Empire Writes Back
Fansided

New York Giants: Reaction To Mel Kiper Jr.’s 2016 NFL Draft Grade

By Kenneth Teape

Oct 4, 2014; College Park, MD, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Eli Apple (13) intercepts Maryland Terrapins quarterback Caleb Rowe (not pictured) pass in the end zone during third quarter at Byrd Stadium. Ohio State Buckeyes defeated Maryland Terrapins 52-24. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2014; College Park, MD, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Eli Apple (13) intercepts Maryland Terrapins quarterback Caleb Rowe (not pictured) pass in the end zone during third quarter at Byrd Stadium. Ohio State Buckeyes defeated Maryland Terrapins 52-24. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

How did the New York Giants do in the 2016 NFL Draft? We react to what ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has to say about the 2016 draft class for the Giants.

The New York Giants came into the 2016 NFL Draft with plenty of needs. Despite the spending spree early in free agency, the Giants roster is barren if much depth or young talent as past drafts have been turned out too well for them. Did they fare better in this year’s draft?

Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN hands out draft grades every year once the process is done. While there is very little grading to do as no one has taken the field yet, and it will take years to truly grade the performance of the players, there is some analysis that can go into it. The biggest thing is the eye test, just seeing which teams added the most talent and if the spot that they added said talent fits a need and value.

For Kiper Jr., he has a simple formula that he follows for his grades. He uses how much overall talent a team added based on board position for both the team and prospect, how effectively they addressed personnel voids on the roster and how efficient were they in maneuvering the draft board.

How did the Giants did based on what Kiper Jr. uses to grade the drafts? He thought that the Giants did very well, giving them a B+ grade. Only six teams received a higher grade than the Giants, while eight teams overall were ranked higher. Here is what Kiper Jr. had to say about the Giants draft, which he thought was rather strong with a B+ grade.

"The Giants did major work in free agency to address what was, at least for them, a historically bad defense last season. But needs are still everywhere, especially on defense. Eli Apple is a really talented kid, and you have to go with your board, but at No. 10 he was a reach on mine as my No. 28th-ranked player. There will be some growing pains as he adjusts to new coaching and different techniques, but that could also bring out the best in him.Sterling Shepard is a great get for any team, and Eli Manning is going to love him. Take that guy anywhere and I’ll like the pick. Darian Thompson is one of the great ball hawks in college football and could emerge as a starter at safety, and B.J. Goodson is a thumper they need at linebacker. Paul Perkins is a really good back at a good value point, and Jerrell Adams is a steal that late. Even with the one reach, this is a fantastic draft."

This was a strong draft for the Giants need wise. While they didn’t add a lineman on either side of the ball, the first time that has happened in franchise history, they did add depth at other areas that needed help. While the Eli Apple pick at No.10 is considered a reach by many, the Giants hit value with the remainder of their picks.

More from New York Giants

Sterling Shepard will help take some pressure off Odell Beckham Jr., and give the Giants more insurance in case Victor Cruz cannot return to the field with the same production he had prior to the injuries the last two seasons. Darian Thompson is a perfect compliment skill set wise to Landon Collins, while B.J. Goodson will help address some of the needs at the second level for the Giants defense.

Paul Perkins will give the Giants something they desperately lack in their backfield as a player that can make opponents miss coming out of the backfield. Jerell Adams was considered a second round pick by some, so getting him in the sixth is a huge steal as Kiper Jr. said, and he could develop into a starter for the Giants with some coaching.

This was a great draft for the Giants based on talent, needs and value. Even though Apple looks like a reach at this point, he has the talent and size to develop into a great corner in the NFL, he is just raw and needs some refinement in his technique. But, the Giants, at least on paper, added three players that could contribute immediately in Apple, Shepard and Thompson, while Goodson, Perkins and Adams could find themselves with prominent roles rather quickly with muddled situations ahead of them on the depth chart.

Next: Osi Umenyiora's Top Five Moments With New York Giants

This was a strong draft from the Giants as they are beginning to turn things around with draft prospects in recent seasons after a long drought of poor drafting.

Home/New York Giants