Comparing Top 2015 Draft Prospects to Former New York Giants Greats
There are plenty of ways to evaluate the talent of an incoming draft class. You can read scouting reports, watch game film or evaluate combine and pro-day measurements.
One of the simplest methods, however, is to create pro player comparisons.
New York fans know former Giants like the back of their hand, so what better way is there to gauge the fit of a popular draft prospect than to come up with a team-specific player comparison?
This slideshow highlights five draft prospects New York may be targeting this spring and who they may compare to among former Big Blue greats.
Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa
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Giants Comparison: Chris Snee (2004-2013)
| Scherff | Snee | |
| Height | 6'5" | 6'3" |
| Weight | 319 lbs | 305 lbs |
New York's ground game has suffered since 2012, the last time former Giant Chris Snee was a Pro Bowler at right guard. The Giants haven't found a way to replace Snee's presence along the offensive line since his sudden retirement last July, but a pretty good option stares them down in this year's draft.
Iowa's Brandon Scherff might be the best O-lineman in this year's draft, after dominating collegiate competition from his left tackle position. Because Scherff is a much better run-blocker than he is a pass-protector, most evaluators see him as a guard in the NFL, including Bleacher Report's Matt Miller.
The Giants shouldn't limit their options when it comes to replacing Snee, but drafting Scherff to step in as the starting right guard should top the list. It took Snee five seasons to gain the national recognition he deserved—an All-Pro bid in 2008. Scherff, who's bigger and stronger than Snee ever was, will require a fraction of that time to gain similar accreditation.
Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
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Giants Comparison: Osi Umenyiora (2003-2012)
| Ray | Umenyiora | |
| Height | 6'3" | 6'3" |
| Weight | 245 lbs | 255 lbs |
New York's pass rush is on the rise as Jason Pierre-Paul's 2013 back surgery fades further into the past, but the team has lacked an explosive speed-rusher since Osi Umenyiora's departure following the 2012 season. Damontre Moore might be that player in a situational role, but his impact pales in comparison to the every-down motor that Umenyiora flaunted.
Missouri's Shane Ray is a first-round option New York may be considering this spring. Like Umenyiora, Ray lacks ideal length but makes up for it by anticipating the snap and firing out of his stance before anyone else. He possesses the explosive first step and unique technique to spin an offensive tackle on his heels. After earning SEC Defensive Player of the Year and setting a Mizzou school record with 14.5 sacks in 2014, it's easy to imagine Ray having a year like Umenyiora's 2005 All-Pro campaign (career-high 14.5 sacks) in the NFL.
Umenyiora wasn't the most physical defensive end, and he, sometimes, was a liability against the run. Yet, his incredible speed and overall athleticism offered big-play potential on every snap, which made it difficult to take him off the field. Ray will have similar concerns coming out of college, but he can overcome them by producing in the same vein as Umenyiora.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA
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Giants Comparison: Justin Tuck (2005-2013)
| Odighizuwa | Tuck | |
| Height | 6'3" | 6'5" |
| Weight | 267 lbs | 268 lbs |
During New York's 2007 run to Super Bowl XLII, an unheralded defensive end named Justin Tuck came in off the bench to collect double-digit sacks. Four years later, when the Giants returned to the Super Bowl, Tuck had an All-Pro season (2008) under his belt and was the defensive face of the franchise. This growth occurred because Tuck was willing to do the dirty work.
UCLA's Owamagbe Odighizuwa is cut from the same cloth. He isn't touted for his pass-rushing prowess. Instead, he's advertised as one of the best run-defending ends in this year's draft class. After allowing an obscene average of 4.9 yards per carry in 2014, the Giants could use a player like Odighizuwa to hold the left edge.
He lacks Tuck's length, so he may not collect all the sacks that brought Tuck's name into the limelight. However, Odighizuwa's combine numbers paint the picture of an athlete Steve Spagnuolo would love to have in his arsenal. Perhaps the defensive coordinator can pin him in favorable matchups, just like he so often did with a young Tuck during Spags' first stint with the team.
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Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State
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Giants Comparison: Mario Manningham (2008-2011)
| Greene | Manningham | |
| Height | 5'11" | 6'0" |
| Weight | 182 lbs | 185 lbs |
You may have heard of a catch Mario Manningham once made. Well, Rashad Greene has made a living by catching big passes in clutch moments at Florida State. This highlight video is sort of like "The Manningham Catch" played on repeat.
Like Manningham, Greene is a slender receiver who will be guided toward the slot as a pro. Manningham defied being typecast as a slot receiver, though, and Greene should too. Greene's innate feel for the field and ability to pick up yards after the catch make him a dangerous receiver, no matter where he lines up.
Manningham displayed tremendous potential as a No. 2 wide receiver opposite Hakeem Nicks before Victor Cruz's breakout, approaching 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2010. Even after accepting a tertiary role behind Nicks and Cruz, Manningham had a way of coming up with huge catches when the Giants needed them most. Greene has a similar ceiling and can provide that priceless splash of magic.
Duke Johnson, RB, Miami
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Giants Comparison: David Wilson (2012-2013)
| Johnson | Wilson | |
| Height | 5'9" | 5'9" |
| Weight | 207 lbs | 205 lbs |
David Wilson's Giants career lacked the longevity of the other players mentioned on this list. Nonetheless, his impact could have been great. As a rookie in 2012, Wilson was named second-team All-Pro after racking up 1,533 yards as a kick returner. The 327 all-purpose yards (and three total touchdowns) he registered against the New Orleans Saints that year established a new team record, an individual effort the likes of which we may never see again.
When it comes to Miami's Duke Johnson, it's as if someone recycled Wilson's old scouting report. Key words used to describe him—such as "explosive" and "elusive"—ring a bell. Concerns about his pass protection and durability also strike a familiar chord. Second chances don't come around too often, but Johnson looks like a carbon copy of the player New York once wanted its franchise running back to be.
It's difficult to see where Johnson fits in now, with Shane Vereen recently added to a running back mix that already included Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams. However, after Wilson's premature retirement, the prospect of "what could have been" may draw the Giants a little closer to Johnson in this year's draft.
Kevin Boilard writes about the New York Giants at Bleacher Report.
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