With the draft only three weeks away, it’s time to look closer at team needs for every NFL club. (Translation: We’re desperate for new content.)
We’ll be rolling a few team needs posts per day in the rumor mill, starting with the New York Giants.
OL: Sure, you could narrow it down to just center. Shaun O’Hara and Rich Seubert are coming off major surgeries. But the Giants need to replenish the group that keyed their Super Bowl title at tackle and guard too. There are age concerns (Kareem McKenzie) and injury question marks (Shawn Andrews) elsewhere.
LB: The Giants don’t put a premium on linebackers, but they are taking this strategy too far. They need more playmakers than just Michael Boley on the outside and Jonathan Goff is a good, not great option in the middle.
DT: It says a lot about New York’s solid roster that defensive tackle is a need with at least three decent enough options in place: Chris Canty, Linval Joseph, and Rocky Bernard. Still, the team needs depth and youth with Barry Cofield possibly leaving.
RB: Ahmad Bradshaw will likely be a free agent and Brandon Jacobs will have to take a paycut to return. The best bet is the Giants only bring one of them back, and re-stock the position in the draft.
Overview: The Giants really aren’t desperate at any position. That should allow G.M. Jerry Reese to continue to do what he has done well the last three years: Draft the best available player, preferably one with size. And plan for the future. (Two cornerbacks have contracts expire in 2011, so that could be a target.)
The Giants figure to be one of the toughest teams to predict on draft day. Other than wide receiver, quarterback, and possibly safety, any position is fair game in the first three rounds.