New York Giants: Top free agency, NFL draft needs for 2017

As they wade through free agency and prepare to evaluate draft prospects at the Indianapolis Scouting Combine (March 1-6), the N.Y. Giants must decide which players to keep and seek to improve their 11-5 record from last season.

The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com evaluated the Giants' roster and created a shopping list to use in free agency and reference during the Combine.

The defense showed considerable improvement as the 2016 season progressed, thanks to several significant free agent additions last year, but defensive linemen Jason Pierre-Paul and Johnathan Hankins will be free agents this year.

Still, the attention will go to the offense, especially on the offensive line as well as wide receiver and perhaps running back following the release of Rashad Jennings.

THE BREAKDOWN

2016 finish: 2nd in NFC East (11-5)

2016 STATISTICS

TOTAL OFFENSE: 330.7 (25th)

RUSHING: 88.3 (29th)

PASSING: 242.4 (17th)

TOTAL DEFENSE: 339.7 (10th)

RUSHING: 88.6 (T3rd)

PASSING: 251.1 (23rd)

NEEDS, SHOPPING LIST

&=Released

TOP THREE NEEDS

OFFENSIVE LINE-TACKLES

Quarterback Eli Manning can't continue getting knocked around as he was in 2016. Some competition at tackle is essential, especially for the up-and-down Ereck Flowers.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati (36 in December, $9M)

Russell Okung, Denver (option not expected to be exercised; 29 in October, $10.6M)

Rick Wagner, Baltimore (28 in October, $576K)

Luke Joeckel, Jacksonville (G; 26 in November, $5.3M))

Matt Kalil, Minnesota (injury; 28 in July, $4.94M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., Proj. Rd.)

1/14 Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin, 6-5, 314, 5.29, 1 (underclassman)

2/25 Cam Robinson, Alabama, 6-6, 310, 5.28, 1 (underclassman)

3/38 Garett Bolles, Utah, 6-5, 296, 4.97, 1-2 (underclassman)

4/53 Taylor Moton, Western Michigan, 6-5, 330, 5.31, 2

5/59 Roderick Johnson, Florida State, 6-6, 308, 5.34, 2 (underclassman)

TIGHT END

Head coach Ben McAdoo's offense will never be a top unit until they get a threat at this position that can split the seam.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

Martellus Bennett, New England (30 in March, $5.1M)

Jared Cook, Green Bay (30 in April, $2.75M)

Jordan Cameron, Miami (29 in August, $7.5M)

Vernon Davis, Washington (33, $2.4M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., Proj. Rd.)

1/11 O.J. Howard, Alabama, 6-6, 249, 4.57, 1

2/30 David Njoku, Miami (FL), 6-4, 240, 4.53, 1-2 (underclassman)

3/45 Evan Engram, Mississippi, 6-3, 236, 4.64, 2

4/72 Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech, 6-6, 245, 4.78, 2-3 (underclassman)

5/75 Gerald Everett, South Alabama, 6-3, 227, 4.68, 2-3

WIDE RECEIVER

The Giants could use a big, physical receiver on the outside to help lessen the burden on Odell Beckham Jr. and to improve downfield blocking.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

DeSean Jackson, Washington (31 in December, $6M)

Alshon Jeffery, Chicago (27, $14.6M)

Pierre Garcon, Washington (31 in August, $8.5M)

Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland (28 in June, $1.67M)

Anquan Boldin, Detroit (37 in October, $2.75M)

Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota (26 in March, $1.8M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht, Wt., Proj. Rd.)

1/8 Mike Williams, Clemson, 6-3, 225, 1 (underclassman)

2/16 Corey Davis, Western Michigan, 6-3, 213, 1

3/19 John Ross, Washington, 5-11, 190, 1 (underclassman)

4/37 Curtis Samuel, Ohio State, 5-11, 200, 1-2 (underclassman)

5/42 Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma, 5-11, 175, 2

UFA KEEPERS

DE Jason Pierre-Paul (28, $10M)

DT Johnathan Hankins (25 in March, $1M)

LB Kelvin Sheppard (29, $840K)

ROSTER REVIEW

DEPTH CHART

Starters and backups are listed according to their status at the end of the season, but players who were starters before being injured are included.

* Indicates player who ended 2016 season on reserve.

& Indicates player released since the Super Bowl.

QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Eli Manning. Backups -- Josh Johnson (UFA), *Ryan Nassib (UFA).

RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- &Rashad Jennings. Backups -- Paul Perkins, *Shane Vereen, Bobby Rainey (UFA), *Orleans Darkwa, *FB Nikita Whitlock.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Will Tye. Backups -- Jerell Adams, Larry Donnell (UFA), *Will Johnson, *Matt LaCosse.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard. Backups -- &Victor Cruz, Dwayne Harris, Roger Lewis Jr., Tavarres King, *Ben Edwards.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Ereck Flowers, LG Justin Pugh, C Weston Richburg, RG John Jerry (UFA), RT Bobby Hart. Backups -- G/T Marshall Newhouse (UFA), G/C Brett Jones, T Will Beatty (UFA).

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- DLE Jason Pierre-Paul (UFA), DLT Johnathan Hankins (UFA), NT Damon Harrison, DRE Olivier Vernon. Backups -- DE Owa Odighizuwa, DE Kerry Wynn, DE Romeo Okwara, DE Ishaq Williams, DT Jay Bromley, DT Robert Thomas.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- WLB Jonathan Casillas, MLB Kelvin Sheppard (UFA), SLB Devon Kennard. Backups -- *WLB J.T. Thomas III, SLB Mark Herzlich (UFA), MLB B.J. Goodson, MLB Keenan Robinson (UFA), LB Deontae Skinner, *LB Uani 'Unga.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Janoris Jenkins, RCB Eli Apple, SS Landon Collins, *FS Darian Thompson. Backups -- CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB Coty Sensabaugh (UFA), CB Trevin Wade (UFA), CB/S Leon Hall (UFA), S Andrew Adams, S Eric Pinkins, S Nat Berhe, *S Mykkele Thompson.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Robbie Gould (UFA), P Brad Wing, KOR/PR Dwayne Harris, LS Zak DeOssie (UFA).