Giants head into draft with renewed confidence in Jerry Reese
By Afsan Rahman
New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese went from being on the hot seat, to one of the more cozy situations in the NFL.
At the end of the 2015 NFL season, changes were coming to the New York Giants. The team had went 6-10 for the second straight season, and missed the playoffs each of the previous four years. The Tom Coughlin era in New York was ending. Sometimes, even legends have to go.
While Coughlin resigned as expected, most thought general manager Jerry Reese, who had whiffed on ample draft picks, would follow him out the door. Instead, ownership gave Reese one more shot, and he made the best of it.
At the start of the 2016 offseason, Reese began spending lavishly. After watching the defense rank 30th in yards allowed in 2015, Reese signed defensive end Oliver Vernon (five years, $85 million), nose tackle Damon Harrison (five years, $46.5 million) and cornerback Janoris Jenkins (five years, $62.5 million). In addition, Reese retained Jason Pierre Paul on a one-year, $10 million “prove it” deal. In those four players, the Giants invested $200 million, hoping to turn fortunes.
Usually when teams build through free agency instead of the draft, it doesn’t work out. Instead, Reese’s spending spree payed off better than anyone imagined. Nobody expected this dramatic turn around. The Giants defense was arguably the best in the NFL in 2016. They were ranked second in scoring defense, second in interceptions and tied for first in defensive touchdowns.
The three acquired big-name players were all either first or second-team All-Pro selections. Yet the biggest factor in this turnaround was second-year safety Landon Collins out of Alabama. The Giants traded up to the top of the second round to draft Collins in 2015, and after a middling rookie season, Collins became a superstar. He led all safeties in tackles (125), interceptions (5), and sacks (4). He was selected to the Pro Bowl, was first-team All-Pro, and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Khalil Mack and Von Miller.
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After losing in the NFC Wild Card round to the Green Bay Packers, there are a legion of high expectations going into the upcoming season. With one year of chemistry under their belt, the Giants’ defense looks to take another step in the right direction in 2017.
With 10 starters returning from this unit — the lone departure being defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins — there should be an increased level of cohesiveness. With Pierre-Paul signed to a long-term deal, the pieces are in place.
With all the defensive talent and the signing of receiver Brandon Marshall to help out Eli Manning, the Giants have their fifth Lombardi Trophy in sight.