2016 NFL Draft: New York Giants Select WR Sterling Shepard
In the 2016 NFL Draft, the New York Giants hit a need with their second round pick, selecting Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard 40th overall.
With the 40th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the New York Giants used their second round pick on Oklahoma wide receiver Sterling Shepard. Wide receiver was a need for the Giants, and Jerry Reese filled it with the selection of Shepard.
Shepard is small in stature, standing only 5-feet-10 1/4 inches tall and weighing 194 pounds, but he brings a lot to the table. Many people will compare him to Seattle Seahawks’ third round pick from 2015, Tyler Lockett, but Shepard is much more polished as a wide receiver. He may not be as dynamic in the return game or have the same athleticism or explosiveness, but he makes up for it with how much more advanced as a receiver he is.
Shepard was extremely productive at Oklahoma, catching 233 receptions for 3,482 yards and 26 touchdowns. He has experience playing on either side of the perimeter and in the slot, giving the Giants some versatility to move him around the offense.
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Shepard can also be used in the return game, giving him even more versatility that the Giants covet. He averaged 7.3 yards per punt return on 29 punt returns, and could challenge for that job depending on what the Giants decide to do with special teams ace Dwayne Harris.
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After watching Rueben Randle struggle mentally on the field with drops and poor route running, Shepard will be a welcome sight. He will bring quality hand-eye coordination and a minuscule 2.1 drop percentage, the best of the top-15 wide receiver prospects in this draft class. He has outstanding ball skills, and makes up for his small frame with excellent athleticism, as he can jump with the best of them and snatch the ball out of the air when passes are thrown over his head.
The route running is solid as well, as Shepard’s instincts and knowledge of the position help make up for his size, which is the only true knock against him. He does not possess the big play ability for someone his size, but he is not afraid of going over the middle and is a willing blocker in the running game.
Shepard is the exact kind of player that the Giants look for when selecting, as he brought a ton of production to the field and was durable. If the stats do not speak enough, he graded out as the top wide receiver in college last season according to Pro Football Focus.
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While some receivers that were graded higher than Shepard available, such as Ohio State’s Michael Thomas and Pittsburgh’s Tyler Boyd, Shepard is a solid addition to a team that was lacking much behind Odell Beckham Jr.