The NFL draft is over and it suddenly seems like a long time to wait for the next meaningful event on the NFL calendar. But frankly we’re still excited trying to break down what it all means for each team and so we’re going to share some of that excitement.
That’s right every team is going to have each pick broken down as well as a look at their undrafted free agents. Next up we're casting our eyes to the NFC East and the New York Giants.
Round 1: Ereck Flowers, T, Miami
Grade: C
The problem with the Flowers selection, is that it's just a little bit high for him to be drafted. Still, he was very good as a pass protector in 2014, giving up zero sacks and 10 total pressures, the latter of which was the third-lowest in this draft class.
Depth Chart Fit: Drafting Flowers allows the Giants to kick Justin Pugh inside to guard if they want to. If not he's likely to be the top backup at right tackle.
Round 2: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Grade: B+
If there is one thing that the Giants needed to address in free agency, it was finding at least one safety. Nat Behre and Cooper Taylor combined for 56 snaps in 2014, and in landing Collins at the top of Round 2 they addressed a position of need, while also adding one of the top defensive backs in this draft class. A solid all-round safety, Collins missed one tackle for every 16.7 attempted, the fifth-best tackling efficiency of any safety in this class.
Depth Chart Fit: Given the inexperience of the other safeties on the Giants roster, there's no reason not to expect Collins to start from day one.
Round 3: Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA
Grade: A+
Gaining increased value with every pick from rounds one to three, the Giants couldn't ignore the value of Odigizuwa in the third round. With 56 total pressures from 212 pass rushing snaps, he had a Pass Rushing Productivity rating of 9.4, the 15th best of any 4-3 defensive end in the class. A solid all-round lineman, he finished the year as our fourth-highest graded player at the position in this draft class.
Depth Chart Fit: At a crowded position for the Giants, he'll likely spend his first season competing with Damontre Moore for snaps as a reserve.
Round 5: Mykkele Thompson, S, Texas
A cornerback at Texas in 2014, Mykelle Thompson figures to move to safety in New York. A solid player in his final year as a Longhorn, Thompson allowed just 422 receiving yards, but did allow a quarterback rating of 89.5 on passes into his coverage.
Depth Chart Fit: He's not as likely to start as Collins, but the Giants safety situation means it's likely to be a competition between Cooper Taylor and Thompson to start at free safety.
Round 6: Geremy Davis, WR, UConn
Just 521 receiving yards from Davis in 2014, but he was tied for the best Drop Rate in the country, with zero drops from 44 catchable passes. That, and his 6-foot-3 frame, likely caught the Giants attention, rather than his output in terms of yards.
Depth Chart Fit: He'll face an uphill battle to be their fifth wide receiver, with Preston Parker, Kevin Ogletree and Juron Criner his primary competition.
Round 7: Bobby Hart, G, Florida State
Starting at right tackle in 2014, he played right guard in the Senior Bowl. Up and down throughout the year, he finished 2014 with a Pass Blocking Efficiency Rating of 96.4, tied for 25th best in the class after allowing 26 total pressures at Florida State last season.
Depth Chart Fit: Another player who faces an uphill battle, Hart would do well to enter the year as the primary backup at either left or right guard.
The Undrafted
Sean Donnelly, T, Tulane: Our fourth-highest graded run blocker at offensive tackle in this draft class.
Cole Farrand, LB, Maryland: He struggled against the run, but only five linebackers in this class had a better coverage grade in 2014.
Justin Currie, S, Western Michigan: Playing 848 snaps in 2014, he graded positively against the run, but negatively in coverage.
Akeem Hunt, HB, Purdue: Hunt forced 40 missed tackles from 117 offensive touches, his Elusive Rating of 61.7 was 15th in this draft class.
Matt LaCosse, TE, Illinois: Playing 386 snaps in 2014, he graded positively as a blocker but negatively as a receiver.
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