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New York Giants: Ranking 2017 NFL Draft class pick by pick

By Kenneth Teape

Jan 15, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; General manager Jerry Reese and new head coach Ben McAdoo shake hands during a New York Giants press conference at Quest Diagnostics Training Center Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; General manager Jerry Reese and new head coach Ben McAdoo shake hands during a New York Giants press conference at Quest Diagnostics Training Center Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Giants Select Alabama Defensive Tackle Dalvin Tomlinson 55th In 2017 NFL Draft
Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (54) in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

3rd) Defensive Tackle, Dalvin Tomlinson; Alabama

This was a strong pick by the Giants. With Johnathan Hankins leaving as a free agent, the Giants had a huge hole to fill on the interior of their defensive line. Tomlinson should be able to fill that hole right away.

Tomlinson was arguably the best run defender in this year’s draft class. He is a massive man, standing 6-feet-3 inches tall and weighing 310 pounds. Alongside Damon Harrison, the Giants run defense should continue to be one of the best in the NFL. The Giants also have very good run defenders at defensive end in Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon.

Why this pick isn’t higher is because Tomlinson isn’t a perfect fit for the Giants. He will help keep the run defense strong, but he brings virtually nothing as a pass rusher. Ideally, the Giants could have used someone with more of a pass rushing presence in the middle of their defensive line.

Also hurting his standing in the rankings was that he was a reach for the Giants. There were other defensive tackles, such as Chris Wormley, available. Tomlinson also has some durability concerns as he tore the ACL in both knees earlier in his career at Alabama.

Tomlinson will contribute right away, which is a positive. But, his limited contributions as a pass rusher will cap his productivity with the team. Luckily the Giants have some defensive tackles that have flashed as pass rushers in Jay Bromley and Robert Thomas. They should combine with Tomlinson to form a solid rotation in the middle of the Giants defensive line for Steve Spagnuolo.

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