New York Giants: Best option with the 9th pick?

The New York Giants rarely pick top ten, so who’s the target with the 9th pick in the NFL Draft? They scored huge last season with OBJ; can they have a repeat success story? Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL TD Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate the NFL and sports.

DAN: With the ninth pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select… ?

The New York Giants select ninth. Wow. I can’t remember the last time the Gmen picked inside the top ten, so I looked it up. Way back in 2004 New York selected Philip Rivers fourth and famously traded him for their franchise quarterback, Mr. Eli Manning.

Last year the Giants grabbed a franchise receiver with the twelfth pick, Odell Beckham. Let’s just say they’ve done an excellent job picking in the first round over the years. So where does that leave them now?

New York needs help on defense and in the offensive run game. How do they best spend their high profile pick? Do they solidify a weakened line to protect their brittle quarterback, or aim for improving a defensive unit that struggled in a brutal NFC East?

A) Trae Waynes, CB
B) Brandan Scherff, OG/OT
C) Andrus Peat, OT

Trae Waynes is a great pick to improve one of the worst defenses in the league last season. Yet New York struggled more stopping the run than the pass, so perhaps this is too high to pick a cornerback.

Going with an offensive lineman helps the entire offense, but I’m hard pressed to pick between these stand out players.

Which player is the pick for New York? Or do you prefer a wildcard choice I neglected?

Dec 28, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive end

Jason Pierre-Paul

(90) reacts against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

TODD:

OBJ was a tremendous pick for the Giants last year. However, the organization has been very poor in its draft execution recently, especially when scouring for depth in the later rounds. This first-round pick will be important but not as important as finding multiple contributors throughout the seven rounds.

That said, having a top 10 pick is always exciting!

Trae Waynes would be a sneaky good pick here as the top defensive back in the draft, but I don’t think New York can make it. The Giants are okay at corner, especially with their starters. They really need safety help badly, but neither position is ready to be addressed at number nine overall. Therefore, the correct target is an offensive lineman. This is assuming one of the elite pass rushers doesn’t fall to them at nine. If that happens, the G-men should pounce.

As for which o-lineman New York should take, that’s where things get tricky.

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It needs run-blocking help, but really the team simply needs good linemen who can contribute no matter what offensive play is called. Will Beatty may not be the answer at left tackle. Justin Pugh may need to be moved in to guard, meaning he’s not the long-term play at right tackle. This is why it’s hard to nail down a correct target. The team hardly knows what it has already on roster.

Andrus Peat may be the better NFL tackle prospect. Brandon Scherff may be the better NFL lineman. For me, I’d rather they take the guy who seems to be a surer thing according to scouts, and that is Scherff. He seems assured of at least finding a spot along the line where he will start for years to come. There is less flame-out potential, and the Giants need quality bodies.

If Peat turns into a franchise left tackle, NY will be hypothetically kicking itself. That’s what the draft is all about. My feeling is that a left tackle’s value is a bit overstated in the league today compared with other line positions, especially if a team is lacking on the other four guys across the front. And picking Scherff doesn’t rule out the possibility that he could still be a future left tackle. That option isn’t off the table just because the Giants select the player with more versatility.

Next: NY Giants 7 round mock draft

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