The last time the Giants drafted higher than they will tonight was in 2004 and they earned that No. 4 overall pick the hard way. They bottomed out to a 4-12, last-place finish, fired their head coach, jettisoned their veteran quarterback and entered the throes of a rebuilding mode.
Things are not nearly that grim, but there certainly was plenty of darkness following an 8-8 season that wasted a 5-0 start and closed with three losses in the last four games, losses in which the Giants allowed 130 points and shamed the franchise. It produced the 15th overall pick as the NFL Draft commences its three-day event.
“Obviously we don’t like that,” general manager Jerry Reese said. “If you are picking in the first half, you didn’t play that well. So in that respect we don’t like it, but we do feel like we are going to be able to pick a good player there at 15.”
CHAT REWIND WITH PAUL SCHWARTZ
Though midway through the first round is not a bad place to select, it appears as if many of the top players on the Giants’ wish list come with the disclaimer “not expected to fall to 15.”
That certainly is the case with Alabama’s Rolando McClain, rated as the best inside linebacker in the draft. If he gets through the first 14 picks, consider it a major upset. The Giants would no doubt say a prayer of thanks and take him.
If not, they may be tempted to trade up a few spots — perhaps parting with a third-round pick — to get McClain. Sean Weatherspoon of Missouri should be there, though, and if he is, it will undoubtedly spark a “need vs. value” debate in the Giants’ draft room.
It’s plausible if the Giants don’t get a linebacker in the first round they will pounce on one hard in the second, although they might have to move up a few spots to nab Sean Lee of Penn State. Other than that glaring need, there really are options galore.
If they go offensive line, it could be stud guard Mike Iupati of Idaho or tackle Anthony Davis of Rutgers, as Trent Williams from Oklahoma won’t be there. If running back C.J. Spiller drops down, the Giants gladly will pick him up.
They have Barry Cofield, Chris Canty and returning-from-injury Jay Alford at defensive tackle, but didn’t re-sign Fred Robbins. That could certainly be a position of interest and if Tennessee’s Dan Williams is still on the board — not very likely — he would make sense.
Some team in the first round is going to take a chance on Jason Pierre-Paul, even though the pass-rush specialist had just 6 1/2 sacks in his one season at South Florida. If the Giants are that team, let the Osi Umenyiora trade rumors fly.
Cornerback Joe Haden (Florida) represents excellent value at No. 15 and if not him, corner Devin McCourty of Rutgers in Round 2 would make an immediate impact on special teams, ala David Tyree, and quickly become a Tom Coughlin favorite.
With no salary cap in place for the 2010 season and more than 200 players stripped of their expected unrestricted free agent status, player movement is decidedly down this offseason.
Reese said it “could be a possibility” that after the draft teams will assess what they did and did not get and more trades than usual will come down.
“I think people are going to look at this draft and see what they can get out of the draft,” Reese said. “You might see some more movement after the draft.”
For the first time, the NFL has stretched the draft out to three days, with the first round tonight, Rounds 2 and 3 tomorrow night and Rounds 4-7 starting Saturday morning.
“It just gives us more time to overanalyze what we have already overanalyzed,” Reese said.
paul.schwartz@nypost.com