Giants find blocker for Barkley, draft guard Will Hernandez
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - The New York Giants didn't wait long to find a blocker to help No. 2 overall draft pick Saquon Barkley.
The Giants grabbed mammoth guard Will Hernandez of UTEP with the second pick of the second round on Friday night, a 345-pounder who moved into the Miners' starting lineup as a redshirt freshman and started all 49 games at left guard.
The Giants considered Hernandez a first-round choice, general manager Dave Gettleman said.
"He played for an 0-13 team last year and if you look at him in Game 13, the kid has heart because he played as hard in that game as he played on Game 1," Gettleman said. "I love the heart part. This guy has a lot of talent, very athletic for his size. He can run. He played very smart."
Coach Pat Shurmur said that Hernandez will give the Giants strength in the middle and he is good in both the run and pass games.
"This is a guy who has a really good chance to play very early in his career," Shurmur said, adding he will be tested at both left and right guard.
Hernandez also has a mean streak the Giants like. Gettleman described him as "cranky."
Hernandez believes he can step in and play right away. He laughed when asked about his on-field demeanor.
"On the field I am a completely different person than I am off the field," Hernandez said. "I take football very serious. It's more than a game to me. It's who I am. So whenever I get on that field I take it with all seriousness."
The Giants offensive line struggled last season with injuries and poor play. The team ranked No. 26 in the league in rushing, averaging 96.8 yards and finishing 31st in points scored.
New York lost center Weston Richburg and left guard Justin Pugh to free agency. Gettleman signed New England Patriots left tackle Nate Solder and guard Patrick Omameh as free agents and planned to move 2015 first-round pick Ereck Flowers from left tackle to right tackle.
Flowers, however, is not taking part in the organized team activities and the recent minicamp, both voluntary events.
Brett Jones played well at center after Richburg was sidelined by a concussion. The guard positions are wide open with John Jerry, Jon Halapio and John Greco all returning and Hernandez and Omameh now in the mix.
New York has two picks in the third round, the second and fifth overall. The latter came from Tampa Bay in the deal that sent Jason Pierre-Paul to the Buccaneers.
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