NY Giants Draft Picks: Results, Analysis and Grades

Break out the fans because it’s time to blow away the thick layers of smoke that have clouded the New York Giants’ 2015 plans and get to the bottom of how general manager Jerry Reese intends to use this year’s NFL draft to further strengthen the roster.

The Giants needs are plenty. Offensive line, defensive line, safety and cornerback are just a few of the key positions that Reese is sure to be targeting if he can find value in this draft class.

Other positions such as receiver, running back, linebacker and tight end are also possibilities, perhaps as late as Day 3 of the draft.

Once the draft gets started, I will update this slideshow with some quick thoughts on the pick. Within each slide, you will find a widget that tracks the selections made in that round so you can follow along to see which prospects are coming off the board.

I will also be posting a more in-depth look at each pick, presented in order. Where applicable, I will include notes and quotes from the players, Reese, head coach Tom Coughlin and vice president of player evaluation Marc Ross, depending on who is made available by the Giants public relations department.

As you wait for the start of the draft, I recommend you check out my final seven-round Giants mock draft and my big board of prospects covering positions thought to be the Giants’ greatest needs.

As always, your comments about the picks and what the Giants should do in the remaining rounds are welcomed. I will try to respond to comments and questions as best as I can during the draft.

May the Giants make your draft wishes come true. Enjoy the draft, everyone!

Round 1, Pick 9: Ereck Flowers

After seeing Washington snap up Brandon Scherff with the fifth overall pick, the New York Giants went to Plan B, selecting Miami (Florida) OT Ereck Flowers with the ninth overall pick.

The 6’6”, 329-pound Flowers, rated as NFL Draft Scout’s fourth-best offensive tackle in this draft, becomes the third straight premium draft pick taken by the Giants for their offensive line.

Flowers, who joins 2013 first-round pick Justin Pugh and 2014 second-round pick Weston Richburg, will form the nucleus of that Giants offensive line, which last year, per Football Outsiders, was ranked 22nd in the league as a run-blocking unit and 24th overall as a pass-blocking unit.

Flowers should be the Giants’ opening-day starting right tackle, which would move Pugh inside to left guard. Richburg will move from left guard to center, and veterans Will Beatty, a second-round pick in 2009, and Geoff Schwartz, a free-agent acquisition last offseason, will round out the starting offensive line unit at left tackle and right guard respectively.

Grade: A-

Round 2, Pick 33: Landon Collins

It wasn’t exactly a blockbuster trade, but—hey—desperate times call for desperate measures.

The New York Giants—which desperately tried to land free-agent safety Devin McCourty only to lose out on his services, according to the New York Daily News' Ralph Vacchiano—put together a significant second-day trade to move up seven spots in the second round in order to grab Alabama safety Landon Collins.

New York, which sent its No. 40 overall (second round), No. 108 overall (fourth round) and No. 245 overall (its second pick in the seventh round) picks to the Tennessee Titans, lands Collins, considered the best strong safety on the board by NFL Draft Scout.

"

I'm a Giant baby 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾💯💯💯 #LetsGo

— LANDON COLLINS (@ALLAMERICAN_2) May 1, 2015"

The Giants, however, see Collins as a versatile safety who, in addition to being able to play in the box, will have to play that deep center field role on occasion. This would suggest that new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo sees his safeties as being versatile in the new scheme.

Collins, who took to Twitter to express his disappointment about not being selected in the first round, will join the Giants as a motivated player.

Both head coach Tom Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese hope Collins will use that motivation to push young veterans Josh Gordy, Nat Berhe and Cooper Taylor to become better players. 

Grade: A

Round 3, Pick 74: Owa Odighizuwa

Former general manager Ernie Accorsi once opined that a team could never have too many pass-rushers on its roster.

Well, apparently current general manager Jerry Reese, who came up in the system in Accorsi’s regime, must feel the same way given the team’s selection of UCLA defensive end Owa Odighizuwa in the third round of the draft.

Odighizuwa, 6’3”, 267 pounds, is the fifth-best defensive end on NFL Draft Scout’s defensive end board. He gives the Giants another pass-rusher at a position that, while appearing to have a healthy number of bodies for 2015, could find itself in a state of change after this year. 

Jason Pierre-Paul looks as though he will play 2015 on the franchise tender as the Giants attempt to figure out if he can be the dynamic force he was in 2011 before committing to a long-term deal.

Robert Ayers Jr. and Damontre Moore are both recovering from injuries—Ayers suffered a season-ending chest muscle injury for which he did not have surgery, while Moore underwent offseason shoulder surgery earlier this year, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.

The Giants, who cut Mathias Kiwanuka in February, signed defensive end George Selvie to a one-year contract in March, and they also have Kerry Wynn, who impressed once he finally got onto the field.

Where might Odighizuwa, whom Reese confirmed to reporters is being viewed as a defensive end for the Giants, fit in for the team?

That could depend on the health status of Moore and Ayers as well as the health of Odighizuwa, who had multiple surgeries on his hips.

Odighizuwa, who played in a 3-4 base defense for the Bruins, could ultimately take on a role similar to what Justin Tuck, another Giants’ third-round pick, played for New York, a role in which he moves inside on passing downs and stays outside against the run.

Grade: B+

Unless otherwise noted, all scouting reports are from NFLDraftScout.com (via CBSSports.com), and player information and stats are via NFL.com and Sports-Reference.com, respectively. 

Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.

Round 4, Pick 108: Traded

The Giants traded this pick to Tennessee as part of the deal to move up in the secoond round to select safety Landon Collins.

Round 5, Pick 144: Mykkele Thompson

After sitting out the fourth round, the Giants went back to work in the draft, and some might understandably wonder if perhaps they were rusty following the long delay.

New York, who traded its fourth-round pick as part of a package of picks that included its second and the second of two seventh-round picks to Tennessee in order to move up seven slots in the second round to grab safety Landon Collins, grabbed another safety in the fifth round of the draft.

The pick is Mykkele Thompson (6’2”, 191 lbs) out of Texas. A durable defensive back who appeared in every game during his four seasons, Thompson started 31 of 52 games, recording 213 tackles (125) solo, one sack, seven tackles for a loss, one quarterback pressure, two interceptions and three pass breakups, playing free safety, outside cornerback and slot cornerback.

Thompson, who on a call with the Giants media revealed that the Giants were the only team that brought him in for a visit, also revealed that he was surprised to hear his name called. "I thought free agency was going to be the main goal, probably."

He is probably not the only one who thought that, though it’s possible that Thomas’ special teams play is what drew the Giants’ attention.

Thompson has blocked three punts and one kick in college, finishing with nine special teams tackles in his career, eight of them coming in his first season in 2011. 

With DT Michael Bennett still on the board when this pick was made, this pick qualifies as the head-scratcher of the day for Big Blue.

Grade: D

Round 6, Pick 186: Geremy Davis

Fred Beckham/Associated Press

With question marks about how effective receiver Victor Cruz’s surgically repaired knee might respond, the Giants added to their growing wide receiver pool by selecting UConn’s Geremy Davis (6’2”, 216 lbs).

The addition of Davis gives the Giants another tall receiver with better-than-average hands and good body control.

Described as a physical finisher by NFL Draft Scout’s Dane Brugler, Davis has a good release off the line of scrimmage and relishes his opportunities to be a downfield blocker.

During a conference call with reporters, Davis said he is't afraid to go over the middle and believes he has good hands to be a force in the passing game. He also said that he can contribute on special teams

Davis, the most prolific receiver in UConn's FBS history, finished his college career with 165 receptions for 2,292 yards (both FBS-era records) and seven touchdowns, averaging 49.8 receiving yards per game, according to his school athletic bio page.

Grade: C+

Round 7, Pick 226: Bobby Hart

The Giants started and ended their 2015 draft by addressing their offensive line, one of their most glaring needs.

New York selected Florida State offensive lineman Bobby Hart, a college tackle whom Giants general manager Jerry Reese said projects to guard for them.

The 6’4”, 320-pound Hart, a three-year starter who will likely be more of a developmental prospect in his first season, started 28 consecutive games for the Seminoles at right tackle after being inserted into the lineup as a true freshman due to injuries.

Prior to moving to tackle in college, Hart also played eight games as a sophomore as a reserve guard. A potential practice-squad candidate, Hart graded out to an average of 73 in 2014, according to his college bio page.

Grade: C-

Round 7, Pick 245: Pick Traded

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

The Giants traded this pick, which they acquired last summer from Denver in exchange for kicker Brandon McManus, to the Tennessee Titans as part of the package of picks used to move up in the second round to land safety Landon Collins.