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New York Giants: Re-analyzing the 2014 NFL Draft

By Kenneth Teape

Sep 25, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) carries the ball as Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) is tackled by Giants center Weston Richburg (70) at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) carries the ball as Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) is tackled by Giants center Weston Richburg (70) at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sports Illustrated re-analyzed the 2014 NFL Draft and the New York Giants come away doing very well in the re-analyzing.

The New York Giants have the look of a team that is once again close to competing for Super Bowls. After missing the postseason for four straight seasons, the Giants made a return this past season.

In 2016 the Giants won 11 games, earning the top Wild Card spot. They lost to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, which was disappointing. But the season as a whole should be labeled a success as they took a few steps forward.

Winning 11 games in Ben McAdoo’s first season as head coach was impressive. The Giants took advantage of an underwhelming schedule that helped ease McAdoo and his staff into their new roles. They will now be better prepared for 2017 as they continued to improve the roster this season.

Jerry Reese spent big in 2016 to improve the roster in free agency. A big reason a team has to spend in free agency is because they have struck out in the NFL Draft. For a while, the draft was a weak spot for the Giants.

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Only Jason Pierre-Paul, drafted in 2010, and Justin Pugh, selected in 2013, remain on the roster from the first four drafts this decade. It is not a coincidence that the Giants did not make the postseason again until this past season after winning the Super Bowl for the 2011 season. It is also not a coincidence that they returned this past season once the drafting improved.

The Giants luck finally began turning in the NFL Draft in 2013. They landed Pugh in the first round and Johnathan Hankins in the second round. Hankins left this offseason as a free agent but was productive most of his time with the Giants. The following year is when the Giants really hit a home run.

In 2014 the Giants struck gold with their first-round pick, wide receiver, Odell Beckham Jr. Sports Illustrated’s Chris Burke re-analyzed the 2014 NFL Draft, and Beckham Jr. was his selection for the Giants best pick of the draft. Beckham Jr. was just one of many solid picks Reese made that year. The Giants received an A- on the re-analyzing grade as well.

One of the unspectacular selections was running back Andre Williams, who was picked in Round Four. Williams was Burke’s pick as the worst selection for the Giants in 2014. Here is what Burke had to say about his best and worst pick for the Giants.

"The Giants probably could have shut it down after Beckham. The ultra-talented wide receiver gets a little too agitated from time to time, but he’s on a Hall of Fame career arc through three seasons. C Weston Richburg (No. 43) was a bonus on top of the Beckham haul—he has started 46 games for the Giants since his selection. The Giants also could have done worse than DT Jay Bromley (No. 74) and DE/OLB Devon Kennard by Round 5 (No. 174). To wit: Williams lasted just two seasons in New York."

The Giants hit a home run during the 2014 NFL Draft. It started with Beckham, but as Burke states, it did not stop there.

In the second round, the Giants selected the centerpiece of their offensive line in Weston Richburg. In the third round, they selected defensive tackle Jay Bromley, who will have a bigger role this season with Hankins gone.

Kennard has been a good pass rusher for the Giants from the linebacker. If he can remain healthy his production will increase as well. Nat Berhe has battled injuries as well, being beset by concussions, but was a heavy hitter when on the field and special teams contributor.

The only other miss from this year was sixth round pick, Bennett Jackson. The Giants had hopes that they could mold the Notre Dame cornerback into a safety, but injuries never allowed it come to fruition.

Next: Complete 2017 NFL Draft First Round Grades

2014 can be looked at as the year that the Giants started their retooling. They selected multiple foundational pieces in addition to successful role players. As the team continues to move forward, this will be a draft class looked back on as the one that really got things going again.

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