The NY Giants are coming into the NFL draft with a chance to get a high impact player with their first pick at number 12 and names like Mike Evans, Eric Ebron, Sammy Watkins, CJ Watkins, Anthony Barr, Marqise Lee and Jordan Matthews could be targets for Jerry Reese to take and the offensive prospects could give a big boost to Eli Manning and new coordinator Ben McAdoo.
Most experts like Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay see the Giants taking a player on offense with their first pick, as they struggled hard on that side of the ball last season and also because they mostly spent on defense in free agency. The team signed Rashad Jennings and Geoff Schwartz this offseason on the offensive side of the ball, but they lost Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Myers and that makes it a possibility that they could go after a receiver or tight end. The team signed Mario Manningham to help soften the blow, but he has been injured over the past two years and they need more than that and Victor Cruz.
The team let Nicks leave to the Colts and while they have high hopes for Jerrel Jernigan, they need more weapons in the passing game and adding someone like Evans or Lee could be huge for Eli Manning. The Giants are praying that Eli has a bounce back year after tossing more than 25 interceptions and having just a dreadful year all around and with McAdoo coming in, the offense will have a whole new look and Reese will be looking for athletic players to bring in like Evans or Ebron. The team has never made too much of the tight end position, but the draft could change that if they get Ebron, who is an athletic tight end from North Carolina and has been projected as a top 20 overall pick that has also been compared to Jimmy Graham.
The Giants (and likely every team from picks nine to 15) are hoping that Mike Evans is on the board when they pick at 12 because it will be an easy selection for Reese. Evans has been rising on draft boards ever since the season ended and he had two very productive years with Texas A&M and his size is perfect to replace Nicks, as he comes in at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. Ebron and Evans are two players that likely will be high on the draft board for the Giants and after picking Justin Pugh last season with their first round pick, the won't be going for an offensive lineman again.
Last season the team ranked 29th in the league in rushing yards per game and adding Rashad Jennings will be a big boost in that area and they could add a back later in the draft with players like Carlos Hyde, Tre Mason, Bishop Sankey and Ka'Deem Carey in this class. Evans could be the true prize, as he is coming off of a season with 12 touchdowns, 69 receptions and nearly 1,400 receiving yards and he could be a great red zone option after Nicks departed to the Colts.