New York Giants' trade talks for Braylon Edwards still quiet - at least until draft day: By Mike Garafolo - Star Ledger

If the Giants are going to trade for Edwards, it won't develop until draft day.

Die Hard's Draft Preview coming tomorrow morning...

Sources: Chiefs agree to deal Gonzalez to Falcons

Falcons just made an unbelievable deal!

'Iron Man 2' Recruits an Officer and a Lady

Normally I wouldn't post a non-football article here but when it involves the beautiful granddaughter of Wellington Mara, I make an exception. Kate Mara has been cast to star in Iron Man 2.

GREAT BLUE NORTH GIANTS DRAFT REPORT

I would like to welcome the Great Blue North Giants Draft Report by Colin Lindsay to New York Giants News from a Die Hard Giants Fan. He will be adding news and notes about everything and anything Giants Football throughout the NFL regular season and offseason. With that said, here is his draft preview:

Vol 3, No 25
April 23, 2009
2009 Draft Preview

Just about every year there comes a point in the draft process when the amount of information and misinformation out there passes a critical point and one is tempted to simply say “Enough! Let’s get to the picking.” We probably hit that point sometime around midday on Tuesday. Indeed, the 2009 draft has been characterized by as much fluidity as any we have seen in recent years. And while trying to predict how a draft will evolve is usually right up there with herding cats, this year’s is especially hard to get a hold on. Fact is that this year’s draft, at least at the top of the board, is not at all strong as just about every player rated among the top 15-20 prospects has a wart or two.

At the same time, there appears to be somewhat more stability in the latter part of the opening round. Still, there are just so many possible perms and combs out there even for a team like the Giants picking 29th overall that one’s head can really start to spin just trying to keep track of them all. Indeed, there’s a better than even chance that the Giants won’t actually make the 29th pick on Saturday given the myriad of possibilities for the Giants out there.

One thing we can are prepared to do with almost resolute certainty is boldly predict that the Giants will NOT take a WR with the 29th selection. Despite media reports in the past 24 hours or so that the Giants no longer see any realistic hope of acquiring veteran WR Braylon Edwards from Cleveland and are moving forward with their plans to take a receiver early in the NFL draft, we still very much expect to see Edwards in blue sooner rather than later. Indeed, it may not even happen before or during the 2009 draft, however, something is going to get done; it‘s just in everybody‘s interest and the two sides just aren‘t that far apart. In fact, figure the whole situation right now is a big game of chicken between old rivals the Giants and Browns to see who will blink first.

Right now, the sticking point still appears to be the Giants’ reluctance to include the 29th pick in the deal. The Browns are reportedly asking for the Giants first and third round picks for Edwards, while the Giants have countered with an offer of a second rounder - presumably the 45th pick acquired from the Saints’ for TE Jeremy Shockey last spring - and a 5th rounder. And the fact is that isn’t a huge gap. Indeed, factoring in the value of each pick from the standard NFL trade value table and the two teams are separated by a late second round pick. There are also only 16 picks between the Giants first round pick that the Browns want and the second rounder the Giants are likely offering.

The fact also is that these kinds of deals often come down to the last minute. Discussions with San Diego involving the 2004 trade in which the Giants acquired QB Eli Manning, for example, appeared to have died of natural causes several times in the days leading up to the draft. Indeed, the deal wasn’t actually consummated until the Giants were on the clock after Manning had been selected by the Chargers. It was also the same last spring when the draft came and went and TE Jeremy Shockey was still a Giant, but a deal with the Saints got done after the draft. Also remember the Giants still have their full complement of picks in 2010 so even if a trade doesn‘t happen this weekend there is still plenty of time to get something done before the season starts.

And the Giants can afford to be patient because it appears that they hold most of the cards in the current situation. By publicly shopping Edwards, and for whatever reason just about every other name player on the roster, the Browns have put themselves in situation where they pretty much have to move him because he is going to be a potential distraction if he’s still around when training camp opens in July. Plus, there just doesn’t appear to be much of a market for veteran WRs out there these days. The Giants, for example, appear to be only team in the bidding for Edwards; indeed, it’s a buyers market as there appear to be more veteran wideouts on the market in one way or another - Edwards, Anquan Boldin and Chad Johnson - than teams interested in ponying up the package of picks to get one of them.

Still, there also is some pressure on the Giants to get something done with the Browns. The Giants appear primed to make a serious run at the Super Bowl in 2009, with a go-to wide receiver the only major need on the roster. And given the fact that rookie Wrs generally take a while to develop, the Giants aren’t likely to address the need at least in the short term, at the 2009 draft, no matter how many picks they have.

We also doubt that the Giants will take a WR with the 29th pick because it just doesn’t look like there will be any wideouts that would be good value at that spot in this year’s draft. And if there is one thing the Giants are known for on draft day its sticking to their board and getting good value with their picks. Both Hakeem Nicks of North Carolina and Rutgers’ Kenny Britt, for example, the two WRs most often associated with the Giants at the 29th pick, have seen their stock slide in recent weeks, Britt after some sloppy workouts, including one with the Giants, and Nicks after he ballooned up to almost 235 pounds after the combine. Both though would be among a group of players (see below) who would be of good value in the middle of the second round if the Giants were interested.

The Giants, though, could have an interesting dilemma on their plate if Florida WR Percy Harvin were still on the board at the 29th pick. Harvin has top ten talent, but also may have more character red flags that any other player in the 2009 draft class. And that was before it was revealed that he had tested positive for marijuana at the combine. In particular, teams are worried that Harvin, who is known to have one of the biggest ‘posses’ of hangers-on in college football, isn’t going to handle the money and freedom that come with being a pro athlete very well. And, of course, New York isn’t the kind of ideal environment for that kind of personality. In the end, Harvin, a prickly character from Florida, is probably the last person in the world the Giants would want to have to replace Plaxico Burress, the prototype prickly character from Florida.

The Giants have also made some noises about possibly packaging some of the passel of ten picks in this weekend’s draft to move up in the opening round. Again, we suspect that this may be mostly blowing a little smoke Cleveland’s way to suggest the Giants have other options. Unfortunately, its hard to see exactly what those options might be. Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree, arguably one of the top 2-3 prospects in the whole draft before he underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot, had been sliding for awhile, however, he now appears to be a likely top 5 selection. Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey, maybe the fastest player in this year’s draft, could also be a factor, however, while he has warp speed, he’s not a particularly polished receiver or route runner. The one interesting possible trade-up scenario for the Giants might involve Missouri’ Jeremy Maclin. Maclin is another legit top ten talent, but with OTs Andre Smith of Alabama and Ole Miss’ Michael Oher, along with USC QB Mark Sanchez likely moving back into the top ten, somebody is gong to get caught in the numbers game and get squeezed out of the top ten and Maclin is a likely candidate. Indeed, should be slip by the 49ers at the tenth pick, then with Maclin could drop another 4-5 spots. Given their relationship with the Saints, who pick 14th and have only 4 picks overall in the draft, New Orleans might be a trade up targe for the Giants if they had a player like Maclin, or maybe Oher if he was also still on the board, although it would likely cost the Giants the second rounder they got from the Saints as part of the Shockey package.

Other than WR, the Giants don’t have any gaping holes to fill although there several areas where they likely will look to either upgrade or add some depth. SSLB, for example, remains somewhat problematic, although don’t expect the Giants to force a pick at the position early because, with the addition of free agent signee Michael Boley, SSLB is only going to be a two-down position in the Giants’ scheme. A guy like Clay Matthews of USC, though, might be very intriguing were he to fall to the 29th position, because of the added pass-rush dimension he would bring to the table.

Indeed, one of the basic principles of drafting is that championship teams generally don’t take players to improve positions, they take players who the think can help them win championships. And when the Giants think championships they think pressure on the passer so even though they focused on improving the pass rush in free agency, don’t be shocked if they select a player or two who can augment the pass rush among their early picks this coming weekend.

The Giants also likely will look to add some depth along the offensive line. When picking offensive linemen, though, the Giants tend to like big guys who are solid drive blockers. They also will also look to add another RB early on to help fill the void left when Derrick Ward signed with Tampa Bay. In particular, the Giants would probably like to find someone who can step in as the team’s 3rd down back so likely will be looking for someone who can block and catch the ball. They could also look to add another pass-catching option at TE in what is a very good class at the position this year. They will also likely need an extra body at both CB and safety. Indeed, one of the party lines for the Giants has been that they don’t have enough roster spots for all their ten picks and hence should look to trade up, however, there is enough need for added depth on the roster that a case could even be made for a trade down or two.

In the end, though, what the Giants will do with their ten picks is take good football players they like. Indeed, Rule #1 at any draft is that, for the most part, teams do not draft positions, they draft players. And while it seems self-evident, good teams draft players that they really like. Unfortunately - we call it the ‘draftnik’s lament’ - they seldom share with the public who they like so picks will often come from off the reservation. And the Giants, as much as any team in the league, are very good about keeping a lid on what players they really like. In fact, this year, other than the issue at WR, the Giants really haven’t dropped any hints at all what they are thinking.

In the end, though, if the Giants ultimately keep the 29th pick, we wouldn’t be totally shocked to see the Giants go off the reservation just a tad and grab a player that isn’t necessarily on everybody’s radar. Indeed, we wouldn’t be totally shocked if the Giants selected someone like Cincinnati DE/LB Connor Barwin, a terrific athlete who like USC’s Matthews brings something on 3rd downs, Louisville C Eric Wood, a late riser who can also provide depth at OG, one of the athletic TEs like Florida’s Cornelius Ingram of Jared Cook of South Carolina, or even big old Oklahoma RT Phil Loadholt, who isn’t every team in the league’s ideal at the position, but fit’s the Giants mold as a big, rugged drive blocker who is a full-fare taxi ride around when he sets p in pass protection.

And while it is very much an imperfect science here’s a projection of what players the Giants might have on their wish-list radar for each round.

First round:
USC LB Clay Matthews, California C Alex Mack, Cincinnati DE/LB Connor Barwin, Louisville C Eric Wood, Florida TE Cornelius Ingam, South Carolina TE Jared Cook, Oklahoma OT Phil Loadholt

Second Round - #45.. (note at #45, again assuming the Giants still have the pick, figure that Wood, Ingram, Cook and Loadholt would still be on the list. It also wouldn’t be a total shock if the Giants did keep the pick to see them move up in the second round to get a player they might be targeting)
North Carolina WR Hakeem Nicks, Rutgers WR Kenny Britt, Pitt RB LeSean McCoy, Georgia Tech DE Michael Johnson, Virginia LB Clint Sintim

Second round - #60
Southern Miss TE Shawn Nelson, NC State RB Andre Brown, San Jose State DE Jarron Gilbert, Western Michigan S Louis Delmas

Third round - #s 91 and 100
Florida WR Louis Murphy, Eastern Michigan G/T T.J. Lang, Penn State OT Gerald Cadogan, Wisconsin G/T Kraig Urbik, Oregon State CB Keenan Lewis

Fourth Round - #129
Notre Dame S David Bruton, Iowa DT/E Mitch King, Arizona WR Mike Thomas, Virginia WR Kevin Ogletree, Clemson S Chris Clemons, Purdue RB Kory Sheets, Western Illinois OLB Jason Williams

Fifth round - #s 151 and 164
Penn State C A.Q. Shipley, Nevada LB Josh Mauga, USC DE Kyle Moore, USC WR Patrick Turner, Nevada WR Marko Mitchell, Clemson WR Aaron Kelly, Ole Miss WR Mike Wallace, Abilene Christian WR Johnny Knox, Cincinnati P Ken Huber, Boise State RB Ian Johnson, Hampton DE Chris Baker, Tennessee State G/T Cornelius Lewis, NC State TE Anthony Hill

Sixth round - #200
Furman OT Joel Bell, USC CB Cary Harris, Texas DE Henry Melton, Marshall WR Darius Passmore, Cincinnati DB Brandon Underwood, Florida Atlantic MLB Frantz Joseph, Northern Iowa DE Everette Pedescleaux, Nicholls State CB Ladarius Webb, Rutgers S Courtney Greene, Utah PK Louis Sakoda,

Seventh round - #238
Western Michigan WR Jamarko Simmons, Boston College LB Robert Francois, Boston College LB Brian Toal, Wisconsin LB DeAndre Levy, Penn State WR Deon Butler, Florida State PK Graham Gano, Stanford DE Pannell Egboh, Ohio FS Mike Mitchell, East Carolina DE Khalif Mitchell, LSU S Curtis Taylor, Eastern Illinois DE Pierre Walters

A theory on how the New York Giants can trade up in the first round

by Mike Garafolo/The Star-Ledger

Is it possible that the Giants trade up with the Saints and give them back the 2nd round pick that they traded us for Jeremy Shockey?

Giants might use draft for offensive line depth

By Tom Rock

GIANTS HAVE WARE-WITH-ALL

by Paul Schwartz

Giants have a lot of faith in their new 3rd running back on the roster, Danny Ware. The Giants believe he has a very high ceiling and can become a very productive back.

Giants eye UNC wide receiver Hakeem Nicks as Plaxico's replacement

By Ralph Vacchiano

The Giants seem to be very focused on drafting Hakeem Nicks to replace the huge hole left by plaxico burress.

No deal: Giants don't expect to land Edwards

By Ralph Vacchiano

Looks like the Giants will not be getting a new number 1 receiver unless they up their offer drastically.