That's how the Giants approached their receiver void in the draft, which concluded Sunday with the addition of two more pass catchers to go with first-round choice Hakeem Nicks. With Nicks, huge wide receiver Ramses Barden, H-back Travis Beckum plus running back Andre Brown out of the backfield, quarterback Eli Manning will have plenty of new targets.

After spending their free agent money on defensive players, the Giants concentrated on their offense in the draft. Six of their nine picks were on that side of the ball, with two of three defensive players selected in the final two rounds.

Receivers were the major focus as the much talked-about trade for a veteran never materialized.

"We'll see; we will leave all options open," general manager Jerry Reese said Sunday when asked about still trying to obtain an accomplished receiver. "We always try to improve right up until the start of the season."

"That's for the future to hold," coach Tom Coughlin said about bringing in a vet. "At this point in time, accomplishing what we have, I'm just excited about getting them in here.

"We drafted these players with a specific purpose and need in mind."

Barden and Beckum are two of the more interesting additions on the draft's second day. Barden, at 6 feet 6, was the biggest wide receiver in the draft, a small-college standout who could provide an instant impact in the red zone. While he played at I-AA Cal Poly, he held his own against the big guys when he played against Wisconsin and, after a slow start, at the Senior Bowl.

He caught 50 touchdown passes, many of them in the red-zone area. "It was very obvious to anyone watching the significance of the bigger receiver working against a smaller opponent in that area of the field," Coughlin said of Barden's play. "That's where you start out. Obviously he's got to do everything, and he does have a lot to learn."

Beckum is an H-back type receiver the Giants have not had since Pete Mitchell. He is coming off a broken left fibula, but figures to be a contributor right away on third downs as a bigger slot receiver. He can give Manning a bigger inside target, particularly on those cold, windy days late in the year when it's tough to throw the ball outside.

"It's another aspect of matchup problems; he's got a lot of speed," Coughlin said. "It's going to be very difficult for a safety or a linebacker to be in position to cover this guy. It allows you to do a number of things."

When you have a fairly solid team and extra draft picks, you can concentrate on players who can specialize in one area while learning to become a full-time NFL player.

"We're very interested in putting this particular aspect of personnel on the field and recognizing it as something we can develop," Coughlin said.

Coughlin also said the addition of Sam Houston State quarterback Rhett Bomar in the fifth round was not an indication the team is unhappy with Andre Woodson, picked in the sixth round last year. The Giants did not necessarily enter the draft looking to add another quarterback, but found the Oklahoma transfer too highly rated to pass up.

Giants' picks

WR Ramses Barden, Cal Poly: Third round, 85th overall

TE Travis Beckum, Wisconsin: Third round, 100th overall

RB Andre Brown, N.C. State: Fourth round, 129th overall

QB Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State: Fifth round, 151st overall

CB DeAndre Wright, New Mexico: Sixth round, 200th overall

CB Stoney Woodson, South Carolina: Seventh round, 238th overall

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