The problem with offering an opinion as to what the Giants need most and thus who they must take with the No. 4 pick in the draft is that you are all wrong. Or all correct. The problem is the answer to the “needs’’ question is far too often “Yes.’’ When a team wins three, …
The problem with offering an opinion as to what the Giants need most and thus who they must take with the No. 4 pick in the draft is that you are all wrong. Or all correct.
The problem is the answer to the “needs’’ question is far too often “Yes.’’ When a team wins three, five and four games in a three-year span, there are leaks all over, and clear sailing takes a back seat to staying afloat.
Remember when you were a kid (depending on your age) rifling through baseball cards? “Got it, got it, got it, need it.’’ This is the way it is with the Giants, in reverse. They are all about “Need it, need it, need it, got it.’’ You name it (outside of quarterback, running back and probably guard) and there is a good chance the Giants can use it.
There must be priorities, though. Here is how The Post views the Giants’ five greatest needs:
Offensive tackle
Every team needs two of them to start and at least one of them on the bench capable of sliding in on either side in an emergency. A case can be made the Giants have one of these requirements. General manager Dave Gettleman recently admitted left tackle Nate Solder had a bad 2019 season. Solder, 32, returns, and all the Giants can do is hope after nine seasons he is not shot.
There is no right tackle. Mike Remmers was one-and-done. Nick Gates is an undrafted prospect, so beware there. Veteran Cam Fleming was signed in free agency, but he has mostly been a career backup. The Giants need to come out of this draft with someone capable of starting much sooner than later at right tackle. Period.
Pass rush
This is not a single position need as much as it is a defensive trait that must be addressed. It is fine (sort of) for Gettleman to say he was unwilling to pay massive money for the two or three good-but-not-great sack guys on the market. It is fine (sort of) to speak of using a “committee’’ approach to getting to the opposing quarterback. This means the defensive coaching staff must be wizards, and we will wait and see on that one.
Bottom line: Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines must develop as pass rushers. They are third-round picks, and it is not too much to ask. We will believe Kyler Fackrell is part of the solution when we see it. Good luck finding a legitimate pass rusher in this draft once Chase Young is off the board.
Center
The wait for Jon Halapio might be fruitless. He is coming off major Achilles tendon surgery and remains unsigned. He should return to health, but the problem is he was not anything special when he played in 2019. Spencer Pulley is a serviceable option.
The Giants do not need a superstar here. But with defenses more and more relying on inside pressure up the middle, anchoring in at center is essential, and there are a few of them in this draft (Cesar Ruiz, Lloyd Cushenberry, Matt Hennessy, Tyler Biadasz) who could immediately challenge for a starting spot.
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Safety
Let’s see, there is Jabrill Peppers, coming off a fracture in his back that kept him out of the last five games. He is young and strong, though, but needs to take a big step forward entering his fourth NFL season (second with the Giants).
Otherwise, the depth chart is slim-to-none. Perhaps Julian Love in Year 2 can emerge at free safety, but that is more a projection than a plan. This spot was not addressed at all in free agency. Veteran Antoine Bethea was released and another veteran, Michael Thomas, is unsigned. It would not be a surprise if the Giants took a safety on the second day of the draft, especially if Xavier McKinney (Alabama, unlikely to be there) or Grant Delpit (LSU) are on the board at No. 36.
Wide receiver
Yes, we know Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate and Darius Slayton are all on the roster. This does not mitigate the need for another target, preferably one with some size. Shepard is a gamer, but he had terrible concussion issues last season and that is alarming. Tate is tough but also 31 and entering his 11th NFL season. Slayton as a fifth-round pick was a rookie revelation, and it is intriguing to consider what his second year will bring. This draft is loaded with receivers. The Giants can find one in the fourth or fifth round who could make their team and contribute.
