After winning Super Bowl 46 back in February 2012, the New York Football Giants were without playoff football for five seasons, leading to growing pressure on Giants general Jerry Reese. Reese needed to deliver in the 2016 off-season, and he did just that.
As well as the major successes in free agency in building Big Blue’s $200 million defense, the Giants also had a successful draft in 2016, which contributed to their 11-5 record further.
Reviewing the New York Giants 2016 Draft Class
Eli Apple: Pick No. 10 overall, CB, Ohio State
There were hopes from fans that New York would improve their weak offensive line with their first pick. However, after the likes of Jack Conklin and Ronnie Stanley were taken, as well as the infamous video controversy surrounding Laremy Tunsil, Eli Apple was drafted. Cornerback depth was another key issue for the Giants, and this was definitely a successful pick to counter that.
It took a few games for Apple to adapt and develop in Steve Spagnuolo’s secondary, but from there he didn’t look back. He had a very impressive second half to the season, with seven passes defended, one interception and one forced fumble.
This looks to have been a successful first round pick for the Giants, and a player who should develop further in the Giants impressive secondary.
Sterling Shepard: Pick No. 40 of overall, WR, Oaklahoma
Sterling Shepard has been the Giants standout rookie this season. The young receiver lined up both in the slot and on the outside, and helped make up a strong receiving core along with Odell Beckham Jr and Victor Cruz.
The Giants offense had major struggles this season, but the likes of Shepard were favored targets for veteran QB Eli Manning.
Shepard had 65 receptions for 683 yard and 8 touchdowns – a good return for his first NFL season. This young receiver has had a bright future in Pro Football.
Darian Thompson: Pick No. 71 overall, FS, Boise State
Free Safety Darian Thompson was one of the more exciting players that the Giants drafted in the off-season. Coming off a good year at Boise State, Thompson had seven tackles in his first two games.
He was a player with a lot of promise in playing alongside Strong Safety and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Landon Collins, but his season was cut short early after surgery on a foot injury.
Although the Giants secondary still had a very good season, with the likes of rookie Andrew Adams putting in some strong performances in Thompson’s place, it was still a shame for him. Nevertheless, this is another player who should bounce back and cement his starting spot next season.
BJ Goodson: Pick No. 109 overall, OLB, Clemson
BJ Goodson struggled to nail down a large number of snaps in the Giants defense this season. He was further down the depth chart to the likes of Jonathan Casillas, Keenan Robinson, Devon Kennard and Kelvin Sheppard.
The Giants Linebackers played much better than many thought they would this season, but Goodson wasn’t a regular in this group.
He looked pretty solid when he played, making nine tackles and forcing one fumble.
But due to the LB’s ahead of him in the Giants 4-3 defense, Goodson has been a difficult player to review this season.
Paul Perkins: Pick 149 overall, RB, UCLA
The Giants running game has been historically poor this season, averaged only 70 rushing yards per game. The likes of Rashad Jennings struggled, behind very poor offensive line play for much of the season.
However, the emergence of rookie running back Paul Perkins gave Big Blue some hope of improvement.
Perkins picked up 456 rushing yards and 162 receiving yards out of the backfield, and showed his potential as a quick, versatile runner – a different style to Jennings.
While a decent running game never materialized for the Giants, Perkins has plenty of upside. With an improved offensive line next season, Perkins even has the potential to rush for 1000 yards in his second NFL season.
Jerell Adams: Pick 184 overall, TE, South Carolina
The Giants final pick in the draft was a tight end – a position that has been a major issue. The slow offence has been aided by the lack of blocking from the tight end position, as well as the lack of receiving options.
Jerell Adams was third on the depth chart behind Will Tye and Larry Donnell. However, when he has played he has been a good blocker at times in both pass protection and in opening holes for the run game, as well as gaining 122 receiving yards and one touchdown, which came in Week 10 vs Cincinnati.
How big an impact he will have with New York in the long run is yet to be seen, but he has shown some signs of what he can do throughout the season.
