The New York Giants are at an interesting juxtaposition in the franchise's history.
After a 6-10 season, Tom Coughlin received a one-year extension through the 2016 campaign because the Giants didn't want the two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach to go into a lame-duck season.
The Giants changed their offensive scheme last season with the hire of offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, who installed a West Coast system. It was the first scheme change for quarterback Eli Manning, who has been with the team since he was acquired in a draft-day trade in 2004.
There were some growing pains in the early part of the season, but the Giants erupted for 75 total points in wins over Houston and Washington before being shut out by the Eagles.
New York finished 10th in total yards on offense, but 23rd in rushing yardage. Manning, meanwhile, thrived as the Giants were seventh in yards passing. Of course, the emergence of rookie sensation Odell Beckham, Jr. was a big part of that. The Offensive Rookie of the Year, Beckham missed the first four games of the season due to injury and still had the fourth-highest rookie receiving yardage total in NFL history.
The thought of pairing Beckham with either DeVante Parker or Breshad Perriman could be tempting to general manager Jerry Reese.
Manning, one year removed from leading the league in interceptions, had the highest completion percentage of his career (63.1 percent) and threw for 4,410 yards, 30 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. The yards passing and touchdowns were both the second-highest totals of his career.
The run game, which was expected to be improved with the addition of Rashad Jennings last season, was given more attention this offseason with the signing of former Patriot Shane Vereen. A dual-purpose back, Vereen caught 52 receptions for New England in 2014 and can be utilized as a weapon in the screen game.
The offensive line could easily be addressed with the first pick. None of the first eight picks in the Fan Mock Draft has been used on an offensive lineman. The only question is whether it would be on a projected guard like Brandon Scherff or a tackle like Andrus Peat or Ereck Flowers. Only five starting right guards last season graded out worse than the Giants' John Jerry, who slid over from the left side to the right side due to Geoff Schwartz's injuries.
Defensively, the Giants welcomed back an old friend whom is someone Eagles fans are quite familiar with. The Giants dismissed defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and re-hired Steve Spagnuolo, who had the same role with the team back in 2007 when they won the Super Bowl.
The Giants finished fourth in the league in sacks, but have always made pass rusher a priority. Plus, Jason Pierre-Paul is playing on the one-year franchise tag. Pierre-Paul was viewed as a boom-or-bust-type prospect in the 2010 NFL Draft and Randy Gregory is being viewed through a similar prism now.
The interior of the defensive line could use a boost with Cullen Jenkins and Johnathan Hankins currently projected as the starters. Arik Armstead projects more to 3-4 fronts so Danny Shelton would be a more likely option here. The Giants also ranked 30th in the league against the run.
Eagles fans will cringe at the notion that the Giants have one of the more talented cornerbacks in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and could pair him up with the first cornerback selected in this year's draft. Price Amukamara has shown promise, but can't stay on the field. He missed the final two months of the season with a torn biceps injury. He has played all 16 games in a season once in four seasons.
- 1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Jameis Winston
- 2. Tennessee Titans: DL Leonard Williams
- 3. Jacksonville Jaguars: LB Dante Fowler, Jr.
- 4. Oakland Raiders: WR Amari Cooper
- 5. Washington Redskins: LB Vic Beasley
- 6. New York Jets: QB Marcus Mariota
- 7. Chicago Bears: WR Kevin White
- 8. Atlanta Falcons: LB Shane Ray
