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NFL Power Rankings: 2017 Pre-NFL Draft Look at All 32 Teams

By Peter Panacy

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a helmet, NFL shield, stage, and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a helmet, NFL shield, stage, and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 8, 2017; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2017; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

. 11-5. . New York Giants. 6. team. 31

The New York Giants’ defensive upgrades prior to the 2016 season paid off nicely, and New York rode that momentum to an 11-5 record. Had it not been for the upstart Dallas Cowboys, the Giants might have been able to continue that drive deeper into the postseason.

New York’s defense will be fine this year as well. There isn’t much to worry about here. But where the Giants get a nice jump in our NFL power rankings is almost entirely due to the free-agent pickup of wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Jets.

Marshall is a great complement to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and Marshall gives yet one more weapon to veteran quarterback Eli Manning.

If there are some issues to worry about with New York this offseason, they reside along the offensive line and in the backfield.

The Giants could use a right tackle — someone ideally suited to play the left side, which would push incumbent tackle, Erek Flowers, over to the right.

A game-changing running back would be nice, although the Giants could settle on a decent contributor in the later rounds.

All said, New York should still be in a solid position to give Dallas a run for its money for the division crown.