The NY Giants' policy of drafting the best player available, regardless of team needs, has helped the team win 2 of the last 6 Super Bowls. Current GM Jerry Reese has continued this philosophy that was started under his predecessor Ernie Accorsi with good results since taking over in 2007. The most obvious example of the Giants taking the best player available over filling a team need, was the selection of Defensive End Jason Pierre Paul in 2007, a decision that at the time made as much sense as a David Lynch film, considering that the team already had two elite DEs on roster in Strahan and Umenyiora. While the Giants failed to make the playoffs last season they still have the 3 key ingredients to win a Super Bowl: 1) a top notch QB in Eli Manning 2) a proven winner in coach Tom Coughlin 3) an above average pass rush featuring Pierre Paul, Tuck (who is however coming off a disappointing season), Kiwanuka and newly acquired DT Cullen Jenkins. While the Giants had a fairly difficult salary cap situation in the off season, they were able to hold on to their best restricted costless agent in WR Victor Cruz (who is even more important when you consider how much of a passing league the NFL has become) and ended up losing just four significant players in DE Umenyora (who looked as washed up as Nicolas Cage last season), tight end Bennett (who was replaced well with Brandon Myers formerly of Raiders), safety Phillips, who had fallen behind Stevie Brown in depth chart last season anyway and DT Canty who was replaced well by Cullen Jenkins. Let's look at the position of needs going into Thursday's draft:
OFFENSIVE LINE: despite having numerous big name players at the skill positions, the Giants ranked 12th in passing yards and 14th in rushing yards in NFL last season- having a great QB but no one to protect him is like an older man who has a very young wife but no Viagra. The Giants have only one elite offensive lineman in RG Snee (who is the son in law of head coach Tom Coughlin) to build around. The team resigned LT Beatty to a 5 year deal, and have a slightly above average center in Bass as set starters. The rest of the offensive line needs to be improved to get the most out of the Giants skill players.
SECONDARY-with the NFL becoming a predominantly passing league, it is imperative to have numerous defensive backs that can cover opposing WRs and TEs. The Giants drafted CB Prince Amukamara in the first round in 2011, but he has struggled to stay on the field due to injuries. The team resigned veteran CB Corey Webster after he agreed to a pay cut since he was coming off a very mediocre season. The team's best CB Terrell Thomas has suffered two torn ACLs so there as much question marks about his career as there are with Lindsay Lohan's. The Giants did bring back CB Aaron Ross (whom they drafted in first round in 2007) after he spent one season in the NFL purgatory known as Jacksonville. While the team has one of the best safeties in the league in Antrell Rolle, and hit a home run when they signed Stevie Brown from the Raiders, they could use more depth to offset the loss of former first round pick Kenny Phillips who signed with division rival Philadelphia, especially considering that they often use 3 safeties on field at same time (the Giants also did sign former Steeler Ryan Mundy). Look for Giants to look at both CBs and safeties in draft.
LINEBACKER-the first two Giants teams to win a Super Bowl in late 80s and early 90s were built on great Linebackers- Taylor, Carson and Banks. Since then the only elite linebacker team ever had was Jesse Armstead. The last two Giant teams to win the Super Bowl were instead built on defensive lines, which is not surprising considering that pass rushers are more important now that NFL is a passing league. The Giants lost veteran linebacker Boley in costless agency, to replace him the team brought in former Cowboy Dan Connor. The Giants have two former first round picks at LB in Rivers (a bust so far in NFL) and Kiwanuka, who can also play at defensive end. Look for the Giants to draft a couple of linebackers this week.
PASS RUSHERS- while the Giants can still count on Jason Pierre Paul (who did take a step back last season after looking like a super star in 2011) they need more pass rushers especially considering that Justin Tuck has become the NFL version of Al Pacino- a big name who isn't performing up to his standards. The Giants can generate some pass rush with their defensive tackles (Jenkins and Austin) but need one more strong defensive end to rebuild the blue print they used to win their recent Super Bowls. My guess is the Giants may for once break their rule of drafting best player available if a solid defensive end is available when they pick in first round.