Draft Trades Stun The New York Giants; Reese Selects CB Eli Apple

With the eighth pick, the Tennessee Titans leapfrogged the Giants to grab Michigan State OL Jack Conklin, a player GM Jerry Reese would have loved to grab at ten.

Then, the Chicago Bears did a little leapfrogging of their own to get to the ninth pick. Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd, who was the “most likely” selection for the Giants, was selected from right under Reese’s nose.

Myles Jack was still on the board, but concern with his knee were enough to scare off the Giants. It was revealed days before the draft that he will most likely need microfracture surgery.

Laremy Tunsil, once considered the top tackle and even the top pick in the draft, was also on the board. But no doubt, the video that was tweeted out from his verified account frightened Reese, and rightly so. Tunsil also has an injury history that was a likely red flag for Reese.

So, with the tenth pick in the draft, the New York Giants selected Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple.

Here’s NFLMocks’ take on Apple:
“Apple has ability, potential, and the workman-like mindset to get better. Of course, you should know by now that you can’t teach size or arm length which Apple has and teams will love. Due to his size, he may be best in man coverage with his ability to flip his hips and mirror on routes. His awareness is not to the level where a coaching staff would be comfortable. Those teachable traits can open up avenues for Apple as his size would be great for defenses that operate out of Cover 2/3/4 on a normal basis. Consider Apple a diamond in the rough at this point.”

Reese, after the pick, said Apple “has all the tools and was the highest player on our board without issues.” He explained that “every year something funny happens” and Apple is a “terrific young player… And a need pick”

For analysts across the board, Apple is considered a reach at ten. After both Conklin and Floyd were off the board and Reese said the Giants fielded one offer to trade down, but “we didn’t like it” and the price to trade up was too high.

Vernon Hargreaves III was selected one pick later by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. ESPN’s Mel Kiper said immediately after the Hargreaves pick that he prefers the Florida corner over the Giants’ selection Apple.

Reese clearly had Apple rated higher than Hargreaves, a popular pick for the Giants among analysts. Only time will tell which corner has better production. Cornerback is certainly a need for New York even after the addition of Janoris Jenkins.

With Floyd off the board and concerns with Jack’s knee, the thirty-plus-year-streak of failing to draft a linebacker in the first round was destined to continue. Adding a pass rusher in Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd, or even Sheldon Rankins was certainly an option, but Reese may have felt that adding Olivier Vernon and Damon Harrison in free agency addressed that need.

While the Eli Apple selection was a surprise, it’s a need pick for the Giants and will bolster one of the league’s worst defenses. A trade down would have been preferable but Giants fans should take a deep breath and try to trust Reese’s judgement on this one.