New York Giants 2010 NFL Draft Grade
NEW YORK GIANTS
1.15 Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, USF
The Giants have a lot riding on some athletic freaks with high upside and buckets of raw ability. Pierre-Paul could be the next DeMarcus Ware, or he could fizzle out like Vernon Gholston. His saving grace could be continuing to play with his hand in the dirt in New York instead standing up in a 3-4. The Giants usually don’t draft like this, but if Pierre-Paul lives up to his hype, he’ll be a welcome addition. GRADE: B
2.46 Linval Joseph, DT, ECU
Linval Joseph has flown up draft boards in the last few weeks, and he could be the defensive tackle that New York was looking for in Fred Robbins, Chris Canty, and Rocky Bernard last season. He’s another high boom or bust prospect for the Giants, but they really need a monster in the middle, and Joseph has great size (6-04 330) and elite quickness for someone so large. Again, plenty of potential here. GRADE: B
3.76 Chad Jones, S, LSU
Jones has some coverage issues, but he can man the back end of the Tampa 2 pretty well with Antrel Rolle, and he’s a vicious tackler. He also pitched for LSU’s national championship baseball team, so his athleticism isn’t a question. He’s just going to need some refinement. It’s a perfect fit scheme-wise. GRADE: B+
3ROUND GRADE: B
4.115 Phillip Dillard, ILB, Nebraska
The Giants needed a guy to replace Antonio Pierce, and they got a true “football player” type in Dillard. He won’t wow anyone with his athleticism, and he may not be the best fit for this system, but he’s a tough, productive, downhill player who will push for early PT. GRADE: B
5.147 Mitch Petrus, OG, Arkansas
I really like this pick. The Giants need to get back to pounding the ball up front and Petrus has opened holes for a lot of guys — Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, Peyton Hillis, and Michael Smith. He’s a road grader. GRADE: B+
6.184 Adrian Tracy, DE, William & Mary
Purely a pass rusher in my mind, Tracy is still a decent pick. He’ll help add a situational guy to this front with good length and a knack for getting to the quarterback. I’m not sure he was the biggest need or value here, however. GRADE: C+
7.221 Matt Dodge, P, East Carolina
The Giants apparently got a call from Jeff Feagles saying that he’s about ready to hang it up, and probably won’t play this season. That’s all that really needs to be said. Right round for a punter. GRADE: C
Best Pick: Chad Jones
Worst Pick: Adrian Tracy
Sleeper Pick: Linval Joseph
FINAL ANALYSIS
The Giants entered last season with a D line that made us all think they were going to wreck teams up front. That didn’t happen. Rocky Bernard and Chris Canty didn’t help. The defensive ends couldn’t get to the quarterback, and Fred Robbins doesn’t even play for the team anymore. So defensive line was the top priority. And they treated it as such. Joseph and Pierre-Paul are two offseason risers who have incredible potential. Joseph’s mobility is uncanny for a 300+ pounder. He’s been playing a lot longer than JPP, and that might make him the better of the two, at least early on. JPP played only one season of FBS football, and still wasn’t that productive despite immense physical gifts and the bonus of playing across from George Selvie. He’s a big time risk for years worth of rewards if he can put it all together.
Jones is an athletic playmaker who seemed to come through in the clutch for LSU time and again last season. He needed to go to a Tampa 2 team so that his ability to play the ball in front of him could be maximized. He’s got some of Taylor Mays’s size and hitting prowess but has better coverage skills. With Kenny Philips’s future in question, a safety was needed. Tracy seems pretty one-dimensional to me, but the Giants did need pass rushers. Just thought he was a better fit as an OLB in the 3-4. Petrus and Dillard are hard-working blue collar guys who will find a way to contribute to this team. I already mentioned that Dodge kicks the ball.
New York really had to find some help for a surprisingly porous and paltry D line. They got some players who could make this draft an A+ if they hit, but there was just too much risk involved with each of their first three picks. Not sure why they deviated from a pretty reliable strategy.
FINAL GRADE: B-
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|JAX|KC|MIA|MIN|NE|NO|NYG|NYJ|OAK|PHI|PIT|SD|SF|SEA|STL
|TB|TEN|WAS|
