Draft Review: New York Giants

1st Round, Pick #19:  Justin Pugh OT Syracuse

For a team that normal goes best player available and sticks to their board, this pick is surprising.  Pugh was getting a lot of attention, but he isn't worth a first round pick.  Pugh has good fundamentals, quickness, and footwork.  But his lack of strength and bulk really cost him a lot.  Pugh doesn't have the length to play tackle and doesn't have the strength to move inside to guard.  He can't anchor in against a good bull rush against defensive ends, so why would he be able to do that against NFL defensive tackles?  Horrible pick!
Pick Grade:  F

2nd Round, Pick #49:  Jonathan Hankins DT Ohio State

What a great value the Giants got with this pick.  Hankins was a fringe first round pick and to get him in the late second is nice.  Hankins fits the Giants very well because he has some versatility to his game.  He can play both defensive tackle spots which helps him see the field more and help when they move lineman around.  Hankins has good quickness and agility for his size, but still needs to improve his pass rushing skills.  He'll likely see the field on early downs where he can clog up the middle and help their run defense.
Pick Grade:  A

3rd Round, Pick #81:  Damontre Moore DE Texas A&M

Do you remember when Damontre Moore was once widely considered as the #2 overall pick for the Jaguars?  Well a poor combine and some off the field concerns really sent him falling on draft day.  However the Giants got a complete steal here.  Watch Moore on film and you'll see a dominant pass rusher that was unstoppable in SEC play.  The Giants have a strong locker room and should be able to keep him in check.  Moore will help fill Osi Umenyiora's role as a pass rusher until he develops enough to be a full time starter.  The talent is definetly worth the gamble here in the third round.
Pick Grade:  A+

4th Round, Pick #110:  Ryan Nassib QB Syracuse

I've never been a big fan of Ryan Nassib and the talk that he was going to go in the first or early second round was just ludacris to me.  He is a smart QB but doesn't have that good of an arm to be a good NFL starter.  Probably just a backup.  However Nassib didn't go that high and was taken here in the fourth round to be Eli Manning's backup.  This will allow Nassib to sit back learn and develop and become a better QB.  The Giants really don't have much for help if Eli goes down, so taking Nassib here will help them out.  Nassib falling here probably helps prevent him from becoming a flop.
Pick Grade:  B+

5th Round, Pick #152:  Cooper Taylor S Richmond

After the past two three picks were good, the Giants went right back to the questionable route.  Taylor is a big (6'4 230) safety who really isn't that great of an athlete.  He isn't fluid and doesn't have great speed.  That hurts him at safety and then add in that he doesn't have the size to play linebacker.  The Giants will probably look to have Taylor help out at safety when they go into their nickel package where like to bring Antrell Rolle down as a nickel back.  But I really wonder how well he'll be in that role.  But you would think they could have taken somebody else here and gotten Baccari Rambo or Robert Lester in the sixth or seventh rounds and had a better player.
Pick Grade:  D

7th Round, Pick #225:  Eric Herman G Ohio

Even though the Giants and Eli throw the ball a lot, they are still a run oriented team.  Because of that they still want offensive lineman that are better run blockers, especially guards.  So here in the seventh round they are looking for player who have potential to develop into a quality backup or an eventual starter.  Herman was a four year starter at Ohio who is a nasty blocker that is always going through the whistle.  Herman will have to battle for a spot on the roster, but he fits with what they want to do.
Pick Grade:  C

7th Round, Pick #253:  Michael Cox RB UMass

In the seventh round a lot of teams are normally taking flyers on potentinal guys and hoping that they turn out to be contributers.  Michael Cox barely played at Michigan and then transfered to UMass after graduation to take advantage of the graduate transfer rules.  Because of this he doesn't have a lot of experience or game film.  However he does have the size and average speed needed to play in the league.  However Cox is going to have an upward climb to make the team with the Giants already having a stable of backs they trust.  I would have liked to see them use this on a tight end like Joseph Fauria or even Onterio McCalebb if they were going to take a RB.

Pick Grade:  D

Overall Grade:  C

NFL East Draft Grades

Dallas Cowboys

There was talk that the Cowboys could move down and get a better value in a tackle there. Tyron Smith isn't a bad prospect, but no tackle in this class is worth a top 10 selection and there were better options than Smith in my opinion. If Smith isn't a LT in college, why would he be one now? Smith is being drafted on his potential but he is a boom or bust pick in my eyes. Bruce Carter is a player that I think was over hyped. He is a good athlete, but he relies too much on his athletic ability. Add in that he won't be ready when the season starts and its overdrafting in my opinion. Plus I don't really see him fitting in a 3-4. He's a 4-3 WLB all the way. DeMarco Murry is a good player when healthy, but when he's healthy. Plus they already have Felix Jones who is basically the same player. Josh Thomas is a cornerback out of Buffalo that I think is underrated. Now he isn't going to make the all rookie team, but they got him at a good value and he'll be a good developmental player at a position of need. Dewayne Harris is a nice player that could develop into that Alvin Harper type of deep threat to open the field for Dez Bryant.

Best Pick: Josh Thomas CB Buffalo
Worst Pick: Tyron Smith OT USC

Overall Grade: F

New York Giants

I'm a big fan of the Giants and it isn't because they took my man crush Prince Amukamara. The Giants got good value at each pick and still were able to address most of their needs. It would have been nice to get a eventual replacement at center, but this class was soo weak at that posit on that they could get just as good of value in taking a UDFA. In the first round they took Prince Amukamara who was falling because of the depth at the defensive line. Cornerback isn't a huge need, but now the Giants have three guys who can be lock down corners and that is needed in a division with Philly and the Cowboys. Marvin Austin would have been a top 15 pick if he wasn't suspended the entire year and they got him in the middle of the 2nd round. If he's motivated he can wreck havoc on the interior for a team that loves to rush just the front four. James Brewer gives them a future right tackle, Jerell Jernigan gives them a dynamic slot receiver to pair up with Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks, and Greg Jones gives them some much needed linebacker depth. Great draft for the Giants.



Best Pick: Marvin Austin DT North Carolina

Worst Pick: None



Overall Grade: A+



Philadelphia Eagles


Overall I really like what the Eagles did in this draft but I think they took some players higher than they should have gone. I think Danny Watkins was a good pick and a good fit, but with Gabe Carimi on the board, they must have thought that Watkins wasn't going to be around if they moved down. Jaiquawn Jarrett is very similar. Solid player and good fit, but could have been taken in the 3rd round. Curtis Marsh is a raw cornerback and is going to need to take some time, but with a team that needs a starter opposite of Asante Samuel, you have to wonder if they should have taken Jimmy Smith. The Alex Henery pick got a lot of people wondering, but if you look at the history of kickers taken he's right in there with comparable guys. Henery has a big leg and is very very accurate. People will forget where he is drafted in a couple of years when he is doing very well. Dion Lewis will get an opprotunity to give LeSean McCoy some breaks, but I wonder if his size will catch up to him. I'm not a big fan of the Casey Matthews pick. I think he went higher than he should have because of his name. He isn't Clay. He never really dominated games, but I guess Clay didn't either. He'll be a solid fit, but he'll be more of a special teamer than a star in this league. However the pick that I really like is the Stanley Havili pick in the 7th round. Havili isn't your typical road grader fullback. He is more of a poor man's Tom Rathman who is more of a weapon. Look for Andy Reid to draw up some plays where Havili will be catching passes out of the backfield and being an inside runner. Not a spectacular draft, but a solid one.


Best Pick: Stanley Havili FB USC

Worst Pick: Brian Rolle LB Ohio State



Overall Grade: B

Washington Redskins

I'll make this pretty clear right off the bat. I'm not a big fan of Blaine Gabbert. I think he has a shot to be a solid QB in this league, but won't be elite by any means. But with him sitting there at 10 and the Redskins passing and not taking a QB the entire draft is not good. Right now they are going into next year with John Beck as their stater. You remember, the guy the Dolphins took in the 2nd round a couple years back. But I guess maybe they are holding out hope for Andrew Luck next year. When the Redskins moved down the rumor was they were looking to target Robert Quinn to be an OLB in their 3-4. But with him going the pick before what did they do, take Ryan Kerrigan. Now I like Kerrigan, but as a 4-3 DE. I don't see Kerrigan having the athletic ability to play standing up. Plus with Pass Rushing ace Brian Orakpo on the other side they are going to ask Kerrigan to drop into coverage more? Jarvis Jenkins is a solid player but not a top 50 guy. Where Washington did very well was in the middle rounds. Getting Leonard Hankerson is the 3rd was a GREAT pick. Hankerson I thought might have been the 3rd best receiver in the draft. Roy Helu isn't a flashy back, but he has the one cut and speed to thrive in Shanahan's offense. And a sleeper that nobody was really talking about is DeJon Gomes. A hybrid player in college Gomes played linebacker, cornerback, and safety. Look for Gomes to make an impact on special teams and don't be surprised if he is their nickle back mid way through the season.

Best Pick: Leonard Hankerson WR Miami

Worst Pick: Jarvis Jenkins DT Clemson

Overall Grade: D+