Giants general manager Jerry Reese recently said nothing that happens in the draft surprises him anymore. But the same can't be said for those without more than two decades in the business.
We'd be surprised if…
- …They drafted a defensive back in the first round. The Giants hit free agency hard this year and they hit it in the secondary. They acquired Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Walter Thurmond III, Quintin Demps and Zack Bowman while re-signing Stevie Brown and Trumaine McBride. The secondary is one of the Giants' biggest strengths right now, and there are too many positions of need on offense. Meanwhile, the value on that side of the ball in the 2014 Draft Class matches the need.
- …They didn't draft multiple defensive linemen. This could be said leading up to any of Reese's drafts since he became GM in 2007. Reese has selected nine defensive linemen, including two years of back-to-back selections at the position group (2013 and 2010). The Giants have players waiting in the wings such as Johnathan Hankins, Damontre Moore and Markus Kuhn, but they have big shoes to fill with the departures of Justin Tuck and Linval Joseph in free agency. You can never have too many pass-rushers and run-stoppers.
- …They drafted a high-risk, high-reward player. After their first losing season since 2004 and missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years, the Giants could point to many areas that went wrong in 2013. But there was one common theme: they have to have more hits than misses in this year's draft. "So you take the good with the bad, but to be successful in this league, you have to do a good job in the draft, especially on those middle round picks," Giants president and chief executive officer John Mara said at the conclusion of last season. "And there's no question over the last few years we've missed on a few of them for whatever reason." No question marks this year.
- …They didn't stay put at No. 12. Whether it was the thinnest draft class or the deepest one -- like 2014's is said to be -- there is always a possibility of movement. But given Reese's track record in the first round, it would be surprising if the Giants traded the 12th overall pick. The Giants need playmakers, and one can be found at No. 12.
- …They drafted a quarterback. In the span of a month, it was announced that quarterbacks Eli Manning and Curtis Painter underwent surgeries and that the team added Josh Freeman and Rusty Smith to the position room. Add in Ryan Nassib, who was drafted by the Giants last year, and the Giants are already stocked with four quarterbacks competing for the backup role behind Manning, who is eyeing training camp for his return. The competition for No. 2 is set.
