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Fact or Fiction: Strength of Giants' roster; remaining needs

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The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.

The secondary will be the strength of the Giants in 2025.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – The secondary is still a little too young for me to be convinced they will be the strength of the team in 2025. It is still the pass rush. With players like Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns, who are more accomplished than anyone on the roster, it's impossible to pick anyone else. It's important to remember that the Giants led the NFL in sacks for much of season. They finished tied for eighth despite Lawrence missing the final five games and rarely having leads the second half. It is still the most talented part of the Giants; they just need to score more points to get the lead and stop the run to force teams into passing situations to take advantage of it.

Dan Salomone: Fiction – It is certainly the most strengthened group of the offseason so far , but until further notice, you have to give the nod to the big Pro Bowlers in front of them. The two groups will benefit from each other, though.

Matt Citak: Fiction – Following the additions of Paulson Adebo and Jevón Holland, the secondary is certainly shaping up to be one of the team's strengths in 2025. However, the unit will need some of the younger players to take big steps in their development in order to be the biggest strength of the team this season. For now, that honor still belongs to the defensive line, led by Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The group will likely get another new face or two during the draft, especially with how deep and talented this year's group of defensive tackles and edge rushers are. Throw in a big DT to play next to Lawrence, and this group has the pieces to be one of the league's best.

Aside from quarterback, the Giants' biggest need in the draft is the offensive line.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – If the team lines up the same starting five from Week 1 last year, the unit will be effective. Would I mind an upgrade? Nope, but it is not a screaming need. Despite adding some veterans in free agency, I would still point at defensive tackle as a bigger area of need. The Giants not only need to stop the run better on early downs, but they could also use another defensive tackle to rush the passer next to Dexter Lawerence on passing downs. Any of these positions would be worthy of a Day 2 pick.

Dan Salomone: Fact – As general manager Joe Schoen said at the combine, the offensive line played well enough through the first six games to give the Giants a chance to win. Once again, though, injuries derailed everything. You can never have enough talent on either line.

Matt Citak: Fiction – Piggybacking off my last answer, I still think the Giants could afford to bring in another starting-caliber defensive tackle. The additions of Roy Robertson-Harris and Chauncey Golston should provide the D-line with a nice boost, but adding a rookie on the second day of the draft could help elevate the unit to the next level. Drafting another offensive lineman, especially on the interior, would come in as my next biggest need for the Giants.

View photos of every NFL player selected with the third overall pick since the first draft in 1936.

Second-year safety Tyler Nubin benefitted the most from the free agent additions so far.

John Schmeelk: Fact – I'm not sure where else to go here besides Nubin. Jevón Holland's presence and ability to play every spot will allow Nubin to be just as variable. Their versatile skills will allow defensive coordinator Shane Bowen to disguise on the back-end of the defense, which should help confuse opposing quarterbacks and give Nubin and Holland to make plays on the football.

Dan Salomone: Fiction – Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen must be a happy man, too. Cornerback Paulson Adebo comes from the Saints, who gave up the fewest passing touchdowns, the second-lowest completion percentage and passer rating, and 10th-fewest net passing yards since he entered the NFL in 2021. On the other hand, Holland can make plays no matter where you put him and be a true last line of defense. Bowen, along with new secondary coach/pass game coordinator Marquand Manuel, will certainly benefit from having them. And like I said before, the big guys up front will also be helped by what's happening behind them.

Matt Citak: Fact – Holland provides the Giants' secondary with a significant boost, and no one will benefit from his presence more than Tyler Nubin. Last year's second-round pick will now be able to play more at the line of scrimmage, while Holland patrols the defensive backfield. Holland has been one of Pro Football Focus' top safeties in coverage over the last few years. With him quarterbacking the secondary, Nubin will have the freedom to play up more and help with the team's run defense, an area in which the young safety performed well in as a rookie. The addition of Adebo, who will step in as the team's No. 1 cornerback, does relieve some of the pressure off Deonte Banks, which should help the third-year corner, as well.

How you envision the top of the draft playing out has changed since the combine.

John Schmeelk: Fact – Walking out of Indianapolis, I felt good about the Titans being very willing, anxious even, to trade out of the top spot and pick up extra capital to rebuild their roster. I now believe that the Titans are going to select Cam Ward first overall. The only move they made this offseason at the quarterback position was adding depth piece Brandon Allen. Ward has star potential, and I don't know how the Titans pass on him at first overall.

Dan Salomone: Fiction – I didn't know then and I don't know now. So, not much has changed for me, I guess. The pendulum keeps swinging back and forth about what the teams are thinking ahead of the Giants. If I had to guess, though, it eventually lands on the most important position in sports. That could leave the Giants with their pick of the top overall prospects, regardless of where they line up. But if you have a conviction on a quarterback, there is no price too high. You need to keep swinging away at it.

Matt Citak: Fact – Now that we're three weeks into March, the Raiders (Geno Smith) and Jets (Justin Fields) have their starting quarterbacks for 2025, while it appears as if the Titans plan to stay where they are at the top of the draft. And while the Browns seemed likely to take Abdul Carter at No. 2 a few weeks ago, given Myles Garrett's trade request, the monster contract extension the former Defensive Player of the Year has since signed now makes Cleveland a question mark. Hopefully we receive a little more clarity over the next month, but for now, other than the Titans likely taking Cam Ward, it's anyone's guess how the top of the draft could play out.

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