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New York Giants’ 5 Biggest Draft Needs Heading Into 2016 Combine

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The New York Giants are entering the offseason with a lot of holes to fill. Even though the 2016 NFL Draft is still months away, the Giants need to come away with more than one home run. They will be helped by the fact they own the 10th overall selection in the first round, but it is imperative that GM Jerry Reese has a successful draft. The Giants need to use this draft to find starters and depth pieces at key positions. These are the Giants’ biggest draft needs heading into the 2016 NFL Combine.

5. Wide Receiver

Wide Receiver Getty Images
The Giants have one of the best talents in the game in Odell Beckham Jr., but depth is a serious issue here. Victor Cruz will have missed just about two years by the time he takes the field again, if he does. Rueben Randle is a free agent and likely won’t be re-signed after failing to show he can be dependable and consistent. Dwayne Harris was a pleasant surprise at times, but he isn’t a No. 2-type receiver. The Giants need someone to complement Beckham and be a lot more consistent than Randle was. They could address this need in free agency or potentially in the middle rounds of the draft.

The Giants have one of the best talents in the game in Odell Beckham Jr., but depth is a serious issue here. Victor Cruz will have missed just about two years by the time he takes the field again, if he does. Rueben Randle is a free agent and likely won’t be re-signed after failing to show he can be dependable and consistent. Dwayne Harris was a pleasant surprise at times, but he isn’t a No. 2-type receiver. The Giants need someone to complement Beckham and be a lot more consistent than Randle was. They could address this need in free agency or potentially in the middle rounds of the draft.

4. Offensive Tackle

Offensive Tackle Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Will Beatty and Geoff Schwartz are gone. The Giants have a need for a tackle and could either go for a right tackle or a left tackle and slide Ereck Flowers over to the right side. Free agency could be used to address this need, but the Giants could use youth and depth along the line and should use at least one pick in this draft on an offensive lineman.

Will Beatty and Geoff Schwartz are gone. The Giants have a need for a tackle and could either go for a right tackle or a left tackle and slide Ereck Flowers over to the right side. Free agency could be used to address this need, but the Giants could use youth and depth along the line and should use at least one pick in this draft on an offensive lineman.

3. Defensive Back

Defensive Back Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Prince Amukamara is a free agent as is Jayron Hosley. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has been very good, but has gotten banged up a lot. While he has played through the injuries, it has cost him some of his effectiveness. Even if the Giants do re-sign Amukamara, they need some youth and depth here since Amukamara has missed a lot of time due to injury over the years. The safety position was decimated by injury last year. They do have Landon Collins, and Nat Berhe was considered starting material before getting injured, but depth is necessary here.

Prince Amukamara is a free agent as is Jayron Hosley. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has been very good, but has gotten banged up a lot. While he has played through the injuries, it has cost him some of his effectiveness. Even if the Giants do re-sign Amukamara, they need some youth and depth here since Amukamara has missed a lot of time due to injury over the years. The safety position was decimated by injury last year. They do have Landon Collins, and Nat Berhe was considered starting material before getting injured, but depth is necessary here.

2. Linebacker

Linebacker Getty Images
Gone are the days when the Giants were synonymous with great linebackers. They have lacked a true impact player at the position since Antonio Pierce retired. Devon Kennard has talent and promise and the Giants brought in J.T. Thomas and Jonathan Casillas in free agency last offseason, but the Giants need an impact player at linebacker. They could use their first-round pick on one for the first time in decades, but most likely will use a middle round pick on one.

Gone are the days when the Giants were synonymous with great linebackers. They have lacked a true impact player at the position since Antonio Pierce retired. Devon Kennard has talent and promise and the Giants brought in J.T. Thomas and Jonathan Casillas in free agency last offseason, but the Giants need an impact player at linebacker. They could use their first-round pick on one for the first time in decades, but most likely will use a middle round pick on one.

1. Defensive End

Defensive End Getty Images
Robert Ayers and Jason Pierre-Paul are free agents. Owa Odighizuwa, a third-round pick from last year’s draft, missed almost all of last season with injury. Kerry Wynn and George Selvie are nothing more than depth pieces. Even if Ayers and JPP are re-signed, or someone else is signed in free agency, the Giants will need to address this position and will probably use their first-rounder to address this need.

Robert Ayers and Jason Pierre-Paul are free agents. Owa Odighizuwa, a third-round pick from last year’s draft, missed almost all of last season with injury. Kerry Wynn and George Selvie are nothing more than depth pieces. Even if Ayers and JPP are re-signed, or someone else is signed in free agency, the Giants will need to address this position and will probably use their first-rounder to address this need.

Christopher Gamble is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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