New York Giants nearly had deal worked out on draft day to select WR Jeremy Maclin
by Mike Garafolo/The Star-Ledger
Tuesday April 28, 2009, 9:08 PM

Rahul Coutinho/MCTBefore the Eagles selected Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (left), the Giants were in the process of moving up to try and select the speedy receiver.

NOTEBOOK The Giants said they didn't trade up in the first round of this past weekend's draft because they didn't want to reach for a wide receiver.

It turns out they were closer to reaching -- and to a different player -- than they let on.

Before drafting North Carolina's Hakeem Nicks with their own pick at No. 29, the Giants had worked out the parameters of a trade with the Lions to move up to the 20th pick, according to someone briefed on the negotiations between the two teams.

The person, who requested anonymity because the Giants don't discuss war-room talks publicly, didn't divulge what was being offered to Detroit but said the trade was contingent on Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin's being available for the Giants to select at that spot.

The plan was nixed when the Eagles, probably sensing the Lions were shopping their pick, jumped up two spots to No. 19 (by giving the Browns a sixth-round selection) to pick Maclin, whom they hadn't considered a possible target because they didn't expect him to fall that far. It's unclear if Philly knew its division rival was the team getting ready to pounce on Maclin.

Giants general manager Jerry Reese declined comment when asked about the proposed trade. The person informed of the negotiations with Detroit said the Eagles trading up for the speedy Maclin wasn't a devastating blow for the Giants, as they were pleased to still get Nicks, whom they graded only slightly lower than Maclin.

The Lions ended up with Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew.

In other news, the Giants were awarded CB Brandon Sumrall off waivers from the Colts.

Defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan met with reporters for the first time since being promoted from LB coach. Sheridan dropped a few tidbits about his defensive plans: He'll be in the box, not on the sideline, during games; the defense will be more "streamlined" with fewer looks than Steve Spagnuolo's schemes; he won't ask his pass rushers to drop into coverage on zone blitzes as often; and rookie LB Clint Sintim (second round) will have his hand in the grass as a pass rusher on third downs.

Center Shaun O'Hara, a Rutgers alum, on the school's record of five players drafted this past weekend: I wouldn't say shocked, but excited, happy for the program. It says a lot about Greg Schiano and the job he's done in not only recruiting athletes but developing them."

The Giants' rookie-pool allotment to sign their nine draft picks was set at $4,867,462.