The Giants have claimed 24-year old OLB Alex Hall off waivers from the Eagles.  Hall played in 14 games for the Browns last season and he had 10 tackles and 1 fumble recovery.  He has now played in 30 games in two years in the NFL and he has 38 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.  This was a good move for the Giants as Hall has a nice upside.  If nothing else he can help the Giants on special teams.

The New York Giants’ WR corps is led by three outstanding players who are all 25 years old or under.  25-year old Steve Smith stepped up big time for the Giants last season earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl.  Smith played in 16 games (15 starts) for the Giants last season and he caught 107 passes for 1,220 yards (11.4 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  He has now played in 37 games (19 starts) in his three years with the Giants and he has caught 172 passes for 1,857 yards (10.8 avg) with 8 TD  grabs.  Smith is a fearless receiver on routes over the middle of the field and he has an excellent set of hands.

22-year old Hakeem Nicks really had a solid rookie year for the Giants in 2009.  Nicks played in 14 games (6 starts) for the Giants last season and he caught 47 passes for 790 yards (16.8 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 2 times for 8 yards (4.0 ypc) last season.  Nicks is a good deep threat and he’s a big guy who creates mis-matches down the field.  Look out for him in 2010 and pick him in your fantasy draft if you can.

24-year old Mario Manningham really stepped up for the Giants last season after showing next to nothing in 2008 as a rookie.  Manningham played in 14 games (10 starts) for the Giants last season and he caught 57 passes for 822 yards (14.4 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  He has now played in 22 games (10 starts) in his two years with the Giants and he has caught 61 passes for 848 yards (13.9 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Manningham will likely be the #3 WR for the Giants this season and he should be one of the best in the league in that role.

25-year old Derek Hagan enters training camp #4 on the depth chart but he will have to fight to keep his spot.  Hagan played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Giants last year and he caught 8 passes for 101 yards (12.6 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has now played four years in the NFL playing in 52 games (1 start) in which he has caught 61 passes for 746 yards (12.2 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Hagan is a possession receiver who lacks big time deep speed.

26-year old Sinorice Moss has been a bust to this point in his NFL career.  Moss played in 8 games (0 starts) for the Giants last season and he only caught 1 pass for 18 yards but it went for a TD.  Moss has now played in 37 games (2 starts) in his four years with the Giants and he has caught 39 passes for 421 yards (10.8 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Moss will be fighting for his NFL career in training camp.

24-year old Ramses Barden didn’t play much as a rookie for the Giants last year.  He played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Giants last season and he caught 1 pass for 16 yards.  It will be hard for Barden to move up the depth chart.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GIANTS WRs in 2010:  A

The Giants have signed 33-year old linebacker Keith Bulluck to a 1-year deal.  Bulluck played in 14 games for the Titans last season and he finished up with 108 tackles, he defensed 7 passes and he had 3 interceptions.  Bulluck has now played in 157 games in his 10 years in the NFL and he has 1,057 tackles, 68 passes defensed, 18 sacks, he’s forced 15 fumbles and he has 19 interceptions (1 returned for a TD).  Bulluck will be the starting middle linebacker for the Giants and he will be a stud as long as he can stay healthy.

The Giants have signed 27-year old WR/PR/KR Adam Jennings.  Jennings played in 1 game for the Detroit Lions last season and he returned 1 kickoff for 8 yards.  Jennings has played 4 years in the NFL appearing in 46 games in which he has caught 6 passes for 62 yards (10.3 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has also returned 54 punts for 337 yards (6.4 avg) and 25 kickoffs for 559 yards (22.4 avg).  The Giants will likely give Jennings a chance to win a job on special teams in 2010.

26-year old Kevin Boss really came on last season for the Giants.  He played in 15 games (all starts) in which he caught 42 passes for 567 yards (13.5 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Boss has now played in 43 games (32 starts) in his three years with the Giants and he has caught 84 passes for 1,069 yards (12.7 avg) with 13 TD grabs.  Boss could be a huge weapon in the passing game for the Giants in 2010 as teams will be more worried about their WRs.

23-year old second year TE Travis Beckum will battle fellow 2nd year TE Bear Pascoe for the #2 TE job in 2010.  Beckum played in 15 games (2 starts) for the Giants last season and he caught 8 passes for 55 yards (6.9 avg).  Pascoe played in 4 games (1 start) for the Giants last year and he caught 1 pass for 9 yards.

24-year old TE Scott Chandler hasn’t played in a game in the NFL since 2007.  That year he played in 1 game for the Chargers and he didn’t catch any passes.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GIANTS TEs in 2010:  B

28-year old fullback Madison Hedgecock is a 6’3″, 266 pound bruising fullback.  His game is clearing things out in the running game for Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw and he’s really good at his job.  Hedgecock played in 16 games (9 starts) for the Giants last season.  He didn’t get any carries last season for the Giants but he did catch 4 passes for 23 yards (5.8 avg) with a TD grab.  Hedgecock has now played in 80 games (44 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 3 times for 2 yards (0.7 ypc).  He also has caught 35 passes for 225 yards (6.4 avg) with 2 TD grabs in his career to date.  Look for the Giants to throw Hedgecock a bone once in a while by throwing a pass to him to reward him for his solid blocking.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GIANTS FBs in 2010:  A-