The New York Giants gave up the most yards in the NFL last season and have already made some significant changes including hiring offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo as their next head coach. Giants' general manager Jerry Reese will likely feel the pressure with former head coach Tom Coughlin gone and will have to make some strong acquisitions both through free agency and in the 2016 NFL Draft.
The Giants should look to fill the defensive side of the ball in the draft and need to take a player that can have an instant impact on their defense next season. New York has holes at every level of its defense, but is in need of instant impact on both its defensive line and at the linebacker position.
One player Giants fans should keep an eye on is Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee. The Buckeyes linebacker put up some of the best numbers for a linebacker at the NFL Combine this past weekend and recorded the fastest 40-yeard dash time for a linebacker since 2007. Lee put up strong numbers in almost every category at the combine, but it isn't too much of a surprise as he was a consistent playmaker for Ohio State the past two seasons.
He started all 15 games on the Buckeyes' National Championship team during the 2014 season and may be a bit small for the linebacker position in the NFL at 6-foot-1, 232-pounds, but he makes up for it with his speed and football intelligence. Lee will need to put on weight when he gets in the league, but his ability to cover the pass as well as pressure the quarterback on blitzes makes him a unique prospect.
The Giants are clearly in need of pass rushers, and if either Ohio State's Joey Bosa or Oregon's DeForest Buckner are on the board then they should go in that direction. The chances of Bosa or Buckner being on the board with the 10th pick is minimal, which is why Lee could make the most sense for the Giants in the draft.
There are multiple defensive linemen that could be productive for the Giants in 2016, but Lee's versatility is something New York's front office shouldn't pass on, unless there is almost a guaranteed effective pass rusher like Bosa or Buckner. The Buckeyes linebacker is considered a top-15 prospect in the upcoming draft class and recorded 66 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks and an interception last season.
The Giants have multiple holes to fill this offseason, but a talent of Lee's caliber could bring a versatile defender to their team in 2016 that could help in both coverage and in creating pressure.
