2. NEW YORK GIANTS (3-13)
LAST SEASON: After making playoffs for first time since winning Super Bowl in February 2012, Giants imploded in coach Ben McAdoo’s second season. Opened with five straight losses in injury-marred season that saw receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall lost for season in Week 5. Not only did team lose, McAdoo lost locker room and then his job after benching Eli Manning in early December. General manager Jerry Reese also was ousted for failing to shore up bad offensive line and giving OK on Manning decision. TE Evan Engram, last year’s first-round choice, was major positive in bad year.
THEY NEED: QB, RB, G, DE, WR, ILB.
THEY DON’T NEED: DT, S, LS.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: QB Sam Darnold, Southern California; RB Saquon Barkley, Penn State; DE Bradley Chubb, North Carolina State; G Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame; QB Josh Rosen, UCLA.
OUTLOOK: Giants haven’t had pick this high since taking Philip Rivers with No. 4 overall choice in 2004 and then packaging him and draft picks to San Diego for Manning. 37-year-old Manning is still No. 1 guy and question is how much longer can he play? Two years, three? Also is there future two-time Super Bowl MVP in this group of incoming QBs. Also need for pass rusher with recent trade of Jason Pierre-Paul to Tampa Bay. Or standout running back. New coach and quarterback whisperer Pat Shurmur can revive offense, especially if Beckham returns healthy and happy - contract could be issue - and Manning does not get hurt. New GM Dave Gettleman filled some needs in offseason, signing T Nate Solder, LB Kareem Martin, RB Jonathan Stewart and trading with Rams for OLB Alec Ogletree. Terminating Marshall’s contract creates need for big receiver in middle rounds. O-line has to be upgraded, especially guards. Giants can’t afford any misses with six picks, all in first five rounds. Would help if recent first-rounders T Ereck Flowers (2015) and CB Eli Apple (’16) started playing better.
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