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Draft Grader: New York Giants

In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve been going back over the 2008, 2009, and 2010 draft class of each franchise and assigning each pick a grade. Up next? Well, that’s the New York Giants.

Each pick between the 2008 and 2010 draft classes has been assigned a grade between +2.0 and -2.0 (in 0.5 increments) that depends upon:

• Where they were drafted
• Their performance
• Their contribution (how many snaps their team got out of them)
• Other factors, such as unforeseen injuries and conditions that could not have been accounted for

Let’s take a look at how the Giants drafted.

 

+2.0: You’ve just found Tom Brady in the 6th round

With Eli Manning on the roster they needn’t worry.

 

+1.5: Getting much more than you bargained for!

Hakeem Nicks, WR (29th overall pick in 2009): The star of the 2009 class, Nicks has been everything the Giants hoped he would be and more. Nothing underlined this like his post season play, where he was a difference-maker on his way to picking up a first Super Bowl ring, collecting 445 yards and four touchdowns. Nicks has amassed a +49.1 grade over four years with the club despite his injuries.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE (15th overall pick in 2010): The scariest thing about Pierre-Paul is he can get better by being more consistent. Even though his sack numbers dropped in 2012, his all-around play really impressed as he finished third overall in our 4-3 defensive end rankings. Well worth his +57.8 grade over three seasons.

 

+1.0: The scouts nailed it!

Mario Manningham, WR (95th overall pick in 2008): Manningham may never have established himself as a true starter for the Giants, but he’s made plays. His 28 forced missed tackles over 2009 and 2010 show what he is capable of, while his Super Bowl catch will live long in the memory of all who watched it. Good value in the third round.

William Beatty, T (60th overall pick in 2009): When he’s started he’s produced, and that’s led to him earning a big multi-year deal with the team. A left tackle who can pass protect and get movement in the run game, Beatty finished the 2012 season as our eighth-ranked left tackle.

 

+0.5: Never hurts to find a solid contributor

Kenny Phillips, S (31st overall pick in 2008): With Phillips not playing all that much in his first two years (719 snaps combined) he kind of fell off the radar, not getting the kind of attention most first-round picks do after a bad injury. When he got back on the field he delivered as you’d expect, but lingering injury problems led to him leaving the team this offseason.

Jonathan Goff, LB (165th overall pick in 2008): What do you expect out of a fifth-round pick? Goff hardly played his first two years, before earning a starting spot as a two-down linebacker in 2010. While something of a liability in coverage, Goff exceeded expectations with a +10.1 run defense grade. Injuries cost him a starting spot and his Giants career, but this was a productive fifth-round pick.

Andre Brown, RB (129th overall pick in 2009): Ruptured his Achilles as a rookie and struggled to recover from it, missing his first two seasons on injured reserve. Subsequently waived as the Giants wondered what might have been, he had visits with a number of clubs before returning to the team. From there he rather incredibly seized his chance in 2012 and that has put him in position for a significant workload in 2013. Interesting career.

Linval Joseph, DT (46th overall pick in 2010): Struggled to get on the field as a rookie before being forced into the starting lineup in Year 2. Responded in a positive fashion to build up a +12.9 grade over his next two seasons. A solid starter who almost warrants a higher grade.

 

0.0: It could have been worse

Terrell Thomas, CB (63rd overall pick in 2008): A talented cornerback, Thomas hasn’t always had the best of times in New York. His excellent 2009 was followed up by a pretty poor 2010 (despite the picks), while missing the next two years with serious injuries. Unfortunate.

Andre Woodson, QB (198th overall pick in 2008): Anyone remember when Woodson was once viewed as a first-round pick? Spent his rookie year bouncing on and off the practice squad before another team decided to end his Giants tenure.

Robert Henderson, DE (199th overall pick in 2008): The former sixth-round pick was waived after spending his rookie year on injured reserve.

Ramses Barden, WR (85th overall pick in 2009): Has failed to make much of an impact despite prototypical NFL size. Showing some production in 2012 stops this being a complete failure of a pick.

Rhett Bomar, QB (151st overall pick in 2009): Spent the majority of his time as a Giant on the practice squad before the Vikings signed him away in December 2010.

Chad Jones, S (76th overall pick in 2010): Still trying to make it onto the field after a horrific car accident that he was in after being drafted.

Mitch Petrus, G (147th overall pick in 2010): Looked solid in the run-blocking department, but a liability on his heels. Cut early on during the 2012 season.

Adrian Tracy, LB (184th overall pick in 2010): One of those tweener linebacker/defensive ends the Giants like. Tracy missed his rookie year on injured reserve before being cut a year later. Found his way back to the Giants and got on the field for 70 uneventful snaps in 2012.

 

-0.5: That pick was not put to good use

Bryan Kehl, LB (123rd overall pick in 2008): This former fourth-round pick got on the field for only 255 snaps while helping out on special teams. You’d like to see more from a player picked where he was.

Travis Beckum, TE (100th overall pick in 2009): The late third-round pick hasn’t exactly starred for the Giants, managing only 585 snaps over four years. Not much of a contributor on special teams, Beckum has failed to take advantage of what opportunities have been presented to him.

DeAndre Wright, CB (200th overall pick in 2009): Cut as a rookie, he wasn’t deemed worth a practice squad spot.

Stoney Woodson, CB (238th overall pick in 2009): Another rookie not deemed worth a practice squad after being waived.

Phillip Dillard, LB (115th overall pick in 2010): The former fourth-rounder saw the field for just three snaps on defense before being cut after a year with the club and the team short on healthy linebackers. Two tackles on special teams in 2010 don’t save this pick.

Matt Dodge, P (221st overall pick in 2010): If you spend a pick on a punter he better be a good one. Dodge was capable of looking good, but too often made bad punts that crippled his team.

 

-1.0: What a waste!

Clint Sintim, LB (45th overall pick in 2009): Injuries haven’t helped Sintim, but the Giants must have been hoping for more than 180 snaps and a -3.9 grade since being drafted.

 

-1.5: The scouts/ coaches failed, big time!

Nothing here.

 

-2.0: You just drafted the love child of JaMarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf!

No Russell/ Leaf hybrids in this draft.

 

Follow Khaled on Twitter: @PFF_Khaled

 

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