For a reminder of how important the Senior Bowl is to the Giants' draft process, just look back at last year. At Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman was sold on Duke's Daniel Jones. Now, after his promising rookie season, he's the Giants' quarterback of the future.
With the start of practices Tuesday, the Giants are on the ground in Mobile, including Gettleman and new head coach Joe Judge, looking for any possible gems going into the 2020 NFL draft. Ahead of Saturday's 2:30 p.m. kickoff, here are five primary players at each position that the Giants could keep an eye on.
Also of note: Arizona State's Brandon Aiyuk was among the five players to pull out of the Senior Bowl after Tuesday morning's physical examinations. Auburn offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho and Alabama defensive tackle Raekwon Davis were two others to withdraw. LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton left Monday and Washington offensive tackle Trey Adams did not come because of a hamstring injury.
Edge Rusher: Terrell Lewis, Alabama
Listed as a linebacker on the Senior Bowl's South Team roster, Lewis brings the combination of length and speed that the Giants could use off the edge. The 6-foot-5 3/8, 258-pounder possesses 10-inch hands and an 83 1/2-inch wingspan with the dominant numbers to back up his physical stature.
Through 10 games as a fourth-year junior in 2019, Lewis recorded 11.5 tackles for loss and six sacks while adding two pass breakups and one fumble recovery. Given the Giants' need for a pass rusher, especially with Markus Golden set to hit free agency, Lewis is one worth keeping close tabs on.
Alternative: Alton Robinson, Syracuse
Offensive Tackle: Matt Peart, UConn
One of three players at his position to have not been a Power Five lineman, Peart has a chance to show that he truly belongs at the Senior Bowl. The 6-foot-6 1/2, 310-pounder passes the physical test with long arms at an 86 1/8-inch wingspan, but how will his game translate after he competed against mid-level FBS opponents in the AAC?
Peart was a four-year starting offensive lineman after redshirting his freshman year in 2015, and he started the first 36-of-48 career games at guard before kicking to right tackle as a senior for 2019. Peart can provide an immediate boost for a Giant offensive line that is still lacking, and he has a prime chance to prove his ability against top-tier edge rushers and defensive linemen at the Senior Bowl.
Alternative: Josh Jones, Houston
Wide Receiver: Devin Duvernay, Texas
After three pedestrian seasons at Texas, Duvernay broke out for the Longhorns as a senior in 2019, catching 106 passes for 1,386 yards (13.1 average) and nine touchdowns while adding a rushing score. The 5-foot-10 1/2, 202-pounder is among a talented wide receiver corps in the draft and at the Senior Bowl, where he has a chance to show that his latest campaign was no fluke.
The Giants found a diamond in the rough with the selection of breakout rookie Darius Slayton from Auburn last year, but veterans Golden Tate (11th year in 2020) and Sterling Shepard (two concussions in 2019) are not getting any younger.
Alternative: Van Jefferson, Florida
Inside Linebacker: Malik Harrison, Ohio State
Harrison held off the 2019 NFL Draft to play one more year at Ohio State, and he did not disappoint during his senior season. The 6-foot-2 5/8, 246-pounder played outside linebacker in all four of his years with the Buckeyes but has the versatility to slide inside and is listed accordingly on the Senior Bowl's North Team roster.
Harrison was near the top of Ohio State's leading tacklers in each of his final two seasons from 2018-19, most recently notching 75 with personal-bests numbers that included 16 1/2 tackles for loss and 3 1/2 sacks. Also able to drop back into coverage, Harrison had four pass breakups in both his junior and senior campaigns, including a game-sealing interception against TCU during 2018's start.
Alternative: Evan Weaver, California
Safety: Brian Cole, Mississippi State
While the Giants could very well select Clemson's Isaiah Simmons with the No. 4 overall pick, they also have their option of taking a player at the position later on. Among the prospects in the Senior Bowl, Cole highlights the pack. The 6-foot-1 7/8, 210-pounder transferred to Mississippi State after initially starting out as a wide receiver at Michigan.
With a stint at junior college in between, Cole came to the Bulldogs after redshirting the 2017 season because of academic issues and caught on from 2018-19. Following a 2018 season that was cut short due to an upper-body injury five weeks in, Cole came back as a senior in 2019 and finished strong with 65 tackles (7 1/2 for loss), two sacks, two pass breakups and one interception while starting all 12 games.
Alternative: Jared Mayden, Alabama