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| AP Photo/Mark Humphrey |
By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)
The NFL Draft is quickly approaching, as we get
closer to the primetime opening round April 25th. This will be the eighth part in a series
where I will discuss the current and needs for the upcoming NFL Draft for the
Giants.
The eighth position I will take a look at is linebacker.
Currently on the depth chart for the Giants at
linebacker are Jacquian Williams, Dan Connor, Mathias Kiwanuka, Keith Rivers,
Mark Herzlich, Spencer Paysinger and Jake Muasau. From last season the Giants lost two
linebackers in Michael Boley, who is still a free agent, and Chase Blackburn,
who signed with the Panthers.
The Giants focused on adding beef to the defensive
line to help stop the run and relieve some of the pressure off the linebackers,
who once again look to possible be a weaker spot for the Giants this
season. A lot of younger players will
have to step up this season for the Giants if the linebackers are to not be
looked at as a weakness in the defense.
The Giants made a few moves at linebacker, cutting
Boley to save some money and bringing in Connor in addition to re-signing
Rivers. Kiwanuka is expected to move
back to defensive line with the departure of Osi Umenyiora and offset his
loss. A big question for the Giants at
the linebacker position is health. Williams
and Rivers could be an asset to the Giants defense with the speed they possess;
they could give defensive coordinator Perry Fewell some options on how to
scheme on defense if they are able to stay on the field.
The Giants had looked at Connor in the 2008 draft
when he came out of Penn State and six seasons later they will finally have him
in a Giants jersey after playing in Carolina and Dallas previously. The Giants hope that Connor will fit their
scheme and help in stopping the run game.
Herzlich will have a chance to break into the starting lineup too, as
Muasau left a lasting impression on the coaching staff after an impressive
showing in rookie camp last season.
The last time the Giants drafted a linebacker was 2011
when they drafted Williams and Greg Jones in the sixth round. The Giants just do not value drafting
linebackers early in the draft, as pass rushers and cornerbacks are more important
to the Giants brain trust. To put in
perspective how the Giants look at linebackers, keep in mind they have not
drafted a linebacker in the first round since Carl Banks in out of Michigan
State in 1984.
Since Antonio Pierce went down with a career-ending
injury in 2009 the Giants have tried filling the void with minor signings or
mid to late round draft picks. This year
the Giants will most likely have a chance to fill that void and end the streak.
Alec Ogletree and Manti Te’o are both expected to be
on the board when the Giants are on the clock and are widely considered to be
the top inside linebackers in this year’s class. Both have question marks off
the field, as Ogletree was arrested for DUI in February in addition to being
suspended four games last year for supposedly failing a drug test. Te’o’s
off-field issues have been well publicized with his fake girlfriend story
making the rounds earlier this year.
The value of each player at 19 in the draft is what
may steer the Giants away from taking either, but later in the draft there are
some options that may catch the Giants attention. LSU’s Kevin Minter, UCONN’s Sio Moore and
Kansas State’s Arthur Brown are all options in the second round for the Giants,
with the latter two being outside linebackers.
Mid-round prospects to keep an eye on are North Carolina’s Kevin Riddick
and hometown player Khaseem Greene of Rutgers.
On a scale of 1-10 the Giants need for a linebacker
is high with an 8. Again, they do not
normally value linebackers as highly as other positions across the defense so it
would be a surprise if they took one in the first round, but the second round
may be where they target a potential player with Brown being a person mentioned
as being connected to the Giants.
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