Open Rants by zkmarshall24
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Giants fans you're not going to like this... Published at 1/27/2017
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I want to precursor this by saying it is way too early to make a final mock draft, or even considering doing so. So I usually do multiple mock drafts with various players at various positions, just to give different names. However, depending on FA I feel rather confident that this could end up being our draft come April. Not necessarily what I want to see happen, but a rather realistic offseason for JR and Co. Plus it follows a pattern for JR as a drafter too. More on that later…
Cap Causalities:
WR Victor Cruz- I would like to see him re-signed for like 2 years/ 8 million so he plays his entire career a Giant instead of retiring a Giant after a couple seasons away like Osi and Tuck did. However, that is likely how this story goes. I don’t think JR will see a spot on this roster for Cruz. Right now he is the #5 (OBJ, Shepard, King, Lewis, Jr. all ahead of him) option going into next season as a receiver alone, but when ST factor in Dwayne Harris is likely WR #5, Cruz #6. JR isn’t going to pay his #6 WR 4 million a year. That’s just not smart business.
RB Rashad Jennings- Age, speed, and receiving ability being the reason he goes while Vereen stays despite saving more by cutting Vereen. Perkins is the starter for 2017, but JR will want to find a young complement that has #1 potential as Perkins is not a lock to be the future at RB. The question is will he be able too.
FB Will Johnson- This may not happen until camp, but I don’t see him on the roster. I think Will Tye is a candidate for a “position switch” to a FB/TE role they thought up for Johnson when signing him.
LB JT Thomas- For obvious reasons
Like 40 million in cap space
Players Re-signed:
DE Jason Pierre-Paul (4 year/ 66,019,417.48 )- Averages out to roughly 16.5 million a year. Seems like an odd number, and to be so precise with a prediction, right? Well I believe both OV and JPP should be paid the same, and JPP is a must re-sign as they form the best 4-3 DE duo in the league. Both give QB fits while shutting down the run game on the edge. I started at 4 years/ 68 million which is the remaining average of Vernon’s contract from last year, which is where JPP wants to start. However, to be fair JPP is missing some body parts that Vernon has. He’s missing roughly 6 bones out of 206 to be exact so JPP gets a contract that is worth 200/206 of the 68 million owed to OV. It’s a lot of money invested into the DE spot, but the defense needs generate pass rush in order to be successful all game. Against top tier QB’s coverage can only get you so far, you need to put the QB on the ground. These 2 can do that by themselves, and did at times this year take over games late. You don’t let that go. Plus with the QB’s in the NFC East the Giants need a dominant defense to maximize their championship window with Eli as their QB.
LB Keenan Robinson (5 years/ 30 million)- But only if the money is right for JR. He is not going to overpay for Robinson if this becomes a bidding war, but a deal similar to one he gave Michael Boley (his was a 5 year/25 million deal so 1 mill a year for inflation) and Robinson will be in Giant’s blue next year. He was a good player for Spags to utilize. He’s not a consistent game changer at the LB position, but he can make the occasional big play.
OG John Jerry (1 year/ 2 million)- You resigned Jerry!? After Jerry doesn’t find any suitors on the open market he comes back to the Giants on a 1 year deal (post 2017 draft). He will have to compete to retain his starting RG spot though, and JR likely sees him as a backup next year at the time of signing.
CB/FS Leon Hall (1 year/ 1 million)- Just depth and vet leadership, but quality depth as he is the #6/7 corner and the #4/5 safety on a roster. He played both spots last year so another offseason should improve his IQ in this defense. His age may scare JR away as he clearly has lost a step as seen in 2016.
K Robbie Gould (1 year/ 1 million)- Giants will either sign or draft competition for him. He may not make the roster despite being resigned.
TE Ryan Malleck (1 year, vet minimum)- Has been out of football since being cut by the Giants, but he impressed as a rookie UDFA last year so I would expect he would at least get the invite back this year if he doesn’t sign elsewhere, similar to Matt LaCosse last year.
LS Zak DeOssie, LB Mark Herzlich, QB Josh Johnson- brought back on cheap deals for depth purposes.
Like 10 million left in CAP space
Not re-signed:
DT Jonathon Hankins- Both sides will want to work out a deal, but the market will be too rich to retain a young solid run stuffing DT after paying such a hefty price for JPP. Harrison proved to be more important to stopping the run than did Hankins.
TE Larry Donnell- He was benched until McAdoo went conservative for the playoffs. Unless it’s a post draft, nobody else is available 1 year- 1 million dollar contract then maybe JR deals? However, if it’s me Donnell is either in a different uniform or different career next year.
RT Marshall Newhouse- Again another player I think JR would like to have back for depth purposes, but given his age, versatility, and ridiculous amount of money about to be spent this FA Newhouse likely gets overpaid to start (either G or RT) somewhere next year.
QB Ryan Nassib, RB Bobby Rainey, OT Will Beatty, LB Kelvin Sheppard and CB Trevin Wade all not retained.
Current player gets locked up long term:
LG Justin Pugh- extends his current contract. New Contract is for 5 years and 45 million dollars. However, his numbers for 2017 remains unchanged as this contract is really a 4 year extension beyond this season.
*This leaves Richburg as the big money guy to resign next offseason as JR will certainly pick up OBJ fifth year option this offseason. Richburg may get a new deal this offseason depending on FA, but given what I have spent I decided against resigning him right away. Have to keep some reserve money in case of injuries. I think that JR is going to focus money in house instead of splurging on FA after last year crazy spree; all of which have paid out good so far, but you can’t do that year after year. He will get 1-3 vets on cheap prove it deals, but no big money names other than resigning JPP long term.
FA Signed:
OT Matt McCants (1 year, 2 million)- A Jerry Reese draft pick in the colossal failure that was the 2012 draft. He fills the role as a reserve/swing tackle vacated by Newhouse leaving. Not a flashy player or the big time LT people are hoping for, but in this market I don’t expect to see the Giants make a move outside of a swing tackle, or potential vet depth at OG if Jerry isn't resigned.
*Roughly 8 million left for draft picks
Now you remember when I said more on that later? It’s later lol. After targeting players that were less of “risks” the previous draft (i.e. football players over athletes) JR takes a chance on some athletes. Kind of like the 2010 draft after the 07-09 drafts when JR felt comfortable having built a core of Aaron Ross, Steve Smith, Kevin Boss, Ahmad Bradshaw, Kenny Phillips, Terrell Thomas, Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, Will Beatty (plus there was still hope and promise for players like Ramses Barden, Travis Beckum, Jonathon Goff). So instead of continuing to add sure things to that core JR went risky hoping to add superior athleticism to that core with the 2010 draft class. JPP, Linval Joseph and Chad Jones (sucks we never got a chance to see him play, I think he had the potential to be Landon Collins type S) were far from complete prospects, but they all had one thing in common. They all had the elite height/weight/speed combination. They had that athleticism to make Reese drool…
With that being said the….
2017 NFL Draft:
1. OT Julie’n Davenport, Bucknell- This will likely have fans torn on the selection. On one hand it signals a potential end to the Flowers experiment at LT. On the other hand he’s from FCS Bucknell, and by most expert rankings will be a reach at this point in the draft much like Flowers was 2 years ago and Pugh was in 2013. You would like to see JR trade down with someone like NE (who I think will fall in love with McCafferey and be willing to move up to secure him), but as a GM JR has never traded down. In 2006 when Reese was in charge of the draft essentially for Accorsi the Giants did trade down with Pittsburgh so he isn’t completely rigid. However, the Giants and Pats working together isn’t something I condone lol.
To me, Davenport is an early 2nd round prospect given his tools to work with, but The Giants don’t have an early second round pick, they have a late first so they must “reach” to secure the player they like. Given that this draft class is weak at o-line (all spots) he’s likely going to go end of round 1 (Seattle being the farthest he will fall). I have him rated the best OT prospect draft ahead of Cam Robinson and Ryan Ramcyzk. I am clearly one of few in this category, but I just don’t like Bama lineman. None seem to dominate in the pros like they do at Bama. People will be scared because he is from a small school program, but for offensive lineman that stigma means less. Many small school linemen have gone on to have excellent pro careers whereas at skill positions the numbers are far less. Let’s face it Ryan Ramcyzk is getting consideration to be the first OT taken this year and he’s one year removed from JUCO ball. Eric Fisher went #1 out of Central Michigan. #23 for Davenport isn’t out of the question. If he is selected he would compete with Flowers at LT with the loser likely starting at RT with Bobby Hart kicking inside to RG.
Why would JR want this guy? First off are his elite measurables. JR is down in Mobile right now where Davenport just measured in at ridiculous 36” arm length (has an 85 ½” wingspan or something like that). He was also 6’ 6” and 310lbs with solid hand size of 10 ½ hands. If he can produce a solid week of practice teams will start take serious looks at him in the first round given those measurements. I am not sure how fast he is, but he was a two sport athlete in high school as he played basketball for Paulsboro, NJ so that suggest he has athleticism. Being a local kid is a bonus because I think the Giants can bring him and he doesn’t count against the 30 pre-draft visits they are allowed. Also lately JR and scouts have made an effort to bring in high character guys. Here’s another prospect that fits that mold. He was only a 2 star recruit coming out of high school so he was overlooked by the bigger programs. He did get an offer from Temple so he had a chance to play FBS ball. Says he chose Bucknell for the education and he loved the campus when he visited. I can respect that. Once he arrived at Bucknell he went to work immediately. Earning the LT job his freshman year before the season even began (earned himself 2nd team All-Patriots league honors in the process), and proceeded to start all 44 games at LT for the Bisons. He earned All-Patriots league first team honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. Captaincy also matters to JR so the fact that as a junior Davenport was named a captain by teammates will certainly be to JR liking. He repeated his captaincy as a senior too.
2. DT Tanoh Kpassagnon, Villinova- Tanoh stands 6’ 6” (closer to 6’ 7”) and weighs around 280 lbs. He has long arms reaching 34 7/8” and monster hands at 10 7/8”. He played DE at Nova, and is projected by many to be taken as DE (3-4 or 4-3 end) in the second round this year. Has tremendous size, but is very raw. Similar prospect to Margus Hunt from SMU that Cinci took second round of 2013 NFL draft. However, if you noticed I had him listed as a DT not a DE which is where I think JR, McAdoo and Spags envision his future to play a role similar to Chris Canty’s in his time here. With Snacks clogging up the running lanes, they may envision Kpassagnon becoming the inside pass rush threat they currently lack. Kpassagnon has enough size that he would still be an asset versus the run, but they may envision a Geno Atkins level disruptor in the pass game by switching Tanoh inside. I think in certain packages he would kick outside to play end, but the Giants select him in the second to play a lot more than just a backup role to either OV or JPP these next 3-4 years (not to mention he'd be DE #4 behind Okwara). He’s their future replacement for Hankins, and likely compliments Snacks better than Hankins did. Giants are still missing a piece for their NASCAR/ 4 aces package since OO has been a "bust" so far. JR has talked to him down in Mobile so keep an eye on him. Kpassagnon may be a 2nd round candidate at DE if JPP signs elsewhere too.
3. WR Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington- After giving the reasoning for cutting Victor Cruz it seems odd to be taking a WR so early. Do you really use your 3rd round pick on a #6 WR? Probably not, but this is a case of looking at the prospect not his position. King and Lewis Jr are also far from guarantee’s moving forward, and Dwayne Harris is ST player who is a cap casualty candidate as a post-June cut candidate. They could use the 3 million in CAP space for Richburg and OBJ, but they would lose a valuable gunner this way. Kupp should in all likely hoods go round 2. He has a solid hands, decent size, and good route running skills. He is a 4 year starter who plays hard and has produced. However, given his level of competition you wonder if he can separate like that against NFL corners.
4 (end of round). QB CJ Beathard, Iowa- Despite resigning Josh Johnson the Giants (McAdoo and JR) will want to draft a QB to groom this year. Whether that is early on or late in the draft depends on how things unfold. When I see Beathard play I am reminded of John Elway. He doesn’t have Elways arm by any means, but he has that grit and determination Elway always seemed to play with. Beathard played in the wrong era because he is your typical old school QB. He can make the throws necessary, but you don’t put the offense on his back and air it out all game. It’s early for Beathard according to most rankings, but QB’s tend to get overdrafted.
5. K Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State- Despite resigning Gould, JR could use a day 3 choice on a kicker. Wanted to draft Eddy Pineiro (the 77 yard FG kid, youtube it) in the 3rd round to make people groan more about drafting a kicker so early, but I don’t think he declared. Gonzalez is probably the second best kicker in college football, behind Daniel Carlson from Auburn (who is also an underclassmen who did not declare). Zane boast a big, strong and accurate leg.
6. TE Tyrone Swoopes, Texas- How many back up TE’s do you have that double down as your wild cat QB? Not that McAdoo has ever run the wildcat, but he’d now have that wrinkle. Swoopes possesses some athleticism that makes him worthy of late round flyer as a project.
7. RB Barry Sanders Jr, Oklahoma State- I liked his father so I took him lol. He would compete with Harris to be the return man next season as that would be his only chance to securing a spot on the roster.
Projected 53 man roster:
(3)QB: Eli Manning, Josh Johnson, CJ Beathard
(4)RB: Paul Perkins, Shane Vereen, Orleans Darkwa, Barry Sanders Jr (what can I say I really liked his dad lol)
(1)FB: Will Tye
(3)WR: O’Dell Beckham Jr, Sterling Shepard, Dwayne Harris (post June-1st cut candidate)
(3)WR: Tavarres King, Roger Lewis Jr, Cooper Kupp
(3)TE: Jerrell Adams, Ryan Malleck, Tyrone Swoopes
(1)LT: Julie’n Davenport
(1)G: Justin Pugh
(2)C: Weston Richburg, Brett Jones
(2)RG: Bobby Hart (real back up RT), John Jerry
(2)RT: Ereck Flowers (back up LT), Matt McCants
(3)DE: Olivier Vernon, Jason Pierre-Paul, Romeo Okwara, Owa Odigizuwa, Kerry Wynn
(4)DT: Damon Harrison, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Jay Bromley, Robert Thomas
(3)SLB: Jonathon Casillas, Devon Kennard, Ishaq Williams
(2)ILB: BJ Goodson, Mark Herzlich
(2)WLB: Keenan Robinson, DeOnte Skinner
(3)CB: Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Donte Deayon
(3)CB: Eli Apple, Coty Sensabaugh, Michael Hunter
(2)FS: Darien Thompson, Leon Hall
(2)SS: Landon Collins, Andrew Adams (backs up both safeties spots really)
(1)K: Zane Gonzalez
(1)P: Brad Wing
(1)LS: Zak DeOssie
51 (2 players to add) leaves room for some UDFA for JR to uncover. He is good at that…
Bash away...
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