There was a time when an NFL team hoped it could get all of its draft picks signed and secured before training camp, but often that was not possible. Times have certainly changed. The Giants completed their 2014 draft class signings Monday before the start of Tuesday’s mandatory three-day mini-camp.
The last to sign was defensive tackle Jay Bromley, the third-round pick from Syracuse who grew up in Jamaica, Queens, and is expected to add depth to the interior of the defensive line. He was the seventh and final member of this year’s drat class to agree to his rookie contract.
In need of depth at linebacker with the injury to Jon Beason, the Giants also added a new player, signing linebacker Terrell Manning, who is entering his third NFL season. Manning, a 2012 fifth-round pick of the Packers out of North Carolina State, has played in six games in his NFL career – five with the Packers in 2012 and one with the Chargers last season.
Beason is expected to miss at least 12 weeks after suffering a right foot injury last week during an organized team activity practice. He is expected to undergo surgery, and the hope is he can make it back for the Sept. 8 regular-season opener in Detroit, but that is a fairly optimistic timeframe for his return.
Without Beason as the starting middle linebacker, the Giants will look for help from a group that includes rookie fifth-round pick Devon Kennard, fourth-year pro Mark Herzlich and veteran free agent addition Jameel McClain, who was slotted into a starting outside linebacker spot before Beason’s injury.