2008 Draft Review: New York Giants

Four of the Giants first five selections were on the back seven of the defense, and the first two selections were in the secondary.  It suggests that the Giants’ organization saw their primary needs as defensive and in spots other than the defensive line.  Overall, the Giants got very good value.

First-rounder safety Kenny Phillips (University of Miami) was widely regarded as the best safety in the draft.  Phillips combines very good size and athleticism.  It’s tough to find a safety with his size who can play man coverage.  That will serve the Giants well against the athletic tight ends in the NFC East.  It is also tough to find a safety who is equally adept at defending the run and the pass, and Phillips is good at both.  The knock on him?  He doesn’t make many plays on the football – only seven career interceptions at Miami despite starting three years.  He also is not a “light-you-up” hitter like Sean Taylor was.  That said, Phillips was asked to do a lot at Miami and he may end up being a better pro when his responsibilities are more clearly defined on an already strong defense.

Second-rounder cornerback Terrell Thomas (USC) has very good size and athleticism.  He has really long arms and plays a physical, aggressive game with receivers at the line.  He looks like the prototypical press corner.  He’s the kind of guy you match up against a big receiver like Terrell Owens – but not against a quick water bug receiver like a Santana Moss.  The big questions on him are his health (he has had shoulder and knee injuries in his past) and speed.  Regarding the former, Thomas did not miss a game in 2006 and 2007.  He’s a tough guy.  Regarding the latter, that remains to be seen but the Giants believe he is plenty fast enough (4.45 in the 40).

As expected, third-round wide receiver Mario Manningham (University of Michigan) fell because of character concerns.  But at the bottom of the third round, the Giants felt it was worth the risk to take a shot at a guy who was considered to have first-round talent.  Manningham can learn from guys like Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer about what it takes to be a professional football player.  Manningham has the ability to replace Toomer as the starting flanker in a year or two.  Manningham is fast and elusive with good hands.  He was a very productive player in the Big Ten.

Many had expected fourth-round linebacker Bryan Kehl (BYU) and fifth-round linebacker Jonathan Goff (Vanderbilt University) to be drafted earlier.  Kehl has ideal character and intelligence.  He runs well and has the athletic ability to be a three-down linebacker.  The Giants think he can play both outside spots.  The Giants see Goff as a middle linebacker.  He’s a big, physical run defender.  Like Kehl, he is really smart.  There are conflicting reports over his overall athletic ability and his ability to drop into coverage.  Some say he is stiff and struggles in man coverage. 

Quarterback Andre’ Woodson (University of Kentucky) slid to the sixth round where the Giants were thrilled to select him.  He has good size, a strong arm, and was super productive in the tough SEC.  He will likely become Eli Manning’s primary backup in 2009.  Fellow sixth-rounder, DE Robert Henderson (University of Southern Mississippi), is raw but has the ability to play both inside and outside.  However, he’s going to have fight like crazy to make this team.

By Eric from BigBlueInteractive.com