Oct 19, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) celebrates his second quarter touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
2014 Draft Class
Last years draft class looks like a very good one. Odell Beckham Jr. may be something very special. Weston Richburg played in all 16 games in his rookie year with 15 starts. He played well even though he played out of his natural position. Andre Williams filled in admirably for an injured Rashad Jennings and is definitely a bruising back that the Giants have been missing. Linebacker Devon Kennard showed some real promise and looks to be a defensive fixture heading forward.
Odell Beckham Jr. won the 2014 Rookie of the Year award after putting up 91 catches for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns. He may very well have saved the jobs of many Giant personnel with his play last season. If he can continue to build on his success from year one, in which he missed a quarter of the season there is no telling how good this kid can really be. He makes electric play after play, he is a freak athlete and if he stays hungry he may be someone we talk about long after his playing days are over.
Weston Richburg is a nasty interior lineman. He plays with a fire that has been missing for a few seasons in the trenches for the Giants. He played well as a rookie and earned some very valuable experience. Now with a year behind him he will shift from guard to his natural position, and the position the Giants drafted him to play, center. He adds to a solid young nucleus of offensive linemen the Giants are counting on going forward.
Andre Williams started 7 games last season in the absence of injured Rashad Jennings. He is a bruising back who never stops his legs and fights for every yard. His numbers weren’t anything spectacular but he may be best fit to carry the ball in short yardage situations. With the addition of Shane Vereen and a healthy Rashad Jennings, Williams should find himself in a role more equipped to his skill set. He needs to be a better receiver out of the backfield. He proved to be a tough pass blocker last season and that should only get better as he continues to play.
Devon Kennard started 6 games as a rookie last season and showed his ability to be a sound tackler and even rush the passer a little bit. His 4.5 sacks came late in the season but the possibility of a blitzing linebacker who can get to the quarterback is another weapon for Steve Spagnuolo and the Giants defense.
Analysis: Beckham alone makes this draft excellent. Then throw in two more starters in Weston Richburg and Devon Kennard and a the hard running Andre Williams and this draft is looking real good, real soon. If Jay Bromley, Nat Berhe, or Bennett Jackson develop into just decent backups then this draft is a real building block.