They cannot accurately assess their first-round status, or second and third, either, until they learn the fate -- legally and NFL-suspension wise -- of star wide receiver Plaxico Burress.

He faces a court hearing March 31 for his Nov. 29, 2008 incident with a loaded, unlicensed handgun that accidentally fired and shot him in the thigh. According to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, that is punishable -- without exception -- by 31/2 to five years in jail.

It is unlikely that he will face that, but he could be suspended by the league, or pending the legal decision the Giants might decide to release him.

So what do they do? They seem to have addressed several defensive problems, signing unrestricted free agents such as tackles Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard, weakside linebacker Michael Boley and safety C.C. Brown.

But the Giants, a quality team well before the 2009 season starts, will need some help on offense, especially if Pistol Plax is legally gunned down. If he is unavailable to them, for whatever reason, he'll join the list that includes last season's other starter, unrestricted free agent Amani Toomer, a 13-year who has not been offered a contract.

None of those remaining seems to represent a major offensive threat. They are mostly possession receivers and, at best, second receivers. That group includes Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss and Mario Manningham.

If the Giants had a definitive answer on Burress, things would be far easier. But even if he gets a plea bargain agreement on March 31, the NFL would likely step in and impose its own suspension. And if, in the unlikely event that he does face incarceration, there definitely will be a need for a major impact receiver.

The draft has a handful of such players, but the Giants are situated in the 29th spot in the first round (13th and 28th in the second) and it is unlikely that they'll land a blue-chipper without moving up.

General manager Jerry Reese, asked how a quality team could find room for nine and possibly 10 or 11 rookies (the Giants have nine picks and might get one or two more via compensatory awards), responded cryptically: "It would be difficult, but we might not have that many picks but the time the draft arrives," he said.