The New York Giants made six picks in this year's draft. They came away with a tackle, two safeties, a defensive end, a wide receiver and a guard. That means that certain positions on their depth chart -- quarterback, running back, linebacker, tight end -- remain untouched from a depth-chart perspective. But let's take a look at the positions that could be affected by what the Giants did this weekend. The (*) denotes a 2015 draft pick.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Projected starters: LT Will Beatty, LG Justin Pugh, C Weston Richburg, RG Geoff Schwartz, RT Ereck Flowers*
Reserves: OT Marshall Newhouse, G John Jerry, C Brett Jones, G/C Dallas Reynolds, G Adam Gettis, G Bobby Hart*, G Brandon Mosley, G Eric Herman
I don't know for sure which guard spots Pugh and Schwartz will occupy in camp, and this obviously assumes that the rookie first-round pick, Flowers, is ready to start right away (which obviously can't be assumed, since he's a rookie). It also assumes a return to full health by Schwartz, a smooth transition for Richburg from guard back to his college position of center and a smooth transition by Pugh from right tackle to guard. A lot of assumptions, but the overall talent level on the line looks the best it has in years.
SAFETY
Projected starters: SS Landon Collins*, FS Mykkele Thompson*?
Reserves: Nat Berhe, Cooper Taylor, Josh Gordy, Chykie Brown, Bennett Jackson
Obviously, the Giants moved up in the second round to take Collins figuring he'd help right away. And they admit his more natural position is down in the box. That leaves free safety a question mark, as Berhe seems better suited in the box as well. Thompson was their weird reach pick in the fifth round, so projecting him as a starter is difficult. But they sure made it sound on Saturday night as though they viewed him as a complement to Collins and someone who could play the free safety spot. None of the other candidates on their roster looks like a sure thing to nail down the job. Expect a training-camp battle for that one.
CORNERBACK
Projected starters: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Prince Amukamara
Nickel candidates: Trumaine McBride, Mykkele Thompson*, Jayron Hosley
Reserves: Mike Harris, Chandler Fenner, Chykie Brown, Bennett Jackson
We looked here just to highlight that nickel spot, where McBride is likely to get the first crack assuming a return to health, but where Thompson also has some experience and could make an impact if he looks good in camp. That's an important spot these days in the NFL -- basically a starting position considering how often teams are in nickel defenses -- and the Giants want to make sure they have people who can play it.
DEFENSIVE END
Projected starters: Jason Pierre-Paul, Damontre Moore
Reserves: Robert Ayers, George Selvie, Oawamagbe Odighizuwa*, Kerry Wynn, Jordan Stanton
The coaching staff hopes that Moore (who's still five months younger than this year's third-round pick, Odighizuwa!) can finally show the maturity, consistency and understanding of his responsibility that he's been unable to show in practice or games his first two seasons. They'd love for him to emerge as a starter and rush the passer from the left defensive end spot. But they also want the player who plays that position to be able to play the run. Odighizuwa could muscle his way into the rotation as a guy who's strong against the run (he has a bigger frame than Moore does) and who can move inside on passing downs when they load up on pass rushers.
WIDE RECEIVER
Projected starters: Odell Beckham Jr., Rueben Randle, Victor Cruz (slot)
Reserves: Dwayne Harris, Kevin Ogletree, Preston Parker, Corey Washington, Marcus Harris, Geremy Davis*, Julian Talley
Obviously, not everyone makes the team here. The three starters (assuming a return to health by Cruz), along with Dwayne Harris, are sure things. And you have to think the sixth-round pick, Davis, makes the team as well. That's five right there, and it'll be interesting to see who emerges from camp with a spot on the roster out of this group.