Giants in the Senior Bowl: NFL Draft Needs, Intriguing Player Spotlight, and More

Giants season is over. It was fun to watch and cover, so it’s time to look to the future.

Much of that future could be seen at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. There, general manager Joe Shane, coach Brian Dabor, and the rest of the Giants staff will watch his prospects practice and compete against each other, the nation’s top.

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This week is important not only for the franchise — New York has historically relied on Senior Bowl talent — but also for Shane. Assistant general at Buffalo During his tenure as manager, the Bills selected 14 of his Senior Bowl participants, including superstar quarterback Josh Allen, in his NFL Draft.

In Shane’s first draft cycle with the Giants, three of his 11 picks were in the Senior Bowl. Shane talks about the importance of the week, and it doesn’t seem like an empty word. With the Giants general manager and head coach, as well as a contingent of assistants and scouts making the trip, it seems his All-Star game still carries a lot of weight on him.

Senior Bowl practices begin Tuesday in Alabama. This is a Giants-centric primer to get you ready for the game.

draft status

Coming into the season, all eyes were on quarterback Daniel Jones and how he would play in a proof season after his fifth-year option was denied. Not only that, but he led New York to its first playoff victory in 11 years. The team wants him back, and if negotiations go smoothly, it’s a good bet that he’s back.

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But with Jones playing so well and the Giants making the playoffs, New York’s draft funding was worse than it had been in previous seasons. The Giants have had at least one top 11 pick in each of their last five drafts, so not having a top 20 pick this year presents new challenges.

Still, the Giants have plenty of draft capital to bolster their roster, and for now,…

• One first-round pick (25th);
• 1 second-round pick (No. 57);
• Two third-round picks (No. 89 and a compensatory pick for the Chiefs by Kadarius Tony Trade),
• One fourth-round pick,
• One fifth-round pick
• One sixth-round pick (from Chiefs via Tony Trade)
• Two seventh-round picks (including one from the Ravens in the Ben Bredeson trade).

The Giants could also receive a compensatory pick. Over-the-cap Nick Corte recently predicted that the Giants would get additional sixth and seventh-round picks. The NFL typically announces compensatory pick awards at the beginning of a new league year (March 15).

Top 3 Positions Giants Want

Wide receiver: As a passer, Jones needs more weapons. Despite the emergence of Isaiah Hodgins (42 catches, 351 yards) and some solid production from veterans Darius Slayton (46 catches, 724 yards) and Richie James (57 catches, 569 yards), the Giants’ wide Receivers had the eighth-least total yardage (2,311 yards). ) among his NFL receiver corps in 2022. Expensive veteran Kenny Goladay will almost certainly be released. Hodgins is likely to return as an exclusive free agent, but aside from him and 2022 draft pick Wandale Robinson, who is recovering from a torn ACL, the Giants have little depth in their positions, making Shane and him the best choice. has become a priority. A company to deal with this off-season.

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The draft seems most likely to do so, especially given the lack of making a difference receivers set to be available in free agency. In retrospect, it seems prudent to invest in a better quality wide receiver to help him continue to grow.

Inside Linebacker: Similar to the receiver corps, the inside linebackers group saw significant turnovers throughout the season. The Giants got the snap after rotating between Jaron Smith, Micah McFadden, Landon Collins and Cam Brown before the late-season addition of Jarad Davis. Davis played well enough to earn a postseason spot in the regular season finale, and McFadden left healthy scars in both matchups. and training camp standout Darien Beavers can remain hopeful, but the Beavers are recovering from a torn ACL. Even if the Beavers return to full strength, he will be unsure and the Giants will be in a position where they will have to inject talent in the coming months.

Internal line of attack: Center John Feliciano and center/guard Nick Gates are becoming free agents. Rookie third-round guard Josh his Ezdu hasn’t been able to do enough to win the job this season despite having multiple chances. The veteran has one year left on Ben Bredeson and Shane Lemieux each. Mark Growinski, 30, still has two years left on his contract, but his first season at right guard in New York has had a few ups and downs. A lot depends on what the Giants do with Feliciano and Gates, but it’s another position the Giants should consider upgrading.

Players to watch in the Senior Bowl

we relied athleticresident prospect guru, Dane Brugler, and his astute analysis of some names Giants fans should be watching this week.

Russie Rice, WR, SMU: Brugler’s latest mock draft predicted that the Giants would pick TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston with the first pick, but Rice is the top receiver in Brugler’s rankings in the Senior Bowl. The 203-pound-wide receiver led FBS in receiving yards per game (112.9), and his 1,355 receiving yards were third in the nation. He was also 13th in the country with 10 touchdowns. As Brugler writes, “With his body control and hand-eye coordination, Rice is a winner on the ball.” The Giants could certainly use his one of those.

Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia: Wicks finished his senior year with 30 catches for 430 yards and two touchdowns, leaving something to be desired. But at 6-2, 210 pounds, “He’s a long, loose athlete who can do acrobatic grabs and create after the catch,” Brugler said. was missing from his tape.” It’s a crucial week for Wicks to prove he’s back in top draft status as scouts and NFL teams flock.

DeMarvion Overshawn, LB, TX: Brugler said Overshown was one of the linebackers to watch in the Senior Bowl, saying Longhorn has explosive range and a strong week on mobile could boost draft stock. . The 6-4, 220-pounder transitioned from safety to linebacker. This should grab the attention of the Giants’ fans who saw Landon Collins and Tony Jefferson play linebackers in his defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale’s system this season. Overshawn finished his career with the Longhorns with 249 tackles, 3 interceptions, 17 passes defended, and 9 sacks.

Osiris Torrence, G, Florida: While Brugler presses the Giants for a wide receiver, athletic‘s Nick Baumgardner selected Torrence to guard in a recent mock draft (although he did so, admitting that the top receiver was already off the board). Torrence, who is 5 years old and weighs 347 pounds from age 6, is also one of Brugler’s Senior Bowl potential stars of the week. Brugler said Torrence became one of the best blockers in the SEC by challenging himself with the move from Louisiana to Florida, adding that Torrence’s “power and body control made him an instant NFL starter.” That’s why,” he added.

(Photo by Rashee Rice: George Walker / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)