Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the New York Giants, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.    

Safety:  Despite being a defending Super Bowl champion, the Giants have a few questions about their roster, especially on the defensive side of the ball.  The Giants lost stud safety Gibril Wilson to the Raiders in free agency because he was looking for the kind of money that a team like the Raiders was going to give him.  To counter the departure, the Giants brought in strong safety Sammy Knight from the Jaguars so that – it appears – they can move last year’s starting strong safety James Butler to compete at free safety with Michael Johnson.  Johnson showed a lot of potential last year, but he also blew some key assignments.  The Giants could look for either a strong safety or a free safety (or both) in this draft.At the end of round one, the Giants could have a chance at Miami’s Kenny Phillips, who is the top safety on most draft boards.  They could go any number of directions with this pick, though.  If they choose to add a safety later rather than sooner, they have shown interest in DaJuan Morgan (N.C. State) and Chris Horton (UCLA).Outside linebacker:  This is another tricky position for the Giants because they have a lot of versatile players here, given that they have stockpiled hybrids in the last few drafts.  However, they lost two key defenders in Kawika Mitchell to the Bills and Reggie Torbor to the Dolphins.  The other question here is, if Michael Strahan retires, will they move Mathias Kiwanuka back from strong side linebacker to defensive end?  If they do, they’ll be forced to start free-agent acquisition Danny Clark on the strong side, but he’s not the answer there.

They could go after a player like Auburn’s Quentin Groves at the end of round one, and they also have shown interest in a few pure linebackers later in the draft in LSU’s Ali Highsmith and Georgia Tech’s Philip Wheeler.

Wide Receiver:  Although the emergence of Steve Smith in the playoffs last season gives the Giants some breathing room here, the age of their two top targets still makes this position a concern.  Plaxico Burress – who, if you’ve been living in a cave, caught the winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII – will be 31 when the season starts, and number two wideout Amani Toomer will be 34 in early September.  These two should give the Giants another couple of good years each in production, but it’s never too early to start stacking up some replacements.  Super Bowl hero David Tyree should also compete for some playing time, but they lack a deep threat opposite Burress.

The Giants have spent back-to-back second-round picks on wide receivers (Sinorice Moss in 2006 and Smith last year), and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them do it again.  That being said, they’ll most likely wait until day two to address this position.  The Giants could be the team to stop the Mario Maninngham free fall.

Cornerback:  Last year’s top pick, Aaron Ross, looks like the real deal at corner but Sam Madison, the other starter, is now 3, and that’s a dangerous age for corners. Behind him, R.W. McQuarter’s is a good dime back and a decent nickel, but he will also be in his 30s and shouldn’t be counted upon to come in and start more than three or four games.  Corey Webster, a former second-round pick, has shown some flashes, and the Giants are probably hoping that he will turn the corner and steal a starting job this season.  Because the Giants’ defensive line can put a high degree of pressure on the quarterback, this position isn’t as big of a need as some might believe it to be.

Regardless, the Giants need to make plans for football after Sam Madison and bring in a player who can compete for playing time this season.  Although they’ll certainly look for a corner earlier than when they would pick him, we’ve been hearing Kent State’s Jack Williams as a name connected with the Giants.

Offensive line:  After releasing injured left tackle Luke Petitgout last season, the Giants had some serious questions at the position, but David Dhiel answered them.  Although he struggled at times early in the season, he became a solid left tackle  as the year progressed, and into the playoffs.  Eli Manning remaining on his feet was a big reason for the Giants’ historic run.  However, behind Diehl and right tackle Kareem McKenzie there is very little depth (although judging by the rest of Jerry Reese’s 2007 draft class, Adam Koets will probably be better than anyone expects).  Most of the depth is needed on the interior of the line.

If you have a G.M. with a good eye for talent, like Jerry Reese, offensive guard is a position that can be filled well into day two.  A couple of players that the Giants have been looking at deep in the draft at guard are Mackenzy Bernadea (Bentley College) and Kerry Brown (Appalachian State).