Jordan Raanan breaks down the New York Giants' 2017 draft class.
Round 1, No. 23 overall: Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
My take: Engram was a surprise pick. New York selected him ahead of Miami’s David Njoku and four picks after the consensus top tight end, O.J. Howard, went to the Buccaneers. But he can help the offense. He’s a dynamic player with unique skills and athletic ability, which should be an asset to an offense that struggled to score points last season. The question is whether he was good value at No. 23. Several players that the Giants coveted (Howard, tackle Garett Bolles and linebacker Jarrad Davis) were selected just ahead of New York's pick.
Engram does fill a need. The Giants had to add playmakers in this draft, and Engram is one. With eye-opening 4.42 speed (off the charts for a tight end), he can get down the middle of the field and add a new dimension to the passing attack. That should open things up for the wide receiving trio of Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard. Opposing defenses will have trouble matching up against those three plus Engram.
Engram is the Giants' own Jordan Reed: This was the comparison that came up in conversations with general manager Jerry Reese and vice president of player evaluation Marc Ross after the pick. Reed is the explosive Washington Redskins tight end known way more for his pass-catching ability than blocking. Engram is a similar player. He’s not going to be used as a traditional tight end, where he’s on the line of scrimmage and asked to drive-block a defensive end. He’s going to be moved around and used as a versatile Swiss Army knife in the slot and out wide. Reed is a Pro Bowl tight end who has 17 touchdown receptions over the past two seasons. The Giants would take anything close to that from Engram.
Get some yards: No team received fewer yards per reception from their tight ends last season than the Giants. The group (led by Will Tye) averaged 7.7 yards per reception, worst in the NFL by almost a full yard, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Engram should help change that immediately. The confident two-time captain “knows for a fact” he will make an immediate impact. Engram averaged 14.2 yards per reception last season at Ole Miss.
Round 2, No. 55: Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Alabama
My take: This makes a ton of sense and is a quality pick that fills a need. Tomlinson is the Giants’ replacement for defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, who recently left in free agency to sign with the Indianapolis Colts. Tomlinson was a solid player at Alabama and should fit nicely on a Giants defensive line that is filled with splashy names and big salaries. He really impressed the Giants during his combine interview. Jerry Reese called it “one of the best” interviews the team had. Marc Ross said it was the kind of interview that they will talk about for a long time. “One of the more memorable ones we had,” Ross said. That’s part of what separated Tomlinson from the competition. That and he’s an impressive and smart young man, having overcome a tough childhood to earn multiple college degrees. Tomlinson was accepted to Harvard before choosing to attend Alabama. And he can ball.
How he fits: The Giants’ brass used the term “dirty production” when talking about Tomlinson working alongside stars Jason Pierre-Paul, Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon. He’s going to be asked to do the little things in the trenches. They think he will be the ideal complementary player to fill Hankins' old role. It’s going to be hard to run in the middle of a Giants defense packed with the 660 pounds of Harrison and Tomlinson. The Giants like that. It’s why they were tied for third last season in rush defense, allowing only 88.6 yards per game. They want that to continue with Tomlinson playing alongside Harrison on early downs.
Round 3, No. 87: Davis Webb, QB, California
My take: The Giants believe they found their quarterback of the future in the third round of the draft. Webb was drafted to be Eli Manning's successor sometime in the next two to three years. It was a surprising move, especially since Webb wasn't expected to be available in the third round. Some NFL evaluators thought he would be selected in the first round Thursday. The Giants said they had Webb as the highest player on their board when it was their turn with the 87th pick. The value was too good to pass up for a quarterback they think has "a lot of upside to develop," according to Ross. It was unusual to hear that the Giants didn't have any contact with Webb other than during the season, at the Senior Bowl and at the NFL scouting combine. Coach Ben McAdoo had never talked to Webb before he was drafted Friday. His evaluation was based off film.
How he fits: Webb comes to the Giants and joins a crowded quarterback room that includes Manning, Geno Smith and Josh Johnson. The plan is for him to sit for at least two or three years as Manning comes down the homestretch of his career. Eli is 36 and has three years remaining on his contract. Webb is 22, and McAdoo, who was in Green Bay when Aaron Rodgers sat and learned behind Brett Favre, believes it will be "huge" for Webb to serve as Manning's caddie for at least a couple of seasons. The Giants could have added a player in the third round who could help immediately, but they thought the opportunity was too good to grab the player they believe can be their quarterback of the future.
Round 4, No. 140: Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson
My take: The Giants were on the lookout for a physical runner who can do damage between the tackles. They had recently expressed interest in free agent running back LeGarrette Blount. That is probably out the window now that they found Gallman, who described himself as a "hard, physical runner." He has good size (6-foot, 215) and isn't afraid to fight for extra yards. Even though the Clemson product lacks top-end speed, he was good value in the fourth round.
How he fits: Gallman is an ideal complement to Giants second-year back Paul Perkins. He's a tough, one-cut runner who can make yards between the tackles. Perkins and Gallman splitting carries, with Shane Vereen sprinkling in as the passing-downs back with Orleans Darkwa in reserve, gives the Giants depth at the position. Gallman also showed at Clemson this past season that he could do more than make tough yards. He pass-protects and catches the ball fairly well, so the opportunity exists for him to eventually claim a bigger, three-down role.
Round 5, No. 167: Avery Moss, DE, Youngstown State
My take: The Giants must see serious upside with Moss because he comes with a checkered background. He was banned from Nebraska's campus after pleading no contest to a public indecency charge that forced him to miss the entire 2014 season. Moss reunited with former coach Bo Pelini at Youngstown State, where he produced 10.5 sacks in two seasons opposite Patriots third-round pick Derek Rivers. This is a risky pick, but one the Giants felt comfortable making at this point in the draft. Moss said he underwent counseling and found himself.
How he fits: Moss appears to be an ideal player in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's system. He has the versatility to play either outside or inside. Moss will be thrown into the backup defensive end mix along with Owa Odighizuwa, Kerry Wynn and Romeo Okwara. This provides the Giants a little more depth on their defensive line, with the hope that Moss can develop into something more in the future.
Round 6, No. 200: Adam Bisnowaty, OT, Pittsburgh
My take: Finally, an offensive lineman. The Giants traded up seven spots with the Titans to take him, and it cost them their seventh-round pick. After just missing out on players they coveted in several other rounds, the Giants landed Bisnowaty, who played left tackle at Pittsburgh. Bisnowaty labels himself a "nasty" player. He has good size (6-foot-6, 304), but durability has been a concern for him. Still, the Giants needed to leave this draft with a lineman. They got one.
How he fits: The Giants said they view Bisnowaty primarily as a tackle. They'll start him there -- playing both the left and right side -- but also keep in mind that he has the versatility to play guard. Bisnowaty will be thrown into the offensive line mix, as the Giants plan to have open competitions this spring and summer at pretty much every spot.