Giant Football Blog

Hakeem Nicks signs 5yr deal with Giants

The Giants finished signing their rookie class on Saturday morning when then inked wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, their first-round pick, to a five-year contract, according to someone informed of the progress of negotiations. The person, who requested anonymity because financial terms were not to be discussed, said the total value of the contract is $12.5 million.

Nicks' signing means all nine of the Giants rookies will be in camp when the team reports to Albany on Sunday. It was especially important for Nicks to be signed on time because he has an opportunity to contribute immediately and will need every rep in camp to get acclimated with the offense. Continue

Giants sign 2nd round picks

Three more days before the Giants report to training camp. And only one rookie left unsigned.

The team announced Thursday afternoon it has signed both of its second-round picks: LB Clint Sintim and OT William Beatty. Of the nine rookies, only wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (first round) has yet to sign.

Terms of the contracts for Sintim and Beatty were not immediately available. Based on the contracts of the players signed around them, Sintim (45th overall) could be in line for a signing bonus of more than $1.6 million on a four-year deal, while the signing bonus for Beatty (60th overall) on a four-year deal would likely fall between $950,000 and $1 million.

Wide receiver Micah Rucker and linebacker Kelvin Smith were waived to make room for Beatty and Sintim on the roster. (Star-Ledger)

Giants signed TE Beckum

The Giants announced Monday they signed tight end Travis Beckum, one of their two third-round picks. Terms of the deal were not immediately available.

The team waived defensive end Alex Field to make space on the roster. Beckum, who ranks third in Wisconsin history with 159 career catches, is the fifth draft pick to sign, joining WR Ramses Barden, QB Rhett Bomar and CBs DeAndre Wright and Stoney Woodson.

Rookie LB Sintin receives high marks

It's still a long way to Opening Day, but the Giants are optimistic that rookie linebacker Clint Sintim is the real deal.

Hard to tell from just a rookie minicamp, but Sintim, a second-round pick (45th overall) from Virginia, really does have the natural movement you want from a young linebacker. He's very good in pass coverage, tenacious against the run, and he can rush the passer when asked, although that won't be his primary role. At least not right away.

"He is a massive, strong guy, so we are seeing that," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said of the 6-2, 256-pound Sintim. "Plus, he has been in these coverage drills and has done OK in those."

The Giants envision Sintim as a strong-side outside linebacker, which means playing over the tight end and getting involved heavily with run-stopping responsibilities. There's potential to move to the weak side, where he'd have pass-rush responsibilities, but not just yet. Continue

Giants bolster depth on O line with OT Beatty

The usual plan for a second-round draft pick is to immediately or at least eventually earn some quality playing time as a rookie. That plan, though, does not apply to William Beatty, a player the Giants hope isn't needed any time soon.

As an offensive tackle, Beatty arrives from UConn with a long-term forecast in mind. The Giants have a veteran but hardly aged line, an established group considered one of the best in the NFL. Their two tackles, David Diehl on the left side and Kareem McKenzie on the right, are not spectacular but incredibly sturdy and dependable. Continue

Giants need return on draft investment

Maybe it was just a way of lowering expectations, or maybe it was just a reality check, but back in mid-April Giants GM Jerry Reese didn't sound optimistic that any player he found in the NFL draft this year would dramatically change the fortunes of his team.

"I don't think rookies come in and play in this league right away much," Reese said in his pre-draft press conference. "It's rare that rookies come in and impact at any position."

Of course, all the Giants have to do is look back to their 2007 draft class - when six of the eight players they drafted made significant contributions to the team's Super Bowl run - to know rookies can have an impact when the situation is right. So it won't all be about the distant future today when the Giants send their newest additions out onto the field for the start of a two-day rookie minicamp at Giants Stadium. Continue

WR Nicks ready for NFL

NFL scouts loved visiting Chapel Hill this winter. Not only because North Carolina had three draft-worthy receivers for them to consider, but because there was little guesswork when it came to watching video of them.

"When scouts come through here, the feedback we always get is that they are thankful to come in and watch an offense that looks like an NFL offense," said Tar Heels coach Butch Davis, a former NFL coach who employs a pro-style offense in college. "They saw Hakeem (Nicks) run every single route that any NFL coordinator could ask him to run. Continue

Giants trade up to get big receiver

The Giants traded up with the Eagles to the 21st pick in the third round (No. 85 overall) to add another wide receiver - and this one has the size they had in Plaxico Burress.

The team selected Cal Poly's Ramses Barden, who - at 6-6, 229 pounds - has Burress' size, but not quite as much speed or natural ability. But Barden's been on the Giants' radar for a while and rumor has it that the team's wide-receivers coach Mike Sullivan liked Barden very much.

"I'd like to think so," Barden said when asked if he and Sullivan really hit it off. "We got a chance to sit down a couple of times - most recently last week in New York. I really enjoyed his company, I liked him approach to the game. Really intelligent person, seemed like he was dedicated to bringing in young guys and making them better. I really liked that a lot.

Giants take Hakeem Nicks with 1st round pick (#29)

Hakeem had a huge bowl game this year, considered to have great hands and good YAC numbers. He is not a speed burner.

Giants looking at Heyward-Bey

Just because the Giants don't expect to make a trade for Braylon Edwards on Saturday doesn't mean they won't make a deal for a receiver. That's still their intention on Day 1 of the NFL draft.

And their target appears to be Maryland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.

According to two sources familiar with the team's plans, the Giants are looking to trade up in the first round with the hopes of getting into position to draft Heyward-Bey. The 6-2, 210-pounder is one of the fastest receivers in the draft - he once ran a 4.23 in the 40-yard dash - and the Giants view him as the big-play, deep threat they so desperately need now that Plaxico Burress has been released. Continue