New York Giants : Draft Review 2007

5th Round: Kevin Boss, TE, Western Oregon

Kevin Boss is no longer with the Giants as he was signed away by the Oakland Raiders this past off-season. Boss is tall and a very good red-zone target. He also is a plus blocker. One of the better tight end blockers in the league. Boss had 4 catches for 78 yards vs the Patriots on Sunday. However, Boss has a history of concussions.

Grade: B+

You have to take into consideration the value of the pick. Teams would kill to find aplayer in the fifth round who would be a three year starter and also a player who makes huge plays in big moments (check some Superbowl film!). Boss also had a huge catch that won the Giants a game vs Jacksonville last year. It’s unfortunate that he’s no longer with the team, but the Giants got a lot of value out of the selection of Kevin Boss.

6th round: Adam Koets, C, Oregon State

Koets has been injured the last year and a half before that he was transitioning from tackle (which he played in college) to center which he plays now. He was progressing nicely, but this injury is a huge setback. Koets was a developmental prospect who developed well, but is probably not for long here with the Giants.

Pick Grade: C+/B-

In the sixth round getting  a player who is quality depth and can step in and make starts is good value. Most sixth round picks don’t make rosters.

7th round picks:

Michael Johnson, S, Arizona

Johnson really emerged for the Giants in 2008 where he started 16 games for the Giants and played at a high level. But then he turned into something awful. Paired with C.C. Brown in 2009, Johnson struggled mightily. He looked awful and was eventually released. Johnson was so, so bad in 2009.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Marshall

The little back out of Marshall has been very productive for the Giants and was just rewarded with a nice contract extension. Bradshaw in 2007 came on strong and had a huge run vs Buffalo which sealed a victory for the Giants and catapulted them into the playoffs (and they’d go on to win the Superbowl).

Bradshaw spent 2008 and 2009 getting a mix of carries, and then took over the starting job in 2010 where he carried the ball 276 times for 1235 yards, and 8 touchdowns. He also had 314 yards receiving, but lost six fumbles. This year he’s averaging 4.1 yards per carry and also has two touchdowns.

Grade: A-/B+

Bradshaw has exceeded everyone’s expectations when he was drafted. He is the franchise back for the New York Giants and the fact that he’s only 25 years old means he’ll be carry the rock a lot for the Giants for the next three or four years.

Overall: A-. Reese got great value in each round and everyone of the draft picks made an impact on the Giants over the past few years in some way shape or form. Steve Smith and Bradshaw are renowed players who have great production. Kevin Boss just got a fat free agent contract so at least one other team valued his play highly. Jay Alford had the huge Superbowl play. Aaron Ross hasn’t been a great first round cornerback, but he’s been more than serviceable.

Revisionist history  draft

For each pick I’ll present an alternate pick. The alternate pick will stay around the same pick that was originally made (ie if there’s a good undrafted free agent who came out of this class I’m not going to mock him in the second round because no one thought he was worth that value at that time). I’ll also give a run down of the next four players of that position to be drafted marking them as similar players (=), better players (+) or worse players (-)

Alternate pick: Jon Beason, Carolina Panthers, MLB. Beason has turned into one of the best middle linebackers in the game. Like I said before Ross was instrumental in the Giants superbowl run and he is needed this year because of all of the corneback injuries, but I think most fans would prefer to see Jon Beason in Blue than Aaron Ross.

Next four cornerbacks drafted: Chris Houston (=), Eric Wright (-), Josh Wilson (+), Usama Young (-)

Round 2 Steve Smith

Alternate pick: Ryan Kalil, C, Carolina Panthers

What a quality first two rounds the Panthers had in 2007, no? Given the problems the Giants have at center today Kalil sure would look nice, but at the time the Giants had Shaun O’hara so Kalil wouldn’t have played much until last season when O’hara’s age finally caught up with him.

Next four WR drafted: Jacoby Jones (-), Yamon Figures (-), Laurent Robinson (-), Jason Hill (-)

Round 3: Jay Alford

Alternate pick: Charles Johnson, DE, Carolina Panthers

Well certainly didn’t realize how good the Panthers draft was in 2007 until I started this little exercise. Johnson had a huge season last year with 11.5 sacks and while people thought it was a fluke Johnson has started this season strong with 4 sacks already through the first four games.

Next four DL picked: Tank Tyler (+) Brandon Mebane (+), Quinn Pitcock (-), Paul Solali (+)

Round 4: pick Zak De Ossie

Alternate pick: Scott Chandler, TE, Bills

Hopefully this pick shows people how difficult it is to find value after the first couple rounds of the draft. Chandler is not a dynamic player and is just starting to emerge in Buffalo, but there is little value found after the Zak De Ossie pick in the fourth round. Chandler would be a better option than Ballard or Beckum right now. The next couple of linebackers wouldn’t be bad choices either, though maybe not great system fits.

Next four linebackers: Antwan Barnes (+), Clint Session (+), Dallas Sartz (-), Johnny Baldwin (-)

Round 5 pick: Kevin Boss

Alternate pick: Yuck. Brent Celek?

Boss was the best pick in the fifth round, especially from the point with which the Giants picked moving forward, and it’ snot even close. Celek had one good season, but hasn’t been the same. He also isn’t the blocker Boss is.

Next four Tight ends: Dante Rosario (-), Brent Celek (-), Ben Patrick (-), Tyler Ecker (-)

Round 6 pick: Adam Koets

altnerate pick: Desmond Bishop, LB, Green Bay Packers

Bishop game on strong last year whit a 103 tackles and 3 sacks with 8 passes defensed and 1 INT. This year he has 36 tackles and 2 sacks. A very solid player. Great value for the Packes there.

Next four T: Ken Shackelford (-), Herb Taylor (-), Corey Hillard (+), Chris Denmand (-)

Round 7 pick Michael Johnson

Alternate pick: Jason Snelling, RB, Altanta

Snelling is a player that interested the Giants in free agency this year as a possible insurance plan if Bradshaw left teh team.

Round 7 pick: Bradshaw

Altenrate pick: Chinedum Ndukwe, CB

Clearly not better than Bradshaw, but a player that contributed in the N.F.L.

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