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20 Questions: Overlooked storyline for Giants in 2020

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With the calendar flipped to July, Giants.com asks 20 important questions heading into the team's 2020 training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

For 20 days, a member of the Giants.com crew will answer one question about the roster, coaching staff, schedule, and much more.

No. 18: What is one storyline that people might have overlooked this offseason?

Dan Salomone: At their core, I think Giants fans appreciate linebackers more than any other position, so this offseason was for them. Inside and outside, old and new, the team added several intriguing players to the unit.

In free agency, Blake "The Tackling Machinez" Martinez and Kyler Fackrell, who has a double-digit sack season on his resume, came over from Green Bay. In the draft, the Giants used 40 percent of their 10 picks at the position: Cam Brown (Penn State), Carter Coughlin (Minnesota), TJ Brunson (South Carolina) and Tae Crowder (Georgia). That's six new pieces right there for defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, inside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer, and outside linebackers coach/senior assistant Bret Bielema.

"I think it says a lot more about how our defensive scheme fits together, that we are going to play with a lot of linebackers throughout the game," coach Joe Judge said. "You build your defense to build two-thirds of your team, that's really your defense and your kicking game for covering kicks. These guys have a lot of impact across the board right there."

While we're on the subject, don't overlook the return of linebacker Ryan Connelly, who was on his way to being the steal of the 2019 draft. The fifth-round pick out of Wisconsin recorded 20 tackles, two interceptions and a sack in the first four games of his rookie year, but then it abruptly ended due to a torn ACL. He was also high school teammates with Coughlin in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Connelly, then the quarterback, helped the school to three Minnesota Class 6A football state championships.

That's not exactly the type of versatility that Judge has spoken about since he took over – I don't think Connelly is throwing a pass anytime soon – but the linebacker corps has a little bit of everything to make it dominant once again.

John Schmeelk: Dominance. I consider myself a realist and try to go out of my way to temper expectations on most things, in general. I'm a "regression to the mean" kind of guy. Give me a bucket and cold water and I'll find something to pour it on. I see no reason to be like this when it comes to Saquon Barkley. He is that talented and capable of putting together a special season.

I'll be so bold as to say that I would be surprised if Barkley doesn't gain 2,000 yards from scrimmage, find a way to score 10 touchdowns, or catch more than 55 passes.

Given the high frequency Jason Garrett made sure Ezekiel Elliott had the ball while they were in Dallas, I expect Barkley to be among the NFL's Top 3 running backs, based on most metrics. He is a special player and should consistently impact the game, either running the ball or catching it.

Barkley should be the centerpiece of everything the Giants do offensively and his numbers should be immense, barring injuries. I predict: 317 carries for 1,462 yards, 64 receptions for 588 yards with 12 total touchdowns.

View photos of Giants running back Saquon Barkley's time with the New York Giants.

Lance Medow: I'll never choose a NFC East game because the Giants play their divisional rivals twice each season and you can essentially flip a coin when it comes to those games - every one is important and the team records make no difference. Of the 10 other games to choose from, there's one that jumps off the page for many reasons: Week 8, at home, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.

It's a NFC game which means it carries a bit more weight when it comes to the playoff race, plus it's one of the three prime time contests on the Giants' schedule. In addition, the Giants will be coming off a lengthy rest period since their previous game is on Thursday Night Football in Philadelphia on Oct. 22. That means it will be New York's first game in 11 days. Whether that turns out to be good or bad remains to be seen. This contest also marks the midpoint of the season - the Giants will have played eight games by the time the clock expires and it will provide a solid sample size to see where the team stands.

In addition to all those factors, here's the main course. The Giants will be facing one of the best offenses in the league, led by Tom Brady, who just joined the Bucs in free agency. New York's history with Brady already provides for some intrigue, although it doesn't hurt that he'll be surrounded by a plethora of weapons, including 1,000-yard receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, versatile tight ends Rob Gronkowski, Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard, and dual-threat running back Ronald Jones. You also can't overlook receivers Justin Watson and rookie Tyler Johnson - and I haven't even brought up the defense. Shaq Barrett led the NFL in sacks in 2019 with 19.5, Jason Pierre-Paul is still a dangerous force and the defensive line features big bruisers Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea. Add in linebackers Devin White and Lavonte David ... and Tampa Bay boasts one of the best front sevens in the league.

This will be quite the test for the Giants on both sides of the ball, and if last season's Week 3 matchup is any indication, the rematch shouldn't disappoint. In 2019, the Bucs ranked third in total offense (398 yard avg.), first in passing yards per game (303) and tied for third, with the Saints, in points (28.6) - all with Jameis Winston under center. Now, they've upgraded to Brady. I rest my case. Circle November 2nd.

View iconic photos from the all-time series between the Giants and their 2020 opponents.

Dan Salomone: This is an interesting one because not only are there so many new faces, but the unit will require a collective effort. Plus, new head coach Joe Judge and assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Patrick Graham come from the Bill Belichick tree, which is rooted in adaptability. Their philosophy is to put pressure on opponents by making them prepare for multiple things. Within that, they need personnel versatility/flexibility with the scheme to adjust the game plan, thus maximizing their strengths against any opponent's weaknesses.

Long story short: The focus of the defense won't be concentrated on one player.

Nevertheless, players still need to make plays. Who will they be? Let's start with the newcomers. Former Packer Blake Martinez, who will be the quarterback of the defense, leads the NFL with 441 tackles since 2017 and is second to five-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner since Martinez entered the league in 2016. Former Panther James Bradberry has been tested against the NFC South's gauntlet of receivers and was regularly assigned to shadow them. Kyler Fackrell, another former Packer, has a double-digit sack campaign on his resume.

The coaching staff also hopes to tap into a lot of potential from the team's returning players. Among them is big Dexter Lawrence, who is my answer to this question. This team will find success when it controls the line of scrimmage. The focus around the Giants is often on the offensive line, but the defensive line is just as important, particularly the interior. If you can gain ground inside, then the quarterback or running back is running for his life and the edge defenders can finish the job. The NFC East is stacked with running backs, and the team that can stop the run will win the division. Lawrence, a former first-round pick, along with Leonard Williams and Dalvin Tomlinson, can be a major factor in achieving that goal.

John Schmeelk: This begs for me to be boring. Saquon Barkley, right? Easy peasy. He is going to be one of the most productive players in the NFL, so making him the Giants' offensive MVP should be a no-brainer. Nah – too boring!

If everything goes right, it is going to be Daniel Jones. In truth, the most important player on any high level NFL offense is the quarterback. The quarterback is the engine and the Giants are likely to go only as far as Jones takes them. Nah – too boring!

Instead, I am going to go with the player that I think may be the offense's biggest X-factor: Evan Engram. Will he play in enough games to compile the necessary stats to be the Offensive MVP? Probably not, but that doesn't make him any less important to the unit.

Engram is the team's biggest mismatch amongst their tight ends and wide receivers. At his speed, linebackers have no hope of staying with him in coverage, and even safeties could have issues battling his size down the field on contested catches.

Every Giants fan has seen how Jason Garrett's offense in Dallas featured Jason Witten for more than a decade. Engram could be a similar weapon and go-to player in the red zone with even more big-play ability. He has special skills. If he can ever play 16 games, he could turn the Giants' offense into one of the league's top units.

Dan Salomone: Just follow the green dot. The player with it on his helmet is the one who relays play calls from the coordinator to the men in the huddle. On defense, that will most likely be Blake Martinez. Originally a fourth-round draft choice by Green Bay, Martinez leads the NFL with 441 tackles since 2017 and is second only to five-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner since he entered the league in 2016. He recorded double-digit tackles in 24 of his 61 games played. He also has familiarity with assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who was Martinez's position coach with the Packers in 2018.

"I love having the green dot," Martinez said when he signed with the Giants. "It's always been an awesome aspect that I've [been] able to have since my rookie year. I've grown more and more, and just understanding the things that I need to do within the huddle, out of the huddle, pre-snap, all those things that have just been growing throughout the years. I know Pat's extremely open and free with communication that he's going to allow me to do within a given series, within a given game. It's exciting for me to be able to have that freedom. I can't wait to be able to go out there and obviously, lead the Giants defense."

Whether you want to call him a tackling machine or cleanup guy, Martinez said his responsibility is not to let big plays happen. The Giants allowed 79 plays of at least 20 yards last season, tied with the Lions for the third-most in the NFL. There are a lot of intriguing newcomers on this roster, but Martinez is the quarterback of the revamped defense and a promising linebacker corps.

View photos of every roster addition made by the Giants this offseason.

Lance Medow: If there's one statistic that is most synonymous with winning and losing games in the NFL, it's turnover differential. In 2019, the Giants had 33 giveaways (17 INT/16 FR), third-most in the league, just behind the Bucs (41) and Panthers (35). On defense, the Giants only recorded 16 takeaways (third-fewest in the NFL) to finish with a turnover differential of minus-17. which tied with the Chargers for last. It's no coincidence that these two teams finished with four and five wins, respectively.

Last season, the offense played just two clean games without turnovers. The first one didn't come until Week 14 in Philadelphia and, the second, two games later at Washington. In 11 of the other 14 games, the Giants turned over the ball at least two times in each contest and had six games with at least three giveaways. Daniel Jones was responsible for 23 of the team's 33 turnovers with 12 interceptions and 11 fumbles, including at least one lost fumble in five straight games from Weeks 7-12. No matter how you break down these numbers, the Giants need to cut down on their turnovers if they want to maximize possessions and take pressure off the defense.

Turnovers and the lack of scoring go hand in hand, and that was brought to the forefront in 2019. Last season, the Giants averaged just over 21 points per game (tied for 18th in the NFL). In nine of their 16 games, they failed to score at least 20 points. If you turn over the ball at the rate New York did last season, you're going to lose possessions/scoring opportunities. The message for this season is crystal clear: protect the ball at all costs.

John Schmeelk: Last season, the Giants ranked 29th in the NFL with 7.6 yards allowed per pass play - this put them in the bottom quarter of the league with the Bengals, Raiders, Dolphins, Cardinals, Lions, Jaguars and Falcons (all non-playoff teams). Six selected in the Top 10 of the draft, and four, including the Giants, were in the Top 5.

I don't care what the Giants do offensively, or against the run defensively. None of it will mean anything if they don't creep their way closer to the middle of the league in yards allowed per pass play. Staying near the bottom of those rankings would inhibit the offense from sticking with a run-first philosophy and force them into too many passing situations that can lead to more turnovers.

There are two facets to improving the pass defense: pass rush and coverage. Spare James Bradberry, the Giants lack established players with long track records in either area of the defense. Lorenzo Carter, Oshane Ximines or Kyler Fackrell need to be consistent pass rushers. Multiple players from the young defensive back group are going to have to step up to be starting caliber NFL players. The season depends on it.

John Schmeelk: Cornerback James Bradberry. The Giants' biggest question mark coming off last season was their pass defense. They released Janoris Jenkins and carried over a room full of young cornerbacks. They needed a veteran to come into the room, be a stabilizing force and bring some experience covering the opponent's best receiver.

In Carolina, Bradberry consistently followed receivers such as Mike Evans, Michael Thomas and Julio Jones no matter where they lined up. I would expect him to do the same for the Giants. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham could also put Bradberry on an island against the opponent's second-best receiver and run double-teams against its top wideout.

The Giants' pass defense will be the key to the season, and no player affects that more than their top cornerback. When Bradberry was brought in this offseason, he immediately became that player. He will impact the team more than any new addition, and perhaps even more than any other player on the roster not named Daniel Jones.

Lance Medow: For any quarterback entering his second year in the league, the expectations are pretty simple: show improvement across the board. Evaluating a signal-caller isn't just about fantasy football numbers, so I certainly won't dedicate the bulk of my response to a mathematical equation. As it goes without saying, the Giants want to see his stats trend upwards. Case in point: Eli Manning, who played in slightly fewer games than Daniel Jones during his rookie year in 2004, improved his production in just about every statistical category in his second year in the league. But there's one notable difference between year two for Manning and Jones. Manning had the same head coach and play-caller.

Why do I bring up the changes on the coaching staff? Well, that ties right into expectations. For the bulk of the roster, this will be the second or third new scheme players are learning in as many seasons, and when you have a young roster, you never know how the learning curve will play out. This will be Jones' third offense in three years, and now he is adjusting to Jason Garrett's scheme during a virtual process with no on-field work up to this point. This isn't to say that Jones can't handle a new system. How young players deal with change is a true test and can be a challenge. That's something to watch as the season progresses and something to keep in mind when placing expectations on a player.

If there's one stat to watch, it's Jones' fumble rate. He fumbled the ball 18 times (and lost 11) in 12 starts or 1.5 fumbles per start. Ball security is critical for all players but even more important for quarterbacks, who touch the ball on every play. Jones obviously knows this better than anyone and made it his focus this offseason. If both Jones and the offense want to make strides in 2020, they have to maximize possessions and avoid cutting down on the volume of opportunities, or what I like to call at-bats.

View photos of Giants quarterback Daniel Jones throughout his NFL career.

Dan Salomone: There are three tenets of being a physical football team. The first two – stopping the run and running the ball – are agreed upon by every head coach. The third can be debated. Some say rush the passer; Joe Judge says it is covering kicks. That is the Nick Saban and the Bill Belichick in him. That is the longtime special teams coach, the three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time college football national champion in him.

"Those are three things you need to do to be a physical team, and you can't win in this league without being a physical team," Judge said during this offseason. "You look at the teams every year whose seasons extend longer than other teams. They do certain things in common. That always kind of goes back to the same traits."

Judge's first task as head coach was putting together a staff which, after a methodical search, included six members who were with the Giants last year. Of those, two coach special teams. Thomas McGaughey returns for his third season as special teams coordinator, and he's assisted by his predecessor, Tom Quinn, who was the Giants' special teams coordinator from 2007-17.

"The experience is important, but the success is more important," Judge said. "They've been doing it at a high success rate for a long time. The fact that they had a relationship working together already, I had a relationship with both guys from going against them and have known them within the profession for some time now. T-Mac and Tom do a tremendous job. I love the way they relate to the players, I love the way they coach their guys. You know when you go against their units that they're going to be sound and they're going to play hard, and that's critical. I have a lot of respect for both of them."

In 2019, the Giants' kickoff coverage team led the NFL by allowing an average return of just 18.1 yards while the punt coverage team finished tied for fifth (5.7 avg.). Conversely, the Giants' return squads were fourth and 10th, respectively, on punts (9.8) and kickoffs (23.5).

In other words, Judge liked what he saw.

The unit should only be stronger with the addition of Judge's expertise and the host of players the Giants signed or drafted this offseason. Most notable is Nate Ebner, the lone player to participate in the Olympics (rugby) and win the NFL championship in the same year. Ebner played in New England from 2012-19, the same eight years Judge was either a Patriots special teams assistant or coordinator. Ebner had more than 10 special teams tackles in six of his eight seasons, and the Patriots won all three Super Bowls in which he played (Ebner was sidelined for New England's loss to Philadelphia in Super Bowl LII after tearing his ACL while running for 14 yards and a first down on a fake punt vs. Miami on Nov. 26, 2017).

The Giants also signed Pro Bowl long snapper and former Bronco Casey Kreiter to take over for two-timer Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowl veteran Zak DeOssie, who remains a free agent. Meanwhile, the team selected four linebackers on the final day of the draft, so you know they will have to learn their stripes on special teams.

"No one really looks at those intricacies as much as they do offense or defense, but they're out there and they're happening every game," Ebner said. "In the kicking game, just as well. Those finer points can be the difference-maker, especially in a phase of the game that's a one-play series. You don't get four downs. You don't have a bunch of opportunities. You get one chance. Sometimes, those opportunities can be game-changing opportunities.

"Those details matter, and I think having played as long as I have, I, hopefully, can kind of build on what I've experienced. That's why I love the kicking game. It's a one-play series that's balls to the wall for the entire time. It's not like you get an incomplete pass and you're back in the deep part of the field, and not covering grass and it's a run play or something like that. Every single play in the kicking game is absolutely full speed and a dog fight. Every single one of them. It's fun."

It also wins games.

John Schmeelk: Since we haven't seen this defense in a practice setting, I can only go based on the limited info that has been mentioned by the players and coaches in their off-season interviews. Head coach Joe Judge indicated it would look similar to what Patrick Graham did in Miami. If so, here are some characteristics Giants fans should expect to see:

Plenty of man-to-man

Only Matt Patricia's Detroit Lions played more Cover 1 than the Dolphins last year, according to Pro Football Focus. Detroit spent 516 of their 1144 snaps playing man-to-man with a single-high safety, while the Dolphins used that scheme on 491 of their 1116 defensive snaps. The Patriots and Giants were tied for the fourth-most plays in Cover 1. Coaches from the Bill Belichick tree like to play man-to-man and there's no reason to think the Giants won't do the same in 2020.

High blitz frequency

The Dolphins blitzed on 35.1% of their defensive snaps last year, which was the seventh-highest frequency in the NFL, according to PFF. The Giants blitzed about 30% of the time last year, which was just above the league average. Without a proven pass rusher, Miami used many players standing up at the line of scrimmage to confuse quarterbacks. There were many third-and-longs characterized by several players standing near the line of scrimmage to disguise who was blitzing and who was dropping into coverage.

3-4 base defense

I think Graham will use a 3-4 as his base scheme, but he and Judge have indicated the team's basic fronts can change week to week to counter their opponents.

An amoeba defense

Belichick's defenses have always liked to shift their schemes from week to week or series to series, depending on the opponent's offensive scheme. Judge and Graham have been forthright that they plan on having their defense look very different each week. Shifting schemes like this can make it difficult on opposing offenses to prepare for the Giants' defense.

View photos of every roster addition made by the Giants this offseason.

Lance Medow: Joe Judge was asked this question when he spoke with the media in May and his response: "I think, schematically, the easiest way to describe it right now, to the outside world is: It's going to be similarly based on what Jason has done in Dallas over the last 10 or so years. There's going to be some similarities catering to that, but it's got to cater to our players on our roster." It's important to note, Jason Garrett last called plays for the Cowboys in 2012. Since then, Bill Callahan (2013-14), Scott Linehan (2015-18) and Kellen Moore (2019) assumed that role, although Garrett still played an integral role in formulating the game plan on a weekly basis. So the core principles Garrett implemented in 2007, when he took over as Cowboys offensive coordinator, always had a presence.

The Giants will have a balanced offense under Garrett. If you look at his tenure in Dallas, the Cowboys didn't take the ball out of the hands of Tony Romo or Dak Prescott, and I don't see that approach changing with a young signal caller coming off an impressive rookie season in Daniel Jones. Garrett's offense is vertical and aggressive, and one way to take on that persona is to allow your quarterback to make plays. Last season, Prescott (career-high 596 pass attempts) and wide receiver Randall Cobb (1) combined for the Cowboys' 597 throws to 449 rushes. In 2018, the Cowboys had 527 pass attempts to 439 rushes, and in 2017, they threw the ball 493 times against 480 runs. Prescott's pass attempts went up in each of his four seasons while the team's run totals remained in the same ballpark. Keep in mind, Prescott had a new offensive coordinator (Kellen Moore) in 2019 and his attempts still increased. Moore had already been on staff as the quarterbacks coach in 2018, so familiarity was a factor. Therefore, this doesn't necessarily mean Garrett will pull back the reins just because Daniel Jones is learning a new offense and working with a new coordinator.

According to Pro Football Focus, Prescott was the NFL's fourth-best quarterback in 2019 when it came to deep passes (thrown 20+ yards), completing 46% for a 110.2 passer rating and 15.2 yards per attempt. While the deep ball was a staple of the Cowboys' offense, let's not overlook the fact that executing these plays still come down to the individual quarterback, skill position players and offensive linemen.

Although the Giants' personnel isn't a duplication of what Garrett worked with in Dallas, there are still similarities. Much like Ezekiel Elliott, New York has a game-changing running back in Saquon Barkley and whereas Prescott has a bit more experience than Jones, they're both mobile and have the ability to extend plays. The Cowboys have stressed featuring the tight end, specifically Jason Witten, but even Blake Jarwin received opportunities. The Giants can showcase Evan Engram and Kaden Smith, so I would expect both to be utilized in a similar manner. Last season, the latter two combined for 94 receptions on 124 targets, accounting for 24% of the Giants' completions and 21% of the targets. All of these factors are why you can expect aggressive attempts downfield, the presence of a run game fueled by a workhorse, and tight ends to make plays in the middle of the field.

Dan Salomone: "Earn it." Those two words jumped out to me during Joe Judge's introductory press conference in January, and everything has branched off that philosophy. By now, you've heard all about his ties to Nick Saban and Bill Belichick, so it's no surprise where that influence came from. There's no magic scheme or new gimmick that will get the Giants back on track. Judge isn't reinventing the wheel; he is stressing the fundamentals on a daily basis – in the classroom, on the practice field, and then in games. That was the biggest lesson he learned from his wildly successful mentors.

"You don't build the Empire State Building by washing the windows," Judge said. "You build it with the foundation and work it on up."

Tactically, Judge is building a team that can morph week to week. He wants to have the flexibility to adjust the game plan and maximize the Giants' strengths versus the opponent's weaknesses. One week, he will run the ball 50 times; in another, he will pass it 50 times. Of course, you need the right personnel to do it. What the Giants did in the draft and free agency clearly reflects the value he places on versatility.

This has been an off-season like no other for a first-year head coach. Judge has said from the beginning of the virtual program that the advantage goes to the most prepared team going forward. While trying to leave no stone unturned, he knew the biggest challenge to working remotely would be the team-building element. For that, he set up trivia challenges for everyone to get to know each other and their surroundings.

"We kind of took some lessons from really watching my kids do virtual school and some guys from around the country on what they were doing at different colleges and different pro programs," Judge said in a remote interview with the Voice of the Giants Bob Papa as the team wrapped up its off-season program. "I was watching my kids use the Kahoot! app, and we found out a couple of colleges were using the same thing. Really, it started through player development and went across the offense and defense, as well, in terms of having some daily competitions and weekly competitions. We subdivided the teams into different groups and made it competitive, played for some prizes. We were able to ask questions about things related to getting to know your teammate or getting to know the area, organizational history or maybe something directly tied into offense or defense.

"It was fun. It changes it up a little bit. It gets guys interacting. When you first start the meetings, everyone will come in with a muted screen the first couple of weeks. It was very quiet. Then over time, they got more comfortable. Really, the best part of the day was you'd click on a few minutes before the meetings start and you'd hear the players cutting up on each other, kind of calling out who needs a haircut, who's been doing what. That was really the best time, hearing the guys interacting like they would in the locker room. We wanted to let that grow as organically as we could throughout the Spring."

John Schmeelk: Saquon Barkley is the easy answer. He is the most physically gifted played on the roster and may take it to the house any time he touches the ball. He could lead the NFL in 20-yard rushes and yards from scrimmage. Barkley is also an accomplished route runner, and can do more than just turn screens and dump-offs into big plays. I expect to see him on downfield passing routes - whether they are wheel, circle or option routes to get him isolated on slower defensive players. I expect Barkley, who must avoid the injuries that plagued him in his sophomore campaign, to be the focal point of a run-heavy offense in 2020.

I also want to give an honorable mention to Golden Tate. He was extremely productive after returning from last year's four-game suspension. It doesn't look like the veteran has lost much of his athleticism, even though he will turn 32 in August. Tate can still create separation and win on every level of the defense. He is still one of the best receivers in the NFL running after the catch. I think he will lead the team in receptions and become Daniel Jones' go-to receiver.

View photos of all skill position players on the Giants' 90-man roster.

Lance Medow: Following the draft, the team signed two wide receivers from Ohio State - Austin Mack (6-2) and Binjimen Victor (6-4), who bring length and size to the room. The Giants already have a great deal of versatility with their top three wideouts - Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton - but if there's one facet missing, it's size. That's why I think Mack and Victor could surprise many and compete for roster spots.

Both rookie receivers are coming off career years at OSU, mainly because their playing time increased after having to patiently wait for opportunities. Mack has a knack for working the sidelines and came through with some nifty grabs last season as he posted career highs in receptions (27), receiving yards (361) and touchdowns (3), but Victor's even a bit more intriguing because he can assume the role of a skyscraper for Daniel Jones. Victor hauled in 17 touchdowns over the last three seasons, primarily serving as a red zone target. The Buckeyes constantly turned to him when they were in scoring position and more often than not, he won jump balls against various corners.

It's easy to classify Victor as a typical tall, red zone receiver, but don't overlook his subtle speed and stride. On several occasions, the Buckeyes found ways to get Victor into open space and his ability to collect yardage after the catch and elude defenders can go unnoticed. Last October against Michigan State, he turned a short pass up the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown. The Buckeyes also targeted him deep downfield. I think Victor could serve as the perfect complement to the main receiving corps and provide more options for Jones.

View photos of every undrafted free agent signed by the Giants.

Dan Salomone: First, let's recap the 10-man draft class:

  1. Georgia OT Andrew Thomas, Round 1, Pick 4
  2. Alabama S Xavier McKinney, Round 2, Pick 36
  3. UConn OT Matt Peart, Round 3, Pick 99
  4. UCLA CB Darnay Holmes, Round 4, Pick 110
  5. Oregon G Shane Lemieux, Round 5, Pick 150
  6. Penn State LB Cam Brown, Round 6, Pick 183
  7. Minnesota LB Carter Coughlin, Round 7, Pick 218
  8. South Carolina LB TJ Brunson, Round 7, Pick 238
  9. Minnesota CB Chris Williamson, Round 7, Pick 247
  10. Georgia LB Tae Crowder, Round 7, Pick 255

Let's break it down by position, starting with fourth overall pick Andrew Thomas. The tackle was the highest-drafted offensive lineman by the Giants since Ohio State's John Hicks was selected third overall in 1974. The Giants had an opening at right tackle after Mike Remmers, the starter in 2019, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. Thomas will also get a look on the left side, where Nate Solder started every game the last two seasons. The Giants also signed veteran Cameron Fleming, who has experience at both tackle positions, in addition to close ties to parts of the coaching staff from their time together in Dallas.

"The good thing about all of our tackles is they play on both sides," coach Joe Judge said. "If you look across the board, everyone on our depth chart right now has played on the right and the left. Everyone is going to come in on Day 1 and compete and as they shake out, whether that demonstrates being a starter at whatever position, that's where they'll fall. We went into this with several players we thought had the ability to go on both sides, right or left. We made a decision that we're going to let training camp figure that out."

The Giants didn't end there in the draft. They used three of their top five picks on the offensive line. Matt Peart, a “skinny” 6-foot-7, 318-pound tackle, started all 48 games in his four-year career at UConn – 24 at right tackle in his first two seasons and 24 at left tackle in his final two years. As Judge put it, Peart is not a "developmental" player; he is "developing." He has a lot of upside that intrigues the front office and coaching staff. Guard Shane Lemieux, meanwhile, will cross-train center. Will Hernandez and Kevin Zeitler are the incumbents at guard, but the center competition will be one to watch all summer - with Spencer Pulley the proven veteran at the position.

Onto the secondary. After drafting Xavier McKinney, the Giants picked up the fifth-year option on the rookie contract of fellow safety Jabrill Peppers, virtually ensuring he will be with the team through the 2021 season.

NFL teams are permitted to exercise the fifth-year option on first-round draft choices after they have played three years. When a player has his option exercised, his rookie contract is extended by one year and guaranteed. The player is protected against injury, but isn't eligible to enter unrestricted free agency until after the conclusion of the fifth season.

McKinney, who had a first-round value on the Giants' draft board, first caught Judge's attention a few years ago while scouting a Spring practice at Alabama for the Patriots. McKinney can play low, cover tight ends, and he's a good tackler. Meanwhile, chess master Darnay Holmes is competing for the nickel role, and Chris Williamson has some safety-corner flexibility, as well.

The linebackers. This is one of the team's most intriguing linebacker corps in recent memory. The Giants went heavy at the position on Day 3 of the draft, after signing tackling machine Blake Martinez (unofficially 155 total stops in 2019) and Kyler Fackrell (10.5 sacks in 2018) from Green Bay.

"I think it says a lot more about how our defensive scheme fits together," Judge said of assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. "That we are going to play with a lot of linebackers throughout the game. You build your defense to build two thirds of your team, that's really your defense and your kicking game for covering kicks. These guys have a lot of impact across the board right there."

John Schmeelk: Since we haven't seen any team practices, thanks to OTAs and minicamps taking place remotely, it is very difficult to tell where the coaching staff stands each position. Therefore, this is going to be a longer list than usual.

Offensive Tackle

It appears to be a three-way battle for two starting spots between veteran Nate Solder, newcomer Cameron Fleming and fourth overall pick Andrew Thomas. Solder hasn't played right tackle since he was a rookie. Thomas played right tackle three seasons ago as a sophomore, but has played on the left side the last two seasons. Fleming has played the right and left side over the course of his career, but has spent most of his recent seasons on the left (backing up Tyron Smith in Dallas). If I had to guess, with Solder more comfortable on the left side, he winds up there - with Thomas winning the right tackle spot. Nick Gates and third-round choice Matt Peart are dark horses in this competition.

Center

Fifth-year pro Spencer Pulley is the only player on the roster with starting experience at center, with 26 starts over the last three seasons with the Chargers and Giants. His main competition will be from rookie guard Shane Lemieux, who never played center in a game at Oregon, but worked there at practice. Nick Gates, a 2018 undrafted free agent, is a potential candidate despite not having played there with the Giants. He started games at right guard and right tackle last season. Finally, there's Jon Halapio, who is unsigned and recovering from an achilles injury he suffered late last December. The Giants have indicated he could be re-signed and enter the fray, if he is healthy. Only because of his experience, Pulley would have to be considered the leader in the clubhouse.

Edge Rusher/3-4 Outside Linebacker

The Giants are returning one of their starters at this position in Lorenzo Carter. He will have to compete with newly arrived Kyler Fackrell and second-year edge rusher Oshane Ximines. There is also a chance that Markus Golden, the team's sack leader from last season, returns given his unrestricted free agent tag. The question for this group is: Who can consistently set the edge and, more importantly, win with some level of consistency against offensive tackles while going after the quarterback. If Golden doesn't re-sign, Carter and Fackrell (10.5 sacks in 2018), seem like logical choices here. I expect this battle to be close and for all of them to rotate, regardless of who starts. Rookies Carter Coughlin and Cameron Brown are the dark horses.

View photos of the Giants' active roster as it currently stands.

Inside Linebacker

If the Giants play a base 3-4 defense, they need a second inside linebacker to play next to Blake Martinez. They also will probably need a second off-ball linebacker on passing downs. They could use safety Jabrill Peppers in this role, but it's uncertain if that's being considered. Ryan Connelly is entering his second year and coming back from a torn achilles tendon injury and David Mayo was strong against the run last year. Rookies TJ Brunson, Tae Crowder, and 2019 undrafted free agent Josiah Tauaefa could also play themselves into some reps. There's also a possibility Cam Brown or Carter Coughlin move inside to claim one of these roles. Mayo is a reasonable choice on run downs, but the second off-ball linebacker in passing situations is wide open.

Outside Cornerback

James Bradberry is secure in his starting spot on one side, but who plays opposite him? The Giants have invested multiple draft picks at the position in the last few years and each of them - DeAndre Baker, Sam Beal, and Corey Ballentine - will have a chance. Baker is dealing with off-the-field issues, and coming off an up-and-down rookie season as last year's third first-round pick. Beal (shoulder, hamstring) has been unable to stay healthy over his first two seasons after being drafted in the third round of the 2018 supplemental draft. Ballentine struggled playing inside as a rookie but didn't have much of an opportunity to play outside, where he excelled in college and during training camp. One sleeper to watch is Montre Hartage, who was an undrafted free agent with the 2019 Dolphins and bounced between their roster and practice squad under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. This could be the most important position battle of them all.

Nickel Cornerback

Grant Haley, a 2018 undrafted free agent, is the incumbent, with 12 starts at nickel in his first two seasons. Corey Ballentine started two games at the end of last year but had never played inside prior to arriving with the Giants. In April, the Giants drafted Darnay Holmes, an extremely athletic 5-9 corner from UCLA in the fourth round. His athletic package profiles as someone who should succeed playing inside, where he excelled at the Senior Bowl. It would not surprise me if the rookie figures out a way to win this battle by the end of camp or a few games into the regular season. There's also a possibility that second-year pro Julian Love gets time at slot corner, a position he sometimes played in college. Seventh-round pick Chris Williamson is an under-the-radar player who could compete here.

Safety

I feel fairly confident that Jabrill Peppers will be one of the starting safeties in their base defense. It makes sense to think that second-round pick Xavier McKinney will be the other starter, but Julian Love (a former fourth-round pick) may have something to say about that. All three of these players are versatile, which should give Patrick Graham a lot of options to move them around. This is less of a competition and more of an opportunity to see how he will use their respective talents. I expect all three to be frequently on the field together.

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