With the Draft less than a month away, let us look at the most recent draft classes and what they’ve done to the New York Franchise.
2014
1st Round- Odell Beckham Jr. – WR / Grade: A+++
This was the best pick the Giants have had in the last 20 years. Odell was a pro bowler every year he was with the Giants other than the one year plagued by injury. Odell was the face of the franchise and easily a locker room leader. The puzzling trade to the Browns is the shining light on a new era for Giants football. This was a home-run pick for Jerry Reese which gave him a few more years running the Giants.
2nd Round- Weston Richburg – OL / Grade: C-
Richburg was a fan favorite on the offensive line within the past few years. He was with the team from 2014-2017 as he signed with the 49ers in 2018. he has become an everyday starter for his new team. His time with the Giants was OK as he was a starter, but injuries lowered his effectiveness with the Giants.
3rd Round- Jay Bromley – DT / Grade: D-
Bromley was underwhelming on a defensive line that really needed some help when he got drafted. He never really found his role on the Giants, before becoming a bench warmer for the Saints in 2018. The biggest question mark in the draft turned into a bust.
4th Round- Andre Williams – RB / Grade: D
A day one starter when he got drafted, Williams was a good running back in his rookie year racking up over 720 yards and 7 touchdowns. He did fall off the next two seasons causing himself to be released in 2016 before being picked up by the Chargers. Not a great pick for Jerry Reese.
5th Round- Nat Berthe – S / Grade: F-
I had trouble even finding this guy on Pro Football Reference, that should tell you how big of a bust this guy was. Played in 16 games his rookie year, but didn’t start a single one. Only 35 tackles and no interceptions in his 3 years as a Giant. Mega bust, next.
5th Round- Devon Kennard – MLB / Grade: B-
Another draft pick not on the roster 5 years later, Kennard was a great linebacker for the time he spent as a Giant. Was the main anchor for the defense, but is now a Detroit Lion. The Giants got great value for a 5th round pick and was a great starting linebacker for the Giants. 198 tackles and 9.5 sacks in a Giants uniform were fantastic numbers for a 5th round pick.
6th Round- Bennett Jackson – CB / Grade: F
Jackson’s career went up in flames with knee injuries. Never saw the field once. Too bad for Jackson who had a lot of potential coming out of Notre Dame.
Overall Grade: C+ (without Odell this would be an easy F)
2015
1st Round- Ereck Flowers – OT / Grade: F-
We all know what happened to Ereck Flowers. His most prestigious moment was karate kicking Calais Campbell into Eli Manning the first play of 2018. Terrible pick with a questionable work ethic and passion for the game of football. Good luck on the Redskins.
2nd Round- Landon Collins – S / Grade: A
Collins was the anchor of the defense and a fan favorite for his 4 years as a Giant. First Team All-Pro in 2016 and a great locker room guy. The Giants let him walk and sign with the Redskins in 2019 and hopefully he doesn’t come back to haunt us.
3rd Round- Owamagbe Odighizuwa – DE / Grade: F
Odighizuwa only lasted 2 seasons before being cut and retiring from the NFL. 4 career tackles for a 3rd round pick is the bust status for sure.
5th Round- Mykkele Thompson – S / Grade: F
Played in 1 game as a rookie, no tackles or stats in general. Waste of a pick.
Overall grade: D-
2016
1st Round- Eli Apple – CB / Grade: C+
The first pick of 2016, Eli Apple had a great start to his career showing a ton of potential with a forced fumble, 7 PD’s and an interception. Yet, his NYG stint went sour very fast as his sophomore slump turned into Landon Collins publicly calling him a “cancer”. He was quickly turned on by fans and ownership alike, and he was traded to the Saints during the 2018 season.
2nd Round- Sterling Shepard – WR / Grade: A
The Oklahoma product has turned into one of the best slot receivers in the NFL. Reese hit the nail on the head with this pick. 14 TD’s and over 2500 yards in his first 3 years shows great potential for Shepard to be a great #1 receiver going forward.
3rd Round- Darian Thompson – S / Grade: D
Many called him a bust after he missed the majority of his first season due to injury, but Thompson came back and had a great season in his sophomore campaign with 75 tackles and an interception. Yet, Thompson was let go by the Giants. He signed with the Cowboys and proceeded to barely see the field. Thompson barely did anything for the Giants in his one year.
4th Round- BJ Goodson – ILB / Grade: B+
The Giants got great value from Goodson coming out of the 4th round. Goodson became a full-time starter in his second year and hasn’t disappointed. He’s going to be the core of a good linebacker from the years to come. 116 career tackles is a great starting point for a young and talented player. The number doesn’t jump out as elite, but he makes plenty plays to get his teammates tackles. Don’t be fooled by what you see on paper
5th Round- Paul Perkins – RB / Grade: C-
Perkins never really got a chance with the Giants, as he could never break into the starting running back role. He did show flashes of starting potential, but Wayne Gallman getting picked one year later, followed by Saquon Barkley, cemented he didn’t have a chance with the Giants.
6th Round- Jerell Adams – TE / Grade: F
Adams played in all but 3 games his two seasons in the NFL but failed to make any real impact as a tight end. He was never able to stick to a roster after being cut by the Giants.
Overall Grade: C-
2017
1st Round- Evan Engram – TE / Grade: A+
Absolute steal of a pick for Jerry Reese’s final 1st round pick as the Giant GM. Engram has emerged as one of the key pieces in Pat Shurmur’s offense. Racking up 1300 yards and 9 TD’s in his first two seasons is no joke for a tight end. Great pick for Reese.
2nd Round- Dalvin Thompson – DT / Grade: A-
Thompson filled in as a great 4-3 DT next to Damon Harrison. Starting every game in his career, 109 tackles and 6 TFL don’t wow people, but with plenty of room to grow, expect Thompson to be a star sooner rather than later.
3rd Round- Davis Webb – QB / Grade: F
Webb was more of a desperation pick for Reese than a smart pick. Reese needed to find Manning’s successor in this draft to save his job. Webb was not that, as he didn’t suit up for a regular season game once and was cut by the Giants when the season was over.
4th Round- Wayne Gallman – RB / Grade: B+
Wayne Gallman has become a great backup to Barkley and has really taken his role to heart. Gallman would be a starting caliber running back for most NFL teams. Reese found a diamond in the rough with this pick.
5th Round- Avery Moss – DE / Grade: F
Not much production for Moss and he was cut after his rookie year. Only started 2 games and picked up only 14 tackles in 15 games. Big miss.
6th Round- Adam Bisnowaty – OT / Grade: F
Bisnowaty only played in one game for the Giants before being cut. Not much else to say.
Overall Grade: C+
2018
1st Round- Saquon Barkley – RB / Grade: A+++
Gettleman’s first pick as the Giants GM was a grand slam. The NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year for the Giants dazzled with his rushes and was a pro bowler as a rookie. Barkley was a great pick and will be one of the greatest running backs ever when it’s all said and done.
2nd Round- Will Hernandez – OG / Grade: A
Who would’ve thought a guard from UTEP would be so dominant in the NFL? Hernandez has carved out his spot on the Giants offensive line, locking down the blindside with Solder. Great pick for Gettleman and Hernandez should be the anchor of the offensive line for years to come.
3rd Round- Lorenzo Carter – LB / Grade: B+
Carter had a good rookie year, learning behind Vernon and developing quickly. With Vernon off to Cleveland, Carter is expected to fill that void. 43 tackles and 4 sacks in 2 starts and 12 games, shows awesome potential.
3rd Round- BJ Hill – DT / Grade: B
48 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 12 starts shows how high the ceiling is for Hill. Gettleman needed another DT to emerge after he traded Snacks to Detroit and Hill showed a lot of promise. I love Hill’s passion for the game and the chip he carries on his shoulder as a mid-round pick.
4th Round- Kyle Lauletta – QB / Grade: D-
Gettleman’s heir to Manning did not perform as planned. If your backup QB only makes the news for getting arrested, that’s not the best of picks to make. Lauletta only played in one regular season game and only completed a pass to the other team. Don’t expect him to start for the Giants anytime soon. Still too early to label a bust but the future doesn’t show much to shake that label off Lauletta.
5th Round- RJ McIntosh – DT / Grade: D
McIntosh only played in 5 games in a crowded D-line roster for the Giants. McIntosh may not get his chance to show what he’s got in a Giant uniform anytime soon.
Overall Grade: B-
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