The NY Giants have a top 10 draft pick in the first round and for the 2015 draft, some mock targets that have come up in the media include Landon Collins, Shane Ray, Brandon Scherff, Todd Gurley, DeVante Parker, Dante Fowler, Brett Hundley, Ameer Abdullah, Tony Washington, Danny Shelton and Andrus Peat as potential options and this comes as Jerry Reese likely will use the franchise tag on JPP.
According to Adam Schefter at ESPN.com, the Giants will use the franchise tag on Jason Pierre-Paul. The Giants had said this offseason that the franchise tag would be an option and if the team uses it, they can still work at a long term contract with JPP. Pierre-Paul is coming off of a bounce back season with 12.5 sacks in 2014.
The Giants will pick at number nine in the draft this year and it comes after they took Odell Beckham Jr. in the first round in 2014. Beckham turned out to be a fantastic pick and the draft class overall was strong for Jerry Reese, which was something he needed after some bad picks in the past. Andre Williams, Devon Kennard, Weston Richburg and Beckham all emerged as significant contributors to the Giants and now Reese will be looking to do that again.
Reese had a magical class in 2007 when all seven of his picks made the team and the Giants won the Super Bowl, but since then it has been a mixed bag. Jason Pierre-Paul has shown he has the goods despite two disappointing seasons, while Prince Amukamara, Justin Pugh and Rueben Randle have been strong picks in recent classes. The David Wilson pick in 2012 was not looking good even before he had to retire with a neck injury and now Reese could look at trying to replace his explosive speed.
According to Big Blue View at SB Nation, the Giants are looking at players like Ereck Flowers, offensive lineman from Miami, Shane Ray, defensive end from Nebraska, Dante Fowler, defensive end from Florida State, Andrus Peat, offensive lineman from Stanford, Landon Collins, safety from Alabama, DeVante Parker, wide receiver from Louisville and Brandon Scherff, offensive lineman from Iowa.
According to NFLMocks.com, the Giants may look at players like Ameer Abdullah in the second round, Christian Covington in the third round and Tony Washington in the fourth round. Covington is a defensive tackle, while Washington is a linebacker who had a standout season at Oregon. Abdullah is a name that could be very interesting, as the team could use depth with Williams behind Rashad Jennings, who was injured for half the season in 2014.
The Giants will pick ninth in 2015 and Dan Graziano at ESPN.com expects the team to look at the offensive line as a priority. The team drafted Pugh in 2013 and Richburg in 2015 and they could look at adding another young offensive lineman. Graziano also adds that a wide receiver could be a target if Parker or Amari Cooper are available, as the team may not be able to rely on a full recovery from Victor Cruz. Last season Cruz suffered a serious knee injury and while the Giants have Beckham and Randle, they may want some more insurance for Cruz.