Watch CBS News

Jerry Reese On WFAN: Draft Went A Long Way Toward Getting Giants Back On Track

NEW YORK (WFAN) -- The Giants figure to be bigger up front and more dynamic on defense when the regular season starts in September.

That's what general manager Jerry Reese told WFAN's Mike Francesa on Monday, a day removed from the conclusion of what the veteran executive called a very good draft for Big Blue.

"We just want to get back on track, that's the big picture for us," Reese said, referring to the Giants having missed the playoffs three straight seasons. "We want to start playing Giants football, try to win our division, get back in the tournament and win Super Bowls. That's always our big picture, and we think we have had a good offseason, free agency and the draft. We think we can get back on track."

Jerry Reese

Reese said his goal heading into the draft was to improve an offensive line that had struggled with its consistency and beef up a defense that lacked playmakers. He told Francesa the additions of offensive tackle Ereck Flowers, safety Landon Collins and defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa in the first three rounds should help the Giants for years to come.

Reese said Flowers, a 6-foor-6, 330-pounder out of Miami who the Giants took at No. 9, should challenge for a starting spot right away.

"He was the highest player on our board," Reese said.

Collins was identified as a must-have and so Reese said he did what was necessary to trade up to the top of the second round to get the former star at Alabama.

"We needed to build our safety position back up and he was standing out there. So we some calls that night and then made some calls the next morning and then made calls throughout the day and were able to get the deal done," Reese said, adding when asked why Collins fits the Giants, "First of all he has winning in his pedigree, from playing on national championships there at Alabama. He plays a high level of competition and he brings a lot of versatility to us. They use him in a lot of different ways there at Alabama, and we like safeties that can do that."

Odighizuwa, a 6-3, 270-pound defensive end from UCLA, has a skill set Reese said he couldn't ignore.

"He's a big, powerful kid, long arms, plays extremely hard, plays the run probably better than he plays the pass right now," Reese said. "He has all the tools, all the gymnastic numbers and speed that you like for that position. So we think there is huge upside with him, coming in here and we think he will fill a need for us as well."

The Giants doubled up at some of the aforementioned positions, grabbing Texas safety Mykkele Thompson in the fifth round and Florida State offensive lineman Bobby Hart in the seventh. They also got some depth at wide receiver, grabbing Connecticut's Geremy Davis in the sixth round.

"Davis is a David Tyree, Jason Avant kind of guy, can be your fourth or fifth receiver and play special teams," Reese said.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.