Every year, UltimateNYG provides analysis of the NFL Draft and evaluates prospects. We have been doing this since 2008. There is a public paper trail of blog posts and tweets which discuss what we said and when we said it. Each year we almost always did not agree with the choice made by Reese. This did not mean we did not “like” the pick, but often we preferred someone else more. That is what makes the Draft interesting. The only difference here is that we need to review what we touted to see if there is any value we offer on this NY Giants blog for you the reader. If we are not adding incrementally to the discussion of which players are worth taking, then all we are doing is adding noise. However, if we are able to demonstrate competency in player preferences, then we believe we are providing meaningful information that can add to your understanding of the Draft. This is important as we embark on a review (later this week) of the Top Offensive and Defensive prospects for the 2015 Draft.
The methodology used below handed out subjective grades to all NY Giants players and UltimateNYG players selected. We use the 1-7 grading system: 1- Consistent All Pro, 2- All pro, if not in name, 3- Solid Starter, 4- Replaceable Starter, 5- Backup/Specials, 6- Fringe, 7- Bust.
Wonder was my Director of Player Personal and I was the GM. As but one example, in 2012, Wonder was leaning toward Lavonte David in Round 1, but I wanted Cordy Glenn, Peter Konz or Lavonte David. I dug out a tweet after the pick was made.
Wonder on Wilson “best all-around RB in draft” so #nyg got good player, I just would have preferred the OL Glenn.
— Andy Furman (@UltimateNYG) April 27, 2012
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Not every time is the verification so crystal clear. We had a couple of times where there was no discernable single player who we pined for at a particular juncture. This was no more evident than in last year’s draft where we had 10 guys we eyed, they were all gone at 12 when the Giants picked and we would have traded down (essentially a neutral ‘3’ given in Round 1, a ‘4’ given in Round 2). Lower scores are better, so if Reese received a 2 when UltimateNYG received a 3, he would collect 1 point. Where possible, we did what we could to give Reese and the Giants the benefit of the doubt. We felt that JPP’s performance the last 3 years was unremarkable, but we gave him a “1” because of his All-Pro 2011 year. We gave Hankins a ‘2’ instead of a ‘3’ because he is just about there in a very difficult position for a 2nd year player.
[table id=9 /]The Net is that UltimateNYG was +6. We are very proud of our track record of giving solid suggestions for Giants draft choices.
Why did this sort out? Wonder’s picks did not bust and a few of Reese’s did. As we have also noted in a previous verification of Wonder’s Draft grading, we saw that he was a virtual tie with GMs for good players. But when it came to the busts, our draft analyst was better at avoiding the land mines by an entire round (32 picks later in the draft than the GMs). Here in this comparison, that is what happened again. The only bust we liked was Martez Wilson, and even there we wanted LBer and Justin Houston was one of two we wanted. Contrast that with Sintim, Austin and Wilson. I know that some of you may not like calling Wilson a bust, but injuries or not, when your Round 1 RB pick cannot catch passes out of the backfield and he cannot block, it is a problem in a passing league. We also have been open about not wasting R1 picks on RBs, because among other reasons, they get hurt and their careers last the shortest amount of time of ANY position in the NFL. This is on top of platooning, which further dilutes a R1 pick’s value. Add that he lasted a grand total of 2 seasons with an injury, and that blame has to be shouldered by Reese.
A more subtle but even more meaningful advantage for the UltimateNYG selections is that we addressed need where Reese was negligent. Between 2010 and 2012, we constantly harped on the Giants for ignoring and neglecting OL, letting the aging unit corrode without feeding the pipeline. That unit disintegrated in 2013. Only the rash of 3rd stringers, injured and brand new QBs of Josh Freeman, Matt Barkley, Terrelle Pryor, and Scott Tolzien covered up a season that started 0-6 and could have easily finished as bad as 3-13. As early as 2010, this blog was already advocating OL. Reese is picking RB and WR in Round 1 & 2 in 2012 right before his OL is about to implode.
2010- Iupati/Pouncey 2011- Castonzo 2012- Glenn.
Interior Line. Tackle. Tackle.
Castonzo and Glenn are not world beater Offensive Linemen. They are solid starters who protect their QB. One blogger says of Glenn: “Glenn is still, however, Buffalo’s best offensive lineman by a comfortable margin, and we can reliably count on him being the starting left tackle as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal.” On top of outscoring Reese, we addressed a need by getting the resources to where they needed to go. If the Giants had been able to rebuild their OL with credible moves (i.e. not paying 28MM for David Baas), we would not have been advocating that 3 consecutive years. It is worth pointing out that of the 11 players we selected, 6 were LBers, 4 were OLmen, and 1 was TE. This was part of our effort to get solid picks AND build/retool Units that were deficient.
Summarized, this site’s draft commentary adds value. And unlike most other sites, it stands behind what it said and when it said it, unlike the mainstream Draft “gurus” who almost NEVER publicly show their historical draft boards. There is 7 years of draft work here: the good, the bad and the ugly. We are not perfect, and Reese has done good enough in spots. As Giants fans, we are ecstatic that Reese scored with Beckham. That pick saved his job and it saved the team. We just believe the 32 GMs do not have a monopoly on Draft wisdom.
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