The New York Giants have wasted opportunities to get better in the NFL Draft – that’s a known fact. The team has hit on some selections, like Saquon Barkley and arguably quarterback Daniel Jones, but the team has also missed in several drafts with their first round picks and brought in players like Ereck Flowers and Eli Apple who have ended up off the team after a relatively short period after disappointing stints.
Overall, while they have brought in some good players in recent years in the Draft, and found some gems like Darius Slayton last year, they aren’t a great drafting team. That was reflected when the New York Post released their annual five year draft ratings.
The Giants fell from 8 to 20, a large drop that shows just how bad the last few years have been for the franchise. One of the primary reasons, of course, is that the draft where the Giants picked Odell Beckham Jr. has fallen out of the time frame of the rankings.
20. New York Giants (8)
Pro Bowlers: 2
Best Pick: Landon Collins (2015, second round)
Worst Pick: Ereck Flowers (2015, first round)The Giants drop 12 spots this year with Odell Beckham Jr. coming off the books. The Giants’ 29 wins in this period are better than just one team — the Browns. Daniel Jones looks like a keeper and could boost this score in the coming years.
The team has of course brought in some players that will last such as Saquon Barkley, but there’s been just as many players such as Flowers and Eli Apple, and even Landon Collins – while Collins was listed by this article as the best pick of the Giants during the last five years, somewhat interestingly considering the Giants took Barkley during that span, he’s not currently a part of the team’s long term future after not being a good enough fit at the end of the day.
The Giants have a pivotal draft coming up this month. Depending on what happens, either the team will take a step forward in the rebuilding process with the addition of a highly touted college player, or General Manager Dave Gettleman will likely reach the end of his leeway with the organization and enter the season on the hot seat after wasting a chance for the team to improve. Furthermore, the effects of this year’s draft may ripple through the next years as much as any recent one. This is, after all, a turning point year in the rebuilding process.