New York Giants would be lucky to get Vernon Hargreaves III
By Ryan Disdier
When a team finishes dead-last in total defense like the New York Giants did in 2015, improvements need to be made. Taking Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III in the first round would be a smart move to improve the secondary.
In 2015, no team allowed more passing yards than the New York Giants. Opposing teams averaged 298.9 yards per game against Big Blue’s secondary, which was laughable by any standards.
The Giants made a smart move by signing cornerback Janoris Jenkins in the early stages of free agency. Regardless of whether you think the Giants overpaid or not, there’s no denying the team needed to improve the secondary.
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Still, the team needs to make solid improvements to the secondary. I don’t think the Giants are going to make any additions to the safety position, as they seem to believe they have their starting free safety already on the roster.
However, the cornerback position is painfully thin for the G-Men. The starting duo will be made up of the aforementioned Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who recently turned 30 years old.
The last time the Giants took a cornerback in the first round was when the team selected Prince Amukamara back in 2011. Luckily for the Giants, they’re in a better spot this year, and this class’ top corners have a real chance to become better than Amukamara ever was.
Drafting a cornerback would be a wise move for the Giants, and they’ll likely have a shot to nab either Mackensie Alexander or Vernon Hargreaves III. Personally, I think Hargreaves and Alexander are interchangeable, as the corners very comparable. Although I’ve made it known that I’m an Alexander guy, I still think Hargreaves has the talent to become an elite corner. Furthermore, I think Hargreaves, despite perhaps having a lower ceiling than Alexander, is the much safer option.
Recently, ESPN’s Dan Graziano published a piece outlining why Hargreaves would be a good fit for the Giants. He’s not wrong, as Hargreaves would come in and fill an immediate need for the Giants.
The team would be lucky to get Hargreaves, but having him fall is much, much more likely than Joey Bosa, Myles Jack or Jalen Ramsey sliding.
When I watch Hargreaves on film, I see an incredibly gifted athlete who has a nose for the football. He plays with great technique, and he would be able to function playing either man or zone. Hargreaves has great instincts and hand placement when breaking up passes, too.
He’s a good tackler, too, which is always a positive trait for a cornerback to have, as it’s mostly just effort and intensity. Another big plus about Hargreaves – unlike another potential Giants draft target Leonard Floyd – is his age. He doesn’t turn 21 until the summer.
Something I really like about the aforementioned Alexander is how he celebrates after every big play. Hargreaves plays with swagger, but he isn’t as in-your-face about it, which is probably a good thing in the eyes of the Giants. He’s has quiet confidence the same way guys like Darrelle Revis have.
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He’s a bit undersized at 5’10”, but San Diego’s Jason Verrett has proved you don’t need to be 6’1″ to be an elite cover cornerback in the league.
I’ve suggested the Giants could draft a corner, which was surprisingly met with people enraged. Remember, the Giants have no real option at the third-corner position, and in today’s NFL, a slot corner is a starter, just like a No. 3 receiver is a starter.
Hargreaves could come in from day one and be the slot corner the Giants desperately need. And with DRC not getting any younger, VH3 would offer the Giants a long-term solution at the cornerback position.
So the question is less “Would the Giants take Hargreaves?” and more “Will Hargreaves be available?” Well, It’s tough to tell. Baltimore, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay are probably the biggest threats to nab Hargreaves, but at the same time, I wouldn’t be shocked to see those teams go in different directions.
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If Hargreaves is on the board at No. 10, I think the Giants would have no choice but to seriously consider him. And yes, I’m admitting that fact remains true even if my guy Zeke Elliott is still on the board. Hargreaves, although flying a bit under the radar right now, could prove to be a steal in coming years.
Things would obviously have to bounce New York’s way for them to be in a position to nab VH3, but if they are, don’t be shocked to see him join a secondary already boasting playmakers.