Giants fans fretting over whether the team re-signs Victor Cruz or is concerned about which direction it may go in April’s draft, worry no more.

According to Sports Illustrated’s ranking of the NFL’s best front offices, the New York Giants earned third place, trailing only the Green Bay Packers and top-ranked Baltimore Ravens.

Author Don Banks makes his argument for Big Blue:

This is a pretty vital offseason in New York because the Giants have defensive issues to shore up, and they didn’t even get their trademark pass rush last season, instead surrendering the second most yards in the NFL (a franchise-record 6,134). But what you have to love about the personnel operation that GM Jerry Reese heads up is that it is not one based on panic moves or over-reaction. New York is the only team in the NFL to win multiple Super Bowl titles in the past six years, in part because Reese and Tom Coughlin make sound decisions. They’re content to let Philadelphia or Washington win the free agency season, as long as their Giants win the NFC East.

Among those defensive issues are safety, middle linebacker and depth along the defensive line.

Yesterday, the team placed a second-round tender on safety Stevie Brown, just days after it was apparent Kenny Phillips will test the free-agent market.

Osi Umenyiora, who has publicly stated he wouldn’t mind a return to New York, has made it clear he wants to play full-time or at least get paid that way.

Earlier this off-season, the team let veterans Michael Boley and Chris Canty go, though the team did add former Packers and Eagles defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins over the weekend.

More from Banks:

New York has proven it can find players in any round of the draft, or after it, and not just near the top, where most of the best players can be located. Ahmad Bradshaw was a seventh-rounder in 2007, and Victor Cruz wasn’t even selected in 2010. And as they have shown on numerous occasions, they won’t stretch to keep a veteran if they think they have a youthful upgrade ready to take over (Bradshaw out, David Wilson in). The old-school Giants take the long-term view better than most front offices, and with three playoffs trips and a pair of Super Bowl rings in the Reese era, they get their fair share of short-term results as well.

Among those rumored to be selected with the No. 19 pick in April’s draft are Notre Dame LB Manti Te’o, Georga LB Alec Ogletree, Notre Dame TE Tyler Eifert, Alabama OT D.J. Fluker and Oklahoma OT Lane Johnson.

Along with David Wilson, the Giants have enjoyed much success with their draft picks. For instance: Hakeem Nicks, Jason Pierre-Paul, Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck, Prince Amukamara — just to name a few.

Sports Illustrated’s top-12 list:

1. Baltimore

2. Green Bay

3. New York Giants

4. New England

5. Seattle

6. Atlanta

7. San Francisco

8. Indianapolis

9. Pittsburgh

10. Houston

11. Denver

12. New Orleans

Good company, huh?

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