BIG BLUE

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GIANTS CLEAN HOUSE, TAG RICHBURG

New Giants GM/Head Coach Dave Poree had mentioned cleaning house shortly after he was hired. Today he took a big step toward that as the team announced the release of a staggering 23 players.

New York agreed to deals with WR Travis Rudolph (1 year, $1.87M), DT Robert Thomas (2 years, $5.38M) and SS Ryan Murphy (1 year, $1.22M) and tagging C Weston Richburg for $7.8M.

Among the cuts was longtime OL Justin Pugh, who was reportedly offered a contract. When he refused to sign the team chose to tag the younger Richburg. Four other offensive linesmen were also cut loose, leading to an upcoming rebuild at the position.

Other big names include linebackers Devon Kennard, Keenan Robinson, Jonathan Casillas and Kelvin Sheppard as well as cornerback Ross Cockrell. Cockrell was reportedly offered a contract but wanted more years and "starter money".

"I think it's clear that the team wasn't very good last season so we're looking to make wholesale changes." Poree said. "We need a better product on the field on game day and that's what we're trying to do."

The Giants now turn their attention to the upcoming draft where they will try to reload. Linebacker and offensive line look to be the biggest needs on paper.

RESIGNED
WR TRAVIS RUDOLPH 1/1.87
DT ROBERT THOMAS 2/5.38
SS RYAN MURPHY 1/1.22

RELEASED
QB GENO SMITH
HB ORLEANS DARKWA
HB SHANE VEREEN
FB SHANE SMITH
WR TAVARRES KING
LG JUSTIN PUGH
LG JOHN GRECO
LG DAMIEN MAMA
RG DJ FLUKER
RG JON HALIPO
LE KERRY WYNN
DT JAY BROMLEY
LOLB DEVON KENNARD
MLB MARK HERZLICH
ROLB KEENAN ROBINSON
ROLB AKEEM AYERS
ROLB JONATHAN CASILLAS
ROLB KELVIN SHEPPARD
ROLB CURTIS GRANT
CB ROSS COCKRELL
CB DARRYL MORRIS
CB BRANDON DIXON
SS NAT BERHE

TAGGED
C WESTON RICHBURG 1/7.8

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2018 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
ROUND ONE, PICK TWO

DAWSON VETLUNG
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
MIAMI
6'5" | 319 | 21

Many expected to see the Giants trade down and try to stockpile picks with their number two pick. They did not. Instead they chose Miami offensive tackle Dawson Vetlung. Three years from taking another Miami tackle, Ereck Flowers, in the first round the Giants took what a number of experts called not only the best offensive linesman in the draft but possibly one of the best in the past several years.

"Vetlung is a pure left tackle and probably one of the most talented ones to come out of college in the past five years. He's an immediate starter at left tackle for ninety percent of the teams in the league." Mel Kiper Jr. wrote about Vetlung last month.

Vetlung started 33 games in three years at Miami, including 26 at left tackle. He was All-ACC in 2016 and 2017 as well as an All-American last season. He won the Outland Trophy as well.

Vetlung should be a day one starter, most likely at left tackle as the team will be looking to upgrade from Flowers. Flowers could move to another position on the line or be cut loose.

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2018 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
ROUND TWO, PICK TWO

FISHER CLINTON
RUNNINGBACK
UCLA
6'1" | 214 | 22

After offensive line and linebacker the Giants biggest need was at runningback. After seeing two of the linebackers they had their eye on come off the board they went for best player available, or at least best player available at a position of need.

Fisher Clinton elected to stay at UCLA and play his senior season and it paid off. Clinton was third in the Pac 12 in yardage and second in rushing touchdowns. He jumped from a day three pick in 2017 to a fringe first rounder in 2018.

"We're very excited that he fell to us." Giants head coach and GM Dave Poree explained. "He's a well-rounded player who will fit nicely with what we're trying to do. He's a playmaker."

Clinton is a medium sized back who can run with some power but is more likely to make a defender miss than to plant him in the ground. He is far more elusive than Perkins or Gallman and could bring back the Giants big play potential in the running game.

"I'm very, very stoked to be a New York Giant." Clinton Tweeted after he was chosen. "Let's do this!"

Clinton will likely work in a rotation with Perkins and Gallman in the preseason. The Giants had been linked to a number of veteran free agent runners and may still bring one into the mix.

Clinton did not catch many passes at UCLA and may be a two down back in the NFL if he doesn't develop as a receiver.

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2018 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
ROUND THREE, PICK TWO

CORY BERNADEAU
SAFETY
FLORIDA
5'10" | 202 | 21

"We just didn't see the guy we wanted in that slot and we were very, very happy to see Cory sitting there." Dave Poree explained when pressed for information about the team not taking a linebacker at the top of the third round. "There was a little bit of a run there and we decided to go a different route."

What they did get is a ball hawk of a safety in Cory Bernadeau out of Florida.

Bernadeau totaled 12 interceptions in 21 starts at Florida. He is a coverage safety and should pair well with Landon Collins, the Giants superstar safety, who plays more like an additional linebacker.

Bernadeau has solid speed and strength and hits with some pop. He can close on the ball or ball carrier quickly. Florida played a lot of cover three with him in the middle and he excelled in that role. Man coverage is neither a strength or weakness for him.

Bernadeau will likely get every opportunity to unseat Darian Thompson as the starter opposite Collins due to what looks like a significant upgrade in coverage ability.

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2018 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
ROUND FOUR, PICK TWO

RICH ERICKSON
OFFENSIVE LINESMAN
SAN DIEGO STATE
6'6" | 324 | 23

After taking an offensive linesman with the second overall pick in the draft the Giants went pack to a big need in the fourth round when they selected Rich Erickson out of San Diego State,

Erickson played left tackle for the Aztecs last season but does not project there in the NFL due to heavy feet. He is an absolute monster in run blocking but struggles a bit with speed pass rushers.

Erickson could plug into the offensive line in a number of spots depending on the Giants future roster moves. He likely fits best at right tackle due to his size, although a number of other teams have used bigger linesmen inside lately.

With the Giants lack of talent at the position it is very likely that he will crack the starting lineup somewhere.

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2018 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
ROUND FIVE, PICK TWO

BLAIR HEKKER
WIDE RECEIVER
PITTSBURGH
5'11" | 184 | 21

Blair Hekker's list of positions played at Pitt is a long one. Originally recruited as a quarterback he also found himself playing as a runnningback, a slot receiver, a kick and punt returner and even spot duty at safety.

Hekker was a three star QB when he landed a Pitt and started five games there as a true freshman. A coaching and philosophy change before his sophomore season had the mobile Hekker looking for a position in the new pro-style offense.

"I didn't want to transfer, I could have for sure. I felt like that was bailing on my teammates. So I just told the coaches I'd do whatever."

During his sophomore season he contributed to the tune of 61 carries for 573 yards and six touchdowns, 49 receptions for 629 yards and three scores and three return touchdowns.

Last year he played almost exclusively as the team's slot receiver, tallying 86 catches for 1,263 yards and 11 scores.

"Still very raw. Not really sure of his position." Mel Kiper stated. "Maybe a slower Percy Harvin. Has the physical tools to develop into a solid slot receiver and contribute on special teams.

Hekker will compete with a number of young, fringe-of-the-roster receivers that the Giants brought in last year and could end up on the practice squad. The retirement of Brandon Marshall does open a spot at the position.

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2018 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
ROUND SIX, PICK TWO

BRADY ENDERLE
OFFENSIVE LINESMAN
VIRGINIA TECH
6'3" | 327 | 23

Enderle is one of the best run blocking interior linesmen in the draft and the Giants couldn't get the pick in fast enough when he dropped to them in the sixth round.

He helped the Hokies to the nation's third most productive running game. He has good strength although he did struggle slightly with defenders around 300 pounds and up. Enderle is powerful at the point of impact, rolling up pancake blocks on a number of players that were drafted before him last season.

Enderle could sneak into the starting lineup if he outplays John Jerry and Ethan Cooper.

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2018 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
ROUND SEVEN, PICK TWO

IBRAHEIM BENARD
LINEBACKER
OREGON
6'3" | 244 | 23

A number of scouts and other "experts" are calling this the steal of the draft, if he's fully recovered from a knee injury that limited him to just two games this season.

Benard elected to stay for his senior year instead of entering the 2017 draft, where he was projected as a second rounder.

"I had to come back." Benard explains. "Had to come back for my brothers. No regrets."

Benard led the nation in tackles in 2016 and won the Butkus Award as the best linebacker.

Benard played in Oregon's 3-3-5 defense but has the skills and size to plug in nicely as a 4-3 middle linebacker.

If he's 100% he should be a starter on day one or at the very least a rotational player who takes over as the full time starter by mid season.