NFL Draft 2012: Breaking Down and Grading Each Pick of the New York Giants

The 2012 draft is in the books!

This article will attempt to break down every facet of your defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants' picks and what each player brings to the team.

There will be a grade awarded for each player selected, as well as the pick that was used for that selection.

We will also touch upon the implications of each selection and what the Giants could have done better, as well as some questionable calls.

Let's get started!

David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech, Round 1 No. 32 (No. 32 Overall)

With their first pick in the draft, the Giants selected David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech.

The Player

At 5'10", 210 lbs, David Wilson amassed 1706 yards at a 5.9 average with nine touchdowns his junior year at Tech. He is an explosive runner and a kick-off return specialist.

This man is exciting to watch play. He runs with amazing field vision and has enough power and speed to be an every down back. He also refuses to go down and has a great sense of balance. Wilson is a phenomenal leader, as you can see from the highlights from the US vs. Canada football game.

The knock on David Wilson is that he is too small to be an every-down back and cannot rush between the tackles. This is a common misconception as he has proven tough and physical enough to shed tackles. He amassed over 1000 yards after contact last year—enough said.

Like Tiki Barber, another RB from Virginia, Wilson has had a case of fumbilitis and has lacked in pass protection. Tom Coughlin and company have proven to cure fumbilitis from their young RBs and teach them to be good at pass protection. Other than Tiki, doesn't this sound similar to Ahmad Bradshaw when he first came into the league?

The player himself is explosive and a leader, and his deficiencies can be fixed by this coaching staff. He will step in immediately to fill the role of the departed Brandon Jacobs in both carries and leadership capacity.

Player Grade: B+

The Pick:

Tom Coughlin, Jerry Reese and head of scouting Marc Ross all said in their press conferences that Wilson was both the highest rated player on their board at the time of the pick as well as the second best RB, behind Trent Richardson.

Many analysts had believed that the Giants would have preferred Doug Martin (RB Boise ST), whom Tampa Bay took with the 31st pick. However, this has been debunked.

The only negative aspect of this pick overall is that the Giants could have traded back into the middle of the second and probably still gotten Wilson.

Pick Grade: C+

Overall: B/B-

Rueben Randle, WR, LSU, Round 2 No. 31 (No. 63 Overall)

With their second pick in the draft, The Giants selected Rueben Randle, WR, LSU.

The Player:

At 6'4", 215 lbs, Rueben Randle is a big, physical receiver that is coming from a pro-style offense. The Giants believe that he is "NFL ready" because he ran all the route trees at LSU.

Randle did not have the most eye-popping numbers in terms from production during his last year at LSU. However, this is attributed to the horrible quarterbacks that LSU deployed, as well as their emphasis on the run. He did average 17.9 yards per catch, which is more indicative of his capabilities.

The knock on Randle is that he does not possess top end speed and cannot separate from defensive backs at the next level. If you can recall, this is exactly what people said about Hakeem Nicks coming out of the draft, and look how that worked out.

Randle is one of the steals of the draft and has an unbelievable ceiling. He will step in immediately and compete for the third wide receiver position behind Nicks and Cruz.

Jerry Reese put it perfectly. If you put Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz at the combine, they wouldn't stand out. However, on the football field, they take their game to the next level. Randle has been compared to a Hakeem Nicks except taller and bigger.

Sign me up.

Player Grade: A-

The Pick:

Jerry Reese & Co told the media that they considered Randle at No. 32 during the first round and were ecstatic that he was still on the board during the second. He was also the last player in the Green Room, showing that the NFL thought he would go during the first day. So the value of this pick is classic Reese.

Pick Grade: A+

Overall: A

Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech, Round 3 No. 31 (No. 94 Overall)

With their third pick in the draft, the Giants selected Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech.

The Player:

At 5'10", 182 lbs, Hosley amassed an incredible nine interceptions his sophomore year at Tech. He is incredibly quick, with smooth hips and ball-hawk skills.

ESPN's sports science showed that he can put his hands on the ball thrown to a player from eight yards away at the time of release. He was also David Wilson's roommate at Tech, which should help the both of them.

The knock on Hosley is that he is tiny and, because of this, cannot be used in run support and will have difficulty in covering taller receivers. However, Jerry Reese said he plays with physical arrogance and throws his body around on tackles. He can also jump up and reach a ball 11 feet in the air.

His build and play style are similar to Adam "PacMan" Jones and Asante Samuel.

There is also a concern with his lack of interception numbers going from his sophomore to junior year. However, that can be attributed to opposing teams not throwing the ball his way.

This kid is a playmaker and should step in immediately in nickle packages and as a slot corner. The slot was abused by opposing teams against the Giants last year, and he is a prototypical slot corner.

Player Grade: A-

The Pick:

Jerry Reese said it perfectly by saying that if Hosley was the exact same player but two inches taller, he would have gone in the first round.

Hosley was rated as a fringe first-rounder on the Giants board and landed to them at the end of the third round, which is great value. It is hard to predict how far Hosley would have fallen, so I think the Giants got him right where they should have.

Pick Grade: B

Overall: B+

Adrien Robinson, TE, Cincinnati, Round 4 No. 32 (No. 127 Overall)

With their fourth pick in the draft, the Giants selected Adrien Robinson, TE, Cincinnati.

The Player:

"The JPP of Tight Ends," as dubbed by Jerry Reese, Robinson is an athletic freak at 6'5", 270 pounds with a 4.57 40-yard dash.

He is a developmental prospect that won't see the offensive field in 2012. He is new to football and was a basketball player in high school. The Giants are very high on him, and he is a luxury selection.

The knock on Robinson is his lack of production at Cincinnati. However, this can be attributed to his lack of experience at the sport, as well as the style of offense Cincinnati ran. Cincinnati ran a shotgun quick read offense that did not give Robinson many opportunities to be a difference maker.

However, the reviews and recommendations from the Cincinnati coaches confirm their belief in his capabilities against the limitations of the system they ran. He can also be a force at the point of attack in run blocking.

The Giants believe he has limitless potential and brought him in pre-draft on many occasions. The tight end coach Mike Pope is the best in the business, so look for Robinson to develop and perhaps see the field in 2013.

Player Grade: A-

The Pick:

This is an absolute reach for the Giants. They may have been high on Robinson (and rightfully so), but they could have maximized the value of their first fourth-round selection by choosing him later in the draft. They also could have traded down and picked up an additional pick.

That being said, the Giants wanted this player very badly and did not want to chance him slipping out of their fingers. Being the defending Super Bowl champions, they are allowed to do such things.

Pick Grade: C+

Overall: B

Brandon Mosley, OT, Auburn, Round 4 No. 36 (No. 131 Overall), Compensatory

With their fifth pick in the draft, the Giants selected Brandon Mosley, OT, Auburn.

The Player:

Mosley is 6'5", 315 lbs and "big, tough and smart," according to Jerry Reese. He can play both tackles and even play some guard.

He has been said to be light on his feet with good footwork for someone his size. He adds insurance and depth and to the line and played against high competition. He excels at creating holes and creating havoc in the second level.

He played tight end and defensive end at junior college before coming over to the tackle position at Auburn. He might need some time to develop and add weight, but Jerry Reese believe that will not be an issue.

With his versatility and toughness, he will compete for the right tackle positions right out of camp.

Player Grade: B-

The Pick:

Mosley was rated around the 10th-15th rated tackle in the draft, so he went around where he was supposed to go. He is a bit of a developmental prospect and I would have liked to see the Giants address their offensive line needs a little earlier, but the value was not there.

If the front office thinks he can compete right out of the gate, they must see a valuable player.

Pick Grade: C

Overall Grade: C+

Matt McCants, OT, UAB, Round 6 No. 31 (No. 201 Overall)

With their sixth pick in the draft, the Giants selected Matt McCants, OT, UAB.

The Player:

Yet another developmental OL prospect, McCants has the size (6'5", 310 lbs) and athleticism to develop into a quality tackle at the next level. His long arms and quick feet are ideal for the left tackle position, but he will not see the field in 2012.

The knock on McCants is his weight and technique, both of which can and will be addressed by the coaching staff. The Giants have a knack for selecting prospects with weaknesses that can be corrected, which has led them to general success in their draft process.

Player Grade: B

The Pick:

Great value at the positions he was drafted. He was ranked anywhere from seventh to 15th on people's OL big board prior to the draft.

The Giants staff believe that OL prospects are meant to be groomed and look for specific traits of athleticism and long arms in drafting them.

The late rounds of the draft are meant for prospects with weaknesses, and it is very difficult to get a better prospect than Matt McCants.

Pick Grade: A-

Overall: B+

Markus Kuhn, DT, N.C. State, Round 7 No. 32 (No. 239 Overall)

With their seventh and final pick of the draft, the Giants selected Markus Kuhn, DT, N.C. State.

The Player:

A newcomer from Germany, the 6'4", 300 lb Kuhn is a developmental prospect, starting only one year at N.C. State. He plays hard but is extremely raw. At this stage of development, he is very good at rushing the passer but has to work on technique and footwork to avoid double teams.

Kuhn will not see the field much if at all in 2012. He is very new to football but shows great ability and determination. He has a high motor, and the Giants believe he can develop into a great force inside the line.

Player Grade: C-

The Pick:

The seventh round is a crap shoot, and the only thing teams can look for is a developmental prospect. Kuhn fits that definition perfectly as he is new to the game and shows flashes of brilliance. Jerry Reese said they were having discussions about selecting Kuhn as early as the fourth round, so to snag him in the final couple selections is a steal.

Pick Grade: B

Overall: C+

Final Word

Final Draft Grade: B+

Overall, the Giants quietly had a very productive draft, combining need with value. They filled the holes of the departed Brandon Jacobs, Mario Manningham and Aaron Ross, while not reaching too far for any players.

The Giants shored up their TE, LB and OL immediate needs through trades and free agency to allow them to select playmakers in the first few rounds.

Because Jerry Reese does not believe that offensive linemen are worth taking early (generally), they took two huge tackles late in the draft with tremendous upside. With their coaching staff and luxury of developmental time, this is a great strategy to attack the draft.

The combination of immediate impact, value, and developmental potential of the 2012 draft class makes it an incredibly successful one.

However, the only negative of this draft, and their strategy in general, is that they need to be aware of how their board matches up with the general consensus. If a player they love who is the highest on their board has a lower grade than other teams, they need to attempt to trade down.

David Wilson, for example, would have most likely still be available in the middle of the second round.

All in all, I am excited to see these guys in action. The first three rounds reaped quick, physical playmakers who should have an immediate impact on the 2012 season.

We fans should be so happy that we have an incredible front office.

Go G-Men!