What the Giants' Pre-draft Visits Could Be Telling Us

How much can we learn from the reported interest and pre-draft visits regarding the Giants' roster-building plans?

Author:
Patricia Traina
Publish date:
Apr 2, 2023 12:29 PM EDT

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New York Giants

The New York Giants have been busy meeting prospective draft picks, which could provide insight into how the team thinks when it goes on the clock in a few weeks.

But before we get into some of the names that have reportedly been linked to the Giants, it's important to understand that a visit, e it formal or informal, doesn't necessarily mean that the Giants are coveting the player. Such visits could clarify and rule out any concerns held by the team, be it for character, fit, or medical.

Primarily, though, these pre-draft visits allow the team to get to know the player more through interviews, tape breakdown, and other factors. Last year, the Giants' draft consisted of all but a couple of players the team reportedly met with.

Will the same hold true again this year? We'll find out in a few weeks, but in the meantime, let's look at those players with whom, according to Walter Football, the Giants have met at some point this year and how it stacks up with perceived need.

Wide Receiver

Based on Walter Football's list, leading the way is receiver, with eight such meetings reported (out of 25). The list includes USC's Jordan Addison, Tennessee's Jalin Hyatt, Princeton's Andrei Iosivas, TCU's Quentin Johnston, and Boston College's Zay Flowers.

Some might wonder why the Giants are still looking at receivers despite their free agency activity, which included re-signing Isaiah Hodgins, Sterling Shepard, and Darius Slayton and adding Parris Campbell, Jamison Crowder, and Jeff Smith.

But it's important to remember that Shepard, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Collin Johnson are all coming off season-ending injuries, while Campbell, Hodgins, Shepard, Crowder, and Smith are all signed to one-year deals, with that group, by the way, not all assured of a roster spot come September.

Then there is the other factor, tight end Darren Waller. Waller projects to be the Giants' top receiving target, despite the fact he's not a wide receiver. On the surface, it would seem the Giants want to add a bunch of yards-after-catch guys to help with the explosive plays to take advantage of the mismatches a healthy Waller can create.

But that said, general manager rJoe Schoen hasn't completely abandoned his search for a legitimate X-receiver with size, speed, and play strength, which is why we have a variety of different receivers in which the Giants appear to have an interest.

Cornerback

Interestingly, the Giants have had only three known meetings with cornerback prospects: Kansas State's Julius Brents, Georgia's Kelee Ringo, and South Carolina Cam Smith.

The Giants tried to address cornerback in free agency, adding Amani Oruwariye, a one-time starter for the Lions who lost his starting job last year. They also are getting a few guys back from injury, including Cor'Dale Flott, Adoree' Jackson, and Aaron Robinson, all of whom general manager Joe Schoen expects will compete with the others such as Darnay Holmes, Nick McCloud, Zyon Gilbert, Rodarius Wiliams, and Leonard Johnson.

"We like some of our young guys," Schoen told reporters at the league meetings last week. "You expect some of those guys, one coming back healthy and then two, make a jump in year two. "Those guys coming back from injury will be a big help for us."

Still, with this year's cornerback class historically deep--many draft analysts feel this class's talent runs four rounds deep--it would be hard to imagine the Giants passing up on drafting a cornerback within the first three rounds, considering Jackson's contract ends after this year, leaving the Giants with a future need on the starting unit.

"It's gonna be an open competition," Schoen said. "I think we showed that last year, regardless of where you're drafted or how much money you're making, we're gonna play the best players."

Running Back

The Giants re-signed Matt Breida to another one-year deal, but the real question is the future of Saquon Barkley Barkley received the franchise tag, but there has been little progress toward a new multi-year deal, calling into question his long-term future with the team.

That question became murkier when Schoen and team co-owner John Mara indicated the organization is prepared to accept if Barkley plays on the franchise tag at just south of $10 million this year.

Not surprisingly, the Giants are thinking ahead if Barkley doesn't finish his career with the team. They've had four known meetings with layers at the position, including Aubirns's Tank Bigsby, RCU's Kendre Miller, TExas's Bijan Robinson, and Rulane's Tyjaw Spears.

Robinson is widely regarded as the top prospect in the draft, and it's doubtful he'd make it to the Giants at No. 25, just as it's doubtful whether the Giants would draft a running back in the first round, regardless.

But like cornerback, this is a deep running backs class, and the Giants are almost certain to dip into it to shore up the position's future.

Quarterback

With the Giants signing Daniel Jones to a four-year deal, one might think quarterback is a position the team might not bother spending a draft pick on.

But with ten picks (as of now), t wouldn't be a surprise if the team decided to add a developmental prospect to groom behind Jones and backup Tyrod Taylor, the latter of whom is only under contract for the coming year.

The Giants have reportedly met with Tennessee's Hendon Hooker and Florida's Anthony Richardson. Would they spend a sixth- or seventh-round pick on the position? That, of course, remains to be seen, given how the board ultimately falls. Still, it's probably a safe bet that the Giants will add a developmental quarterback to the mix, especially now that there is an opening with Davis Webb having retired.

Linebacker

The Giants met with a couple of linebackers, such as Arkansas' Drew Sanders and Clemson's Trenton Simpson. The team, of course, signed Bobby Okereke in free agency, and Okereky is expected to be an every-down linebacker for them.

They also have Darrian Beavers, a guy who was probably on his way toward a starting job last summer had he not torn his ACL, coming back from injury, and they have holdovers Jarad Davis, Micah McFadden, Carter Coughlin, and Cam Brown in place to compete.

Okereke represents a bit-time upgrade at the position, but the depth is still a question mark as of this writing. The team liked Davis enough to poach him from the Lions practice squad, a process that reportedly took multiple weeks to complete.

McFadden, Coughlin, and Brown didn't make much of an impact when given chances to play at the position last year. While the Giants may add to that group, whether that will happen before Day 3 of the draft is questionable.

Offensive Line

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the reported visits is the Giants only met with one center, that being Penn State's Juice Scruggs. This doesn't mean there isn't interest in top prospects such as Minnesota's John Michael Schmitz, Wisconsin's Joe Tippmann, or Ohio State's Luke Wypler. But it does make one wonder about the value the Giants have placed on the position.

"Ben Bredeson's a guy that we feel very comfortable with playing center," Schoen said. "And Shane Lemieux was playing it as well last season before the injury. So we've got some guys in there that'll battle it out."

This doesn't mean the Giants won't add to what they have, especially after losing Jon Feliciano and Nick Gates in free agency. But one now wonders if the Giants have center as high on the priority list as many on the outside do, as it sounds like the team is hoping to roll with Bredeson, who played 30 snaps at the position last year. At the same time, if a young player is drafted, he'll be brought along in the background.