Palladino: Giants Could Think 'Safety First' In Draft, Target Landon Collins

By Ernie Palladino
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The last time the Giants drafted a first-round safety anywhere close to the ninth overall pick they own going into Thursday night's first round came in 1983.

Clemson's Terry Kinard worked out pretty well for them as the 10th player drafted that year. He led the team in interceptions in '86, '87 and '89, and earned himself a Super Bowl ring in '86.

The Giants then waited until 1998 to grab UCLA all-around threat Shaun Williams with the 24th pick, and then held off another decade before Kenny Phillips came along at No. 31 in 2008.

The age-old, yearly question facing general manager Jerry Reese Thursday night is whether he should go for the best available athlete -- a philosophy he generally espouses -- or fill a need. It's the same choice every GM in the league grapples with. But not every team in the league has a gaping hole in the middle of its secondary.

The free-agent loss of Antrel Rolle and the likelihood that Stevie Brown and Quintin Demps will find employment elsewhere has left just two inexperienced players at safety in Nat Berhe and Cooper Taylor, and a middling free-agent pickup in Josh Gordy. The Giants could convert two cornerbacks, like Bennett Jackson or Chykie Brown, to fill in there. But ultimately, there is nothing like having a purity at any position.

That's why everyone should keep an eye on Landon Collins, Alabama's fast, physical strong safety. He's the best middle guy in the draft, and should be there when the Giants go on the clock.

Keep in mind that most of the betting media has Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff filling yet another of the Giants' need areas. And, in truth, No. 9 is a bit high to pick a safety. Even Calvin Pryor, rated last year as a Top-15 talent, waited until the 18th pick before the Jets called his name.

The Giants might well surprise everybody, though, and look away from the brawny linemen like Scherff and Miami's Ereck Flowers. Reese might even ignore his sweet tooth for the flashy wide receiver -- the same one that lured him to Odell Beckham, Jr. last year -- and pass over Alabama's Amari Cooper if he's still on the board. And he's more than certain to shut out the hysterical voices who shout for making a play for Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota to counteract Eli Manning's advancing age.

He could do all that to either stay put or move down to draft Collins, who has drawn more comparisons with the late, great Sean Taylor than the No. 26 Collins wears in tribute to his fallen boyhood idol.

If No. 9 is too early for Collins, the Giants could easily trade back to 12 or 14 to grab him. But Reese isn't tied to convention, either. A special talent like him could warrant the dough he'll get as a ninth pick.

He's said to have a great football IQ, having called the signals for the Tide's defense. He hits, tackles and covers well enough that he could play either safety spot. And he's never had a real health or discipline issue.

Collins could well become the Giants' Kam Chancellor in a short time, a safety with the body of a small linebacker who can help lower that ugly 4.9-yard opponent rushing average. At the very least, he's a starter from the first game.

It is worth thinking about. While the Jets make their play for Mariota to escape the morass of a Geno Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick combination, Reese faces a more uncertain path.

It could lead him to a position few believe he'll approach in the first round -- safety.

If Reese takes that gamble on Collins, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo might thank him in due time.

It's worth a thought.