TE Daniel Fells: A player who flew under the radar for the Giants last season, Daniel Fells did not disappoint when called upon. The 32 year-old tight end who was re-signed to a one-year, $950K deal, had three touchdowns on the year which was good for third on the team. Fells was not expected to make the team out of camp last season, but turned into a solid red-zone target for the G-Men. If Larry Donnell struggles with drops out of the gate this season, expect Fells to have a decent role in the offense.

LB JT Thomas: When the Giants pried JT Thomas from the Jacksonville Jaguars this off-season, many fans were scratching their heads at giving a small name linebacker a three-year, $10 million deal (with $4.5M guaranteed). When Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny went down with an injury last season, Thomas stepped up and performed well in his place recording 84 tackles, five passes defended, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. With an aging Jameel McClain and an oft-injured Jon Beason, Thomas will most likely be called upon frequently by the Giants. One of Thomas’s strengths is being able to cover the tight end which the G-Men struggled with mightily last year so look for Thomas to get a plethora of snaps in passing situations.

RB Rashad Jennings: Newly signed Shane Vereen is generating some buzz out of training camp thus far but many are forgetting about Rashad Jennings. Jennings, who signed a four-year, $14 million deal with the Giants last offseason, was a solid runner for the G-Men last year until injuries derailed his season. The highlight of his season was a 176-yard rushing yard performance against the Houston Texans in Week 3, Jennings rushed for a total of 639 yards in 11 games with 4 rushing touchdowns. If healthy, Jennings and Vereen have the potential to be one of the best one-two punches in the NFL this season.

The post Giants X-Factors first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

One of the glaring weaknesses of the 2014 New York Giants was their special teams, so this offseason General Manager Jerry Reese attempted to improve the team in this area. Reese added Cowboys returner Dwayne Harris on five-year deal for $17.5 million including $7.1 million guaranteed, and Patriots linebacker Jonathan Casillas on a three-year $10.5 million-contract.

You may ask yourself, why did the Giants sign two special teamers for such a large amount of money? If you watched the Giants special teams last season you would know the answer. It was frustrating to watch no-name kick returners break multiple tackles against the sheepish Giants tackling. That, and numerous fumbles in the Giants’ return game mad upgrading this unit an off-season priority.

Although Preston Parker wasn’t an awful option in the return game for the Giants last season, he struggled with fumbles. Also, putting star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the return game was a risky option because you don’t want to see your star getting hurt running back kicks. Harris was very good for the Cowboys and is widely considered one of the best at his position. Casillas, captained the Patriots special teams to a Super Bowl last season so hopefully his leadership and experience are solid traits which have been added to the team.

With names such as Dwayne Harris, Jonathan Casillas, Mark Herzlich, Steve Weatherford, Josh Brown, and Zack DeOssie, let’s hope we see a huge improvement in the teams’ special teams.

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Would there be a better way to recover from losing starting left tackle Will Beatty to a pectoral injury by adding former Philadelphia Eagles Guard Evan Mathis?

Mathis, who was just released by the Eagles after they failed to trade him, is a two-time Pro Bowler who would immediately come in and fill a glaring need for the Giants. After the Giants drafted Tackle Ereck Flowers from the University of Miami, the team looked like they had a formidable line going into the season. This was until starting tackle Will Beatty suffered a pectoral injury in training camp.

The 33 year-old Mathis signed a five-year, $25 million contract in 2012 and has shown no signs of slowing down making two Pro Bowls in that span. After failing to report to Eagles voluntary workouts last season, Mathis received the Eagles permission to seek a trade. After not being able to make a deal, Mathis played out the season and found himself in a similar position this offseason. After not getting a deal done at the draft, the Eagles decided to part ways with Mathis to end the dilemma.

Signing Mathis would an incredible move for a Giants team who had a brutal offensive line last season. Signing Mathis would most likely push Justin Pugh out of the guard spot and move him back to right tackle, as he would play with Geoff Schwartz on the right side. Next to Center Weston Richburg on the left would be Mathis and rookie Ereck Flowers which would be a very solid offensive line for the G-Men.
Although you may be asking yourself, where would Will Beatty play when he returns from injury, if you’ve learned one thing as a fan of this team over the years, you can never have enough offensive linemen.

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According to Jordan Rannan of NJ.com, the New York Giants are in the mix for LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins.

Collins, an undrafted free-agent, was widely considered one of the best lineman in this year’s draft but legal issues caused him to go undrafted. Collins met with the Baton Rogue police yesterday to answer questions about the murder of his ex-girlfriend and her unborn child.  After a meeting with police yesterday, Collins is no longer considered a suspect in the murders. As a result, teams are now expressing interest in the first-team-All-SEC offensive lineman, although they cannot officially begin talking with him until May 9.

General Manager Jerry Reese will likely take a long look at Collins before making any type of contract offer. The Giants are not known for signing guys who have been in legal trouble, but if Collins is in fact innocent, the move would make sense. The 6’5, 322 lbs. lineman, started all 13 games at left guard as a sophomore, then started 26 games at left tackle his junior and senior seasons.

We know Reese loves linemen who are versatile so Collins would certainly fit the Giants mold. Collins would provide excellent insurance if Geoff Schwartz has issues with injuries again or Will Beatty struggles out of the gate. Rannan also points out that Collins college teammate and current Giants star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. can help in bringing the big lineman to New York.

Other teams in the mix include the Eagles, Bills, Dolphins, and Saints.

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1^st round pick OT Ereck Flowers (Miami):

Although the Giants were hoping Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Schreff would fall to them at the 9^th pick, the G-Men still got their right tackle in Miami’s Ereck Flowers. General Manager Jerry Reese knew coming into the draft that the Giants would need one more solid offensive lineman to complete what should be a formidable group of five. The Giants are hoping they got their man in the six-foot-six, 329-pound “man-child” as team director of player personnel Marc Ross described Flowers. The move will also allow Justin Pugh to move to his natural position of guard, which should help. The Giants filled a need rather than draft the best player available, which hopefully will not come back to bite them.

Grade: B+

2^nd round pick S Landon Collins (Alabama):

The Giants kicked off day two of the draft with a bang. Jerry Reese swung a team with Titans General Manager Ruston Webster to acquire the 1^st pick of the 2^nd round. Reese used the pick to select Alabama Safety Landon Collins who is widely regarded as the best at his position in the draft. Collins should have been a first round pick according to many, but he slid and the Giants knew he would not make it to them with the 8^th pick in the 2^nd round. By selecting the hard-hitting safety who was a 1^st team All-SEC member, the Giants will now have Collins start alongside Nat Berhe. An excellent run defender who’s an in-the-box safety, Collins is athletic enough to cover running backs and tight ends, something the Giants have struggled with for a long time. I love this pick by Jerry Reese who needed to address the safety position.

Grade: A

3^rd round pick DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa (UCLA):

Good luck trying to remember how to spell this guy’s name throughout the season. Owamagbe Odighizuwa is a versatile pass rusher who is going to come in and immediately provide a big presence on the defensive line. Odighizuwa is an excellent run stopper and can play on the edge or inside. Medical issues have been a concern throughout his collegiate career at UCLA but if he stays healthy, Odighizuwa will be a tremendous addition to the Giants defensive line. Many are comparing him to Justin Tuck.

Grade: A-

5^th round pick S Mykkele Thompson (Texas):

After three fantastic picks from the Giants, this one is a bit of a head scratcher for me. Thompson was expected to go undrafted by many and was even shocked himself when he was picked saying “I had no clue when or if my name would get picked”. Thompson did post an impressive 4.47 40-yard dash and can play safety and corner so he is a versatile player. However, many scouts consider him to be a career special teamer. The Giants had better safety options of the board such Cedric Thompson who was picked by the Dolphins shortly after, but lets hope Reese proves us wrong.

Grade: C-

6th round pick WR Geremy Davis (UCONN):

We know how much Jerry Reese loves drafting his captains and the Giants got one here in the former UConn Huskie Geremy Davis. Davis, a big wide receiver, will be nothing more than organizational depth and will probably find himself on the practice squad to start off the year due to the plethora of receivers on the roster. Davis has trouble getting open due to his slow speed, but according to many scouts he has excellent hands. Davis will most likely have to wait a year or two before he makes an impact.

Grade: C+

7^th round pick OL Bobby Hart (Florida State):

The Giants added their second offensive lineman in their 6 person draft class by adding Florida State’s Bobby Hart. A 2014 third-team All-ACC, Hart started all 14 games as a right tackle with the Seminoles and was a part of a group that lead 1^st overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston to a national championship. Hart struggles in pass protection but is a solid run blocker and should provide the Giants with insurance on a new look offensive line.

Grade: B

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Holding the 9th overall pick in the NFL draft, the New York Giants will have many options when they are on the clock. Still, with many positions to fill such as safety, offensive lineman, and a pass rusher, Jerry Reese has always had the philosophy of taking the best player on the board.

It seems as though the Giants number one option would be to select offensive lineman Brandon Schreff from Iowa who has been regarded by many as the top player at his position. If Schreff is taken before the Giants pick, and Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper is still available, would the Giants take him?

Going into the college football season, Cooper was regarded as the best wide receiver in the draft but has seen his stock fallen slightly due to the emergence of Kevin White from West Virginia.

While Cooper would add another tremendous deep threat option for Eli Manning, the Giants do not need to draft another receiver. The G-Men arguably have one of the deepest receiving corps in the league with Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz, Ruben Randle, and Dwayne Harris. Although Cruz may not be 100% healthy, I doubt the Giants committed a lot of money for Dwayne Harris just to play special teams.

If I were Jerry Reese, I would concentrate more on the needs of this team rather than just going for the best player available. There are a plethora of good DL/LB such as Shane Ray from Missouri and Vic Beasley from Clemson.

The post Draft Amari Cooper or draft positions in need? first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

One bright spot for the New York Giants last season was the emergence of defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins.

Hankins, who was a second-round pick by the Giants in the 2013 NFL Draft, finished the 2014 campaign with 51 tackles, seven sacks, and a forced fumble. Hankins had big shoes to fill after the team lost Linval Joseph to the Vikings in free agency and Hankins certainly did not disappoint.

His run-stuffing ability showed why the Giants took him in the second round of the draft. Starting all 16 games last season, Hankins is arguably the most underrated defensive tackle in the league due to his tremendous play against the run and the way he rushes the passer.

“I haven’t really been keeping track of my sacks,” Hankins said. “I have other people keeping track that’s been throwing it in my face. It’s a great feeling when it’s at a key point in the game, but getting a sack is just like getting a tackle for a loss. For a D-tackle getting a tackle for a loss is huge, so I kind of put those in the same category, but there’s nothing like getting a lot of sacks, because when you’re getting a lot of sacks you get a lot of attention for yourself, which is good.”

With Cullen Jenkins getting older and becoming less productive, the Giants will need a big step up from Hankins. Hankins has the ability to become an elite defensive tackle in the league and with two years left on his contract, the Giants would be wise to lock him up long-term after the season ends.

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One area the Giants have struggled with over the years is the return game. The Giants have tried the likes of Ruben Randle, Da’Rel Scott, Quinton Demps, and many others who have not worked out. The Giants should look to add a returner that is reliable like Domenik Hixon was for many years with the Giants.

One name that fits the mold would be Ted Ginn Jr, who was recently released by the Arizona Cardinals.

Ginn, who returned a punt for a 71-yard touchdown against the Giants in week 3 this past season, has been one of the most dynamic returners in the league throughout his career. The former No. 9 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins, had a poor year with the Cardinals but still averaged 10.7 yards on punt returns which was good for 9^th in the league. Ginn shares the record for kickoff returns for touchdowns of 100 yards or more in a single game. He has returned 3 kickoffs for touchdowns and 3 punts for touchdowns in his career.

Also, the Giants experimented by using star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. as a punt returner last year, which was not the best idea. Beckham, who struggled with hamstring injuries, is vital to the Giants success and is not worth putting being put out as a punt returner, which could increase the risk of injury. With Victor Cruz not being 100% healthy, the Giants will need Beckham to stay healthy in order to find success in the 2015 season.

The Giants must make an effort to get an established veteran who can both return kicks and punts. Ginn will most likely come at a cheap price and would give the Giants a proven veteran who has had lots of success in the return game throughout his career.

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The NFL is quickly evolving and one position that has become more and more important is the tight end.

After week three of the 2014 season, the Giants thought they had their star tight end in Larry Donnell who caught three touchdowns passes from Eli Manning against the Washington Redskins. Unfortunately, the Giants discovered throughout the season that Donnell was raw and often inconsistent.

Although Donnell had a solid stat line with 63 receptions, 623 yards, and 6 touchdowns, the 26 year-old tight end struggled holding onto the football recording four fumbles.  He also was very inconsistent as a blocker in the run game. Donnell still has the intangibles to be one of the top tight ends in the league, but will certainly be a project. This is why the Giants should look to add a tight end in free agency.

A perfect fit would be former Cleveland Brown Jordan Cameron. According to recent reports from Jason La Canfora of CBS, the impending free agent has no interest in returning to Cleveland. Cameron, who was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2013, saw his numbers dip this season due to multiple concussions and the horrendous play of quarterbacks Bryan Hoyer and Johnny Manziel.

If the Giants target Cameron in March, a one-year deal would make sense for both sides. The Giants would add another weapon for Eli Manning to go along with Victor Cruz, Rashad Jennings, Ruben Randle, and Odell Beckham Jr, while Cameron will get the chance to perform better in a contract year with an explosive offense.

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Coming into the season, the New York Giants were projected to have one of the best secondaries in the NFL.

Signing cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond III to go along with Prince Amukamara and Trumaine McBride, the Giants looked like they had a promising group of defensive backs to along with safeties Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown.

Unfortunately, the Giants yet again caught the injury bug, losing Thurmond,

Amukamara, and McBride to IR while Rodgers-Cromartie nursed injuries throughout the year. The Giants have all of these defensive backs signed for next year except for Thurmond III who was signed to a one-year deal last offseason.

In a recent interview with the New York Post, Thurmond stated that he loves New York and would be open to a return with the Giants next season. If I were General Manager Jerry Reese, I would do everything in my power to resign the 27 year-old cornerback.

Thurmond only played in two games with the Giants before suffering a season-ending injury and never really had the chance to showcase his skill with the team. Thurmond III, who signed with the G-Men in the off-season after winning a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, is considered to be one of the best slot corners in the NFL. This year should have proved to the Giants that you can never have too much depth on defense. The season started with Rodgers-Cromartie, Amukamara, Thurmond and McBride in the secondary and ended with Rodgers-Cromartie, Mike Harris, Zack Bowman, and Chykie Brown.

Although a pectoral injury is tough to come back fully healthy, the Giants would be extremely wise to retain Thurmond’s services. When healthy, Thurmond can prove to be one of the best slot cornerbacks in the league, which was evident with his time with Seattle. Hopefully the Giants can hammer out a fair deal with Thurmond and prove that this secondary, when healthy, can be one of the best in the NFL.

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