Eli Manning‘s long-term replacement.
The more realistic solution might be for the Giants to use their 2nd or 3rd round picks to land a running back.
3. Quarterback
Despite a down year, Eli Manning should still have a few solid years left in the tank. That doesn’t mean New York should ignore the need for a long-term plan. The most logical move would be to use the No. 2 overall pick on a quarterback.
Manning can then be used as a bridge until the young signal caller is ready to take over the starting job.