New York Giants Draft: Grading the David Wilson Pick

Daily readers will know that although I spend a significant amount of time discussing all things draft, there’s a special place in my heart for the New York Giants–as such sometimes they get special treatment. While the next thirty two days we’ll focus on grading the entire off-season of every team I’m going to have a little extra focus on the New York Giants.

In the 2012 NFL Draft the New York Giants had 7 picks, the allotted picks in each round-minus a fifth rounder which they traded away for Keith Rivers- and an extra 4th round compensatory pick. Interestingly, despite having one of the better offenses in the league last year (8th in the league in total offense, 9th in total points) compared to a suspect defense (27th in yardage, 25th in points), the Giants focused their draft on obtaining offensive play-makers.

The offensive additions started with in the first round when the Giants select Virginia Tech Running back David Wilson. People mistakenly believe that the Giants were targeting Doug Martin with their first round pick and that the Buccaneers swooped in-in front of the New York Giants to take Doug Martin. The Giants have stated that David Wilson was their second ranked running back, which may or may not be a lie-but I believe them.

Jerry Reese said on the Mike Francesa show: (and I’m paraphrasing him a bit) “David Wilson was our highest rated player available at that time. Ahead of Doug Martin and if David Wilson had been gone, Doug Martin  would have been in the conversation but he would not have been our pick we had some guys ahead of him still available.”

The reason is the way the Giants tend to draft–especially early in the draft. The Giants have gravitated towards physical specimens- that is not Doug Martin. Martin is solid in all areas of the game, but not an extremely gifted athetle. David Wilson is. Wilson is a threat to take it the distance every time he touches the football. Until the final month of the pre-draft process David Wilson was also generally ranked ahead of Doug Martin-and is ranked ahead  on my own personal big board.

The reason I prefer David Wilson over Doug Martin is that Wilson can create his own yardage much better than Doug Martin can. Wilson is an underrated in between the tackles runner, and is extremely explosive. David Wilson led all players in College Football in yards after contact. Wilson is a very physical runner. At this best Wilson can be a cross between Ahmad Bradshaw and Tiki Barber.

Wilson is a pretty good receiver out of the backfield-he has 22 receptions this past season- and can also return kicks. Although he is explosive and tough between the tackles, Wilson does have some issues.

Wilson has a problem holding onto the football and fumbled way too much in 2011. Wilson also will be too quick to go East-West instead of North and South, which is something that Tom Coughlin will try to run out of him. Lastly, Wilson will have to improve in pass coverage, and quickly, if he wants to get on the field in the New York Giants offense. The Giants will not running backs onto the field if they cannot be reliable in pass blocking.

How does he fit with the Giants?

Under Tom Coughlin since 2004, the New York Giants have been one of the best running teams in the league, but were dead last in running last year. The Giants averaged only 3.5 yards per carry as a team in 2011. The Giants also lost Brandon Jacobs to free agency (Jacobs signed with the 49ers) and have acknowledged that Ahmad Bradshaw still has not fully healed form his foot injury–an injury that has been lingering throughout his career. It is arguable that running back was the Giants greatest need heading into the draft.

Grade: B/B+

David Wilson was a top 40 player on my big board, so the value of the pick does not bother me. I had Cordy Glenn higher than Wilson on my board and would not have minded the Giants going in that direction. I also thought the Giants would take Stephen Hill out of Georgia Tech, but I’m fine with the pick. Wilson should be a player who sees the field often in 2012. I do not have the same confidence in D.J. Ware as the coaching staff does, and Bradshaw has not shown that he can stay healthy in his career. The Giants are hoping to have more of a balanced offense to keep their defense off the field a little more (the Giants had less than 30 minutes Time of Possession per game less year) and Wilson should help with that.

When solid value fills a need there’s not much to complain about. A good, but not great pick in the first round.