The NY Giants had Jerry Reese meet with the media ahead of the NFL draft and he gave updates on the Victor Cruz injury, the Eli Manning extension situation and the Jason Pierre-Paul contract issue, as JPP has been away from offseason workouts and this comes as players like Landon Collins, Breshad Perriman, DeVante Parker and Brandon Scherff are draft targets.
According to ESPN New York, Reese spoke with the media and made his first extensive comments on the team in a couple months. The draft is a week away and according to most mock experts, the team is considering Brandon Scherff and Landon Collins at the number nine pick. Reese said multiple times that the team will take the "best player available" with the pick, which is a mantra that he often follows.
Last season the draft pick worked out very well, with Odell Beckham the first round selection for the Giants, as he ended up winning offensive rookie of the year. That pick ended up being massively important, as the team lost Victor Cruz to a serious knee injury. Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News spoke with Cruz and he said that he has no doubt that he will be the same player following his injury. Reese said that the team has hope that Cruz will be back 100 percent, but they can't guarantee that.
The Giants could look at wide receivers as a way to counter that, as names like Breshad Perriman, Chris Conley and Phillip Dorsett could be in range past the first round. Beckham had a great season and now Cruz is hoping to come back to join him and Rueben Randle in the offense for Eli Manning. Reese also spoke about Manning and said that he expects the quarterback to have a "big year" in season two of the Ben McAdoo offense.
Reese was asked about Manning's contract situation and he said that he was not worried about Manning coming into the final year of his deal. Reese also was asked about JPP, who has been away from team activities while being hit with the franchise tag. Pierre-Paul had a strong season last year and now he is looking to get a long term deal. If the two sides can't work out a deal by mid-July, JPP could hold out or sign the one year tender offer.
The Giants went 6-10 last season and they are looking to bounce back and that makes the draft very important. Scherff was the name mentioned the most early on and Justin Pugh said to the media that he could be a great addition. Scherff is considered to be the best offensive lineman in the draft and he want to Iowa, which has a pedigree for that position. The team also may considered a wide receiver if Kevin White or DeVante Parker are available, while Landon Collins could be a fit as they have issues at safety.
The Giants come in after going 6-10 last season and finishing third in the NFC East and now they need to find a way to bounce back. Coughlin could be fired if the team misses the playoffs again and that adds some pressure to Eli Manning and company.
