Giants Draft Review Pt.1

This past week, the Giants drafted like a team that did not have a problem on their offensive line, even though they do. And believe it or not, that was absolutely the right way to go.The Giants very clearly stuck with their board and took the highest guys available in each round, regardless of crying need.  And because of that they got great value in almost every round. And they still have three or four months to fix the OL. Let's take a quick look.

In the first round, the Giants took Eli Apple. Rumors abounded that they wanted Leonard Floyd or Jack Conklin, but both were gone. Some cry that they passed on Laremy Tunsil, but that guy was a walking talking red flag. Not only did he have the almost meaningless gasmask video floating around, but he'd been goaded into beating up his step father, which got him investigated and, but he also missed games with a myriad of injuries, and was suspended for receiving illegal benefits. There were much bigger things not to like than the pot stuff, which was just silly. So, the Giants stuck with their board and got the best pure cover corner in the draft (Ramsey was the best s/cb combo), and the kid is just 20 with massive upside. He's big for a corner, but he has great hip flip and is already outstanding in man coverage, and pressing and redirecting guys at the line. He still has to master zone, but he's big and once he does he'll be manning a forbidden zone. Imagine what Terrell Thomas might have been without all those knee injuries. You'd take that 10th overall in a draft, wouldnt you?

Next, the Giants took my favorite player in the draft, Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard. He was going to be my favorite player in last year's draft but he decided to stay in school another year. Sterling is absolutely somewhere on the Victor Cruz-Odell Beckham Jr. talent axis. Not the biggest guys in the world, but fully capable of playing outside as well as from the slot. And as pro-style as Oklahoma's system was, I think Sterling still has upside. He's been at Oklahoma his whole life, and now, he's not only going to learn the NFL, but he'll be tutored by Victor and Odell. Both of them made big splashes when they hit the field and he will, too. Odell even called the Sterling pick "a steal" on Twitter.  Checkmate, NFL.

In the third, the Giants probably made their pick that was most round appropriate, when they took FS Darian Thompson from Boise State. Darian had a ton of int's in college, and also scored a 29 on his Wonderlic, so he's a smart, productive player.  Unfortunately, he's not a workout warrior, and compounded that by fighting through an illness during his combine workout and posting a scary for a safety 4.69 40.  Fortunatel, he was able to shave that down into the 4.5's at his pro day, and one of the points of interest of this week's rookie camp will be Darian's apparent speed. It will also be interesting to see what a really bright guy can do in the Giant's deep patrol.

In the fourth round, the Giants took their mike of the future. BJ Goodson was a tackling machine this season while playing the middle for Clemson. And he also added a couple of picks and 5.5. sacks. Remember, Kennard can bring it from the second level, too. Anyway, Goodson is more athletic than Antonio Pierce was and has some similarities to Jeremiah Trotter, the old Eagle pain in the ass. He should really help the run d right off the bat, and eventually the pass d as well.  Felt like he could have gone in the third.

Next, the Giants took UCLA RB Paul Perkins and this kid is fantastic. Though maybe a little undersized, he can do it all, including run between the tackles, get around the tackles, block, and catch passes like a wideout. He'll be the best all-around back on the Giants the moment he suits up -- by the way -- I think there's gonna be some turnover or a trade -- from the RB core, because the Giants also signed UDFA RB Marshaun Coprich from Eastern Illinois, after the draft, and he's an even faster back, who can do it all.  Perkins will definitely make the team, and Coprich probably will, too.

And with their final pick, the Giants took South Carolina TE Jerrel Adams.   Adams is a big, smooth pass catcher, with great speed for his size.  He's also a very willing blocker, though he can use technique work in both areas. He was an absolutle steal in the 6th round and yet another point of interest in this week's camp.

So, by not chasing OL's who didn't match value, the Giants were able to really improve the back seven of their D, as well as add three more impressive playmakers.

The Giants are also killing it in UDFA, though who's been signed and who's a tryout could still use some clarification.  What they are doing; however, is loading up on WR's, DL's, DB's and RB's.  I told you about Coprich, but there are WR's, DL's and DBs who could make it, too. If the rookie camp roster gets clearer in the next day or so, I'll write a part two.