Giants' Mara says this year's draft 'more important' than usual

New York Giants owner and CEO John Mara is putting the pressure on his scouts ahead of the draft.

The Giants hold the 10th overall pick after stumbling to a 6-10 record last season, missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

Mara is seeking to capture the club's third Super Bowl of the century and is imploring his staff to continue to build upon a roster overhaul that was spurred by an audacious free-agency class.

"Every draft is important, but I would say this one moreso than usual," Mara said, according to James Kratch of NJ.com. "Because we're picking so high, and because we're coming off of three-and-a-half losing years.

"It's time to pick it up. We spent all this money in free agency, and we got better. But we're still not there, and we need some impact players."

Over the past two years, the Giants nailed their first-round pick, selecting superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014 and promising left tackle Ereck Flowers last spring.

Despite Mara's directive to improve through the draft, he said he wouldn't interfere with the process.

"If the coach and GM agree on the pick, chances are I'm not going to have anything to say about it," Mara said. "If there seems to be some disagreement in the room, maybe with some scouts or whomever, then that might be something I want to (get involved with). But a lot of times, they work those things ahead of time."