After what felt like a draft process that lasted for years, the 2019 NFL Draft is finally done. But while the draft itself is over, the New York Giants work isn’t done. After the draft comes the league-wide scrum to sign undrafted free agents. The Giants have had a number of undrafted players who have become major contributors over the years, from Henry Hynoski, Mark Herzlich, and Victor Cruz to Grant Haley, Sean Chander, and Tae Davis last season. Related The best available players after the 2019 NFL Draft The 32 NFL teams have spent the last few hours, with some starting as early as the fifth round, contacting players who might go undrafted and recruiting them. The heavy lifting of undrafted free agency rests on teams’ area scouts, who have spent months, and even years, getting to know the prospects they have been scouting. Those relationships are important as undrafted free agents are welcome to sign anywhere they choose. Teams have to pitch themselves to prospects they like and position themselves as the best place for the players to succeed and make a roster. From there the teams have a pool of money with which to pay their undrafted free agents and can include signing bonuses for prospects they are especially keen to sign. Now, over the next day or so, we will get to see the fruits of their efforts. Free agents connected to the Giants NOTE: It is important to remember that these are reports and not official signings.<doc-sep>The New York Giants will kick off their next set of OTAs this weekend (May 3-4) with their rookie minicamp and while all 10 players selected in the 2019 NFL Draft class are expected to be in attendance, the Giants will also be welcoming in a slew of undrafted rookie free agent signings. The Giants will host a total of 13 undrafted rookie free agents at their two-day minicamp with the rest of the 2019 rookie class. Here's a quick look at all 13 players who will begin their competition for a roster spot this weekend at the minicamp. Paul Adams, offensive tackle - Missouri James O'Hagan, center - Buffalo CJ Conrad, tight end - Kentucky Reggie White Jr., wide receiver - Monmouth Eric Dungey, quarterback - Syracuse Jeremiah Harris, defensive end - Eastern Michigan Nate Harvey, defensive end - East Carolina Jon Hillman, running back - Rutgers Mark McLaurin, defensive back - Miss. St. Jake Carlock, defensive back - LIU Post Josiah Tauaefa, linebacker - UTSA Jacob Thieneman, defensive back - Purdue Alex Wesley, wide receiver - Northern Colorado Out of the 13 undrafted rookie free agents, we're most excited about tracking Conrad, O'Hagan, and Adams -- all three players come at a position of need and all three players should have been drafted based on their collegiate production. We'll be keeping an even closer eye on Conrad who only dropped out of the draft due to a medical condition that popped up at the Combine. While undrafted rookie free agents sometimes go overlooked, we're not exactly sure why. Across the NFL, rosters are loaded with former undrafted rookie free agents who never heard their name called in the draft but have carved out a role anyway. The Giants found several players from their 2018 rookie undrafted free agent class who ended up not only making the final 53-man roster but also carving out a role. For example, former Temple safety Sean Chandler was made a priority undrafted rookie free agent signings last offseason by the Giants who used more guaranteed money to lock him in after the 2018 NFL Draft. Chandler immediately stood out during the team's 2018 rookie minicamp as one of, if not the best player on the field. It didn't take long for the Giants to know they had potential in Chandler and then that potential carried over to the team's training camp in August. After a strong showing in August both in practice and the preseason, Chandler made the 53-man roster. When injuries struck the safety position and starter Landon Collins was placed on injured reserve, Chandler upgrade from a special teams contributor to a rotational safety on the Giants defense during the stretch run of the 2018 season. The Giants 2019 Draft class is in the books and now it's time to get to know everything about these 10 new franchise cornerstones. Stay up to date with everything Giants by taking a second to sign up for our FREE New York Giants newsletter! Chandler wasn't the only Giants 2018 undrafted rookie free agent who made the 2018 roster. The Giants also kept 2018 undrafted rookie free agents Evan Brown (center, SMU), Tae Davis (linebacker, Chattanooga), and Grant Haley (cornerback, Penn State). Brown never played an offensive snap in 2018, but both Davis and Haley carved out defensive roles during the second half of the 2018 season. Davis filled in as the team's "moneybacker" -- right outside linebacker -- alongside Alec Ogletree -- once the team moved on from Ray-Ray Armstrong and Collins for this niche role in James Bettcher's scheme. Davis spelled B.J. Goodson at linebacker. Haley took over as the team's starting nickel (slot, inside) cornerback and earned strong grades from Pro Football Focus. As we get set to enter the 2019 OTAs -- including 2019 training camp -- Haley is expected to be given every chance to keep the role he took over and filled in so admirably.<doc-sep>COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 24: Trayveon Williams #5 of the Texas A&M Aggies scores on a 10 yard run as Grant Delpit #9 of the LSU Tigers and Devin White #40 of the LSU Tigers are unable to keep him out of the endzone during the first quarter at Kyle Field on November 24, 2018 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) The New York Giants have two first-round picks, and after trading Odell Beckham, Big Blue has to nail both picks in an attempt to get the franchise back on track. The New York Giants have won two Super Bowls in the Eli Manning era with two things: great play from the quarterback position, and dominating the line of scrimmage and hitting the quarterback on the defensive side of the ball. With the No. 6 pick and No. 17 pick in this year’s draft, the G-Men have the chance to bolster both areas. Of course, if Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray gets drafted by the Arizona Cardinals, it could make Josh Rosen a potential trade candidate to the New York Giants. If the Big Blue could get Josh Rosen for a second-round pick, while drafting two great defensive players that would be a huge win for the team. The most likely first round scenario for the team, assuming a Rosen deal does not happen, is that the New York Giants come away with an impact defensive player and a quarterback. This would help the franchise in both the long-term, as well as and in the immediate future. A fascinating part of the first round for Giants will be if they stay at 17 and slow play interest in Josh Rosen. Using 6 and 17 on non-QB prospects and making deal for Rosen is still the most intriguing scenario and most beneficial in building the roster short and long term. — Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) April 25, 2019 The New York Giants defense has been decimated by trades, and clearly needs an upgrade in talent. In terms of quarterbacks the most likely picks for the G-Men are Dwayne Haskins, Drew Lock, or Daniel Jones. The team has been linked to all three. In terms of defense, the Giants are linked to edge rusher Josh Allen and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams if they fall. That isn’t very likely. They have been linked to Rashan Gary, Devin White, Clelin Ferrell, and Ed Oliver. Want your voice heard? Join the GMEN HQ team! Write for us! If the New York Giants go defense they have been constantly linked to Devin White and Rashan Gary, assuming Allen doesn’t fall. White is an incredible linebacker from LSU and would be a huge win for the Giants. Taking White fits into the idea that you aren’t just drafting for a need but you are also going for the best available player. Some believe Gary is going to slide in the draft. So many rumors have floated of who the team’s favorite quarterback in the draft is. Many have linked them to Daniel Jones, many have linked them to Dwayne Haskins and recently Drew Lock to the Giants have picked up steam. Former New Jersey native Dwayne Haskins seems like the obvious fit for the New York Giants. He’s extremely humble, has a great football IQ and is a big-bodied player. The Ohio State QB dealt with adversity in games just like Dave Gettleman said he wanted to see in his guy. Haskins said he had lunch with Eli Manning in his meeting in East Rutherford. He had 4,831 yards passing and 50 touchdowns. Drew Lock, the quarterback from Missouri, was a four-year starter, who has a rocket arm and the ability to escape the pocket. He has shot up draft boards recently. With 3,498 passing yards and 28 touchdowns last season, the production is there. Duke quarterback Daniel Jones has been linked to the New York Giants frequently. We all know about his connections to Eli Manning. He has drawn some great comps, but his arm strength and his college stats are somewhat concerning. He had just 2,674 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. In the 2011 and 2007 championship runs, great play by Eli Manning was at the forefront of those wins, especially in 2011. The New York Giants pass rush also did a great job by getting to the quarterback with great efforts by the likes of Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Michael Strahan. General Manager Dave Gettleman isn’t in the good graces of Giants fans at the moment but a great draft especially in the first round could change that. If the New York Giants could come away with Devin White and Drew Lock; or Dwayne Haskins and Clelin Ferrell or White; Ferrell and Rosen via trade, call it a dream day for Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur.<doc-sep>
A projected late round 2019 NFL Draft pick before the start of the 2018 college football season, DE Breckyn Hager landed with the New York Giants. The undrafted free agent class coming from prospects off the Forty Acres and the Texas Longhorns football program after the 2019 NFL Draft was pretty lucrative. Considering there were only two former Longhorns selected in the 2019 NFL Draft during its three days of action this past weekend, there was set to be a bevy of talent hitting the undrafted free agent market. The New York Giants were able to take full advantage by landing edge rusher Breckyn Hager. With the way he played on the defensive line for his last two years on the Forty acres, Breckyn Hager left doubts as to how he could transition to the NFL. After racking up a career-high six sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss back in 2016 as a sophomore, Hager totaled just 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss for the past two seasons. All in all, it just didn’t seem like Breckyn Hager was a good fit for the defensive scheme under head coach Tom Herman and defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. He didn’t have that same click on the defensive line under Herman and Orlando that he had under former Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong in 2016. However, Breckyn Hager is still a player that should be very adaptable at the NFL level. He gets to land in a spot where he can make an NFL roster and compete for playing time for the next few years. The Giants have some talent on the defensive side of the ball, but there is ample opportunity for Hager to rise up the depth charts quickly. Hager landing with the Giants was originally posted on social media via the Westlake Nation Twitter page. He joins a Giants team that is looking to take a step forward after rolling the dice on the former Duke Blue Devils quarterback Daniel Jones with the No. 6 overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Furthermore, Hager was the only former Longhorn that landed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent or day three pick. This could be a nice shot for Hager to make an NFL roster right away. He showed flashes in the past of having NFL-caliber talent.