Projecting the Giants’ 2021 Team Needs

The New York Giants have been steadily amassing good young players the last few years. ESPN recently gauged the Giants as having the second-best collection of under-25 talent in the NFL. Big Blue is far from a finished product, however, and general manager Dave Gettleman still has plenty of work to do. If the Giants have another poor season in 2020, it could be work that falls on his replacement. Whether it’s Gettleman’s job or someone else’s, the Giants will have roster holes to fill next offseason in order to turn this team into a contender. Here are the positions New York will most likely need to address ahead of the 2021 season.

1. Cornerback

You don’t always get what you pay for. The Giants have spent five picks on cornerbacks over the last two drafts, yet they’re still perilously thin at the position. Thanks to DeAndre Baker‘s legal problems, Sam Beal‘s opt out, and Julian Love‘s transition to safety, New York is scrambling to have enough playable corners this year. Corey Ballentine is currently in line to start opposite the newly signed James Bradberry, and beyond that the depth chart at outside corner is populated by castoffs and undrafted free agents.

Baker will likely never play another snap for New York. Counting on Beal, who will have only started three games over three seasons, or a sixth-round pick in Ballentine to start is extremely risky. New York would be wise to keep investing in cornerback until they finally get some return.

Potential free-agent solutions: Jalen Ramsey, Patrick Peterson, D.J. Hayden.

Potential draft solutions: Patrick Surtain II, Caleb Farley, Tyson Campbell.

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2. Edge Rusher

For a franchise whose identity is so entwined with having great sack artists, the Giants pass rush has been meager the past few years. New York has finished in the bottom third of the league in sacks per game in each of the last three seasons. They haven’t had a marquee pass-rusher since they traded Jason Pierre-Paul in 2018.

Third-round picks Oshane Ximines and Lorenzo Carter still have a chance to develop, but neither are anything close to a sure thing. Veterans Markus Golden and Kyler Fackrell don’t figure into Big Blue’s long-term plans.  If this team wants to play a bit more like your father’s Giants, they better find a way to juice their lackluster pass rush.

Potential free-agent solutions: Yannick Ngakoue, Melvin Ingram, Shaquil Barrett.

Potential draft solutions: Gregory Rousseau, Carlos Basham Jr., Quincy Roche.

3. Wide Receiver

The Giants come into 2020 in decent shape at receiver. Golden Tate is a proven veteran, Sterling Shepard is an effective slot/possession player when healthy, and Darius Slayton showed flashes of downfield playmaking ability as a rookie. None of them, though, are a true number-one receiver. The Giants will need that double-team commanding force on the outside in order for this offense to maximize it’s potential. New York has the elite running back, they might have the elite quarterback, now all they need is an elite wideout.

Potential free-agent solutions: A.J. Green, Allen Robinson, Sammy Watkins.

Potential draft solutions: Ja’Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith, Rashod Bateman.

– Ryan Cuneo is the Managing Editor of Full Press Giants. He covers the New York Giants. Like and follow on Follow @ryan_cuneo Follow @FullPressGiants and Facebook.