Philadelphia, New York area prospects on radar for Giants, Jets

With the free agent frenzy in full throttle and the start of pro day season upon us, the NFL offseason has officially kicked into high gear.

While front office decision makers are busy negotiating new deals for veterans, scouts for the Giants and Jets hit the road this week to begin evaluating future pro prospects from local nearby colleges.

Amongst the first stops on the scouting trail were Rutgers, Temple and Penn, as over 50 players participated from the three individual workouts.

Below are some of the players who stood out and generated interest from the New York organizations.

Alek Torgersen, QB, Penn

Likely the best quarterback not invited to the combine, more than half the teams in the league came out to watch the spectacular performance displayed by the Ivy League hopeful. A highly accurate passer, Torgersen drew praise from several scouts I spoke with in attendance as, “a late round, developmental guy.” An inside source informed me the Jets were frequent visitors on the Penn campus throughout the year.

Jahad Thomas, RB, Temple

The Elizabeth, New Jersey, native is a physical, between-the-tackles runner who plays with a toughness that is suited for the Giants backfield. He was one of the higher rated backs among NFL scouting services in the spring before struggling to stay on the field this past season due to injuries. Thomas has private workouts scheduled with both the Giants and Jets.

Jordan Morgan, OL, Kutztown

One of the small-school participants allowed into the Temple workout, Morgan appeared to be a fundamentally sound technician, despite his small-school label. He was also invited to the NFL combine, in addition to the Senior Bowl and is expected to be the first player drafted from his school since 1996 (John Mobley). Morgan, who can play all three offensive line positions, told me that he has spoken with both the Giants and Jets throughout the draft process.

Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

The star of the week, Reddick stood on his numbers from the combine and continued to boost his draft stock, looking extremely fluid in positional drills. Viewed as a first round pick, scouts vary as to whether his game translates better on the inside our outside but Reddick stated that he has no preference. “Outside linebacker in a 3-4 system is most natural to me,” he said. “I know that if I’m put at inside linebacker I can be the best at that as well.”

Anthony Cioffi, DB, Rutgers

It appears that both the Giants and Jets are in the market for an additional safety this offseason, which is why Cioffi was invited to workout for both teams next week. The 5-11, 205-pound ball-hawk had an official time of 4.50 in the 40-yard dash and showcased his versatility in positional drills by running with the wideouts on offense. “I’m dangerous with the ball in my hands,” Cioffi stated. “It’s something I want to bring to a team.”