One of the reasons the NY Giants have gone through a period of despair is because of their recent NFL Draft track record. Looking through some of the players the team has selected over the last decade, it’s easy to see why they’ve had difficulty winning games.
After presiding over three draft classes for the Giants, we have a feel on what general manager Dave Gettleman looks for in a player. While his selections have looked promising at the time they were made, a variety of his picks have aged poorly.
Part of the reason the Giants have spent so big in free agency the past two off-seasons has been their inability to build through the draft. The team has selected second, sixth and fourth overall in the Gettleman era – the opportunity to bring in difference-makers hasn’t lacked.
Nevertheless, despite the poor drafting – things are looking up for the Giants. An impressive first year by coach Joe Judge, followed by a blistering free agency has shot morale through the roof.
Still, if not for some boneheaded selections by Gettleman – the team’s resurrection could’ve been fast-tracked.
Hitting this year’s draft class out of the park can put the finishing touches on a tremendous off-season for the Giants’ front office. If they’re to do so, Gettleman will have to avoid striking out on valuable draft picks – something he’s done far too often as the team’s top shot caller.
Here are the top 3 worst Giants’ draft picks of the Dave Gettleman Era:
3) Kyle Lauletta, 2018
The most exciting part about Kyle Lauletta’s tenure in New York didn’t happen on the field, but instead when the Giants’ back-up quarterback was involved in a traffic incident in Weehawken, New Jersey.
Drafted in the fourth round (108th overall) out of the University or Richmond, Lauletta was drafted with the idea that he could potentially be Eli Manning’s successor. As fate would have it, Manning would actually outlast Lauletta – the latter being cut by the Giants on August 31st, 2019.
The fourth round pick would never even complete a pass for the Giants, but he did manage to throw an interception – going 0-5 with the aforementioned turnover while getting some reps against the Washington Football Team.
The Giants were primed to select a quarterback in the 2018 draft – possessing the second overall pick in a draft littered with big name prospects. After passing on the position at number two, Gettleman should’ve left well enough alone – he would’ve been better off lighting his fourth round draft card on fire.
In time, the Pat Shurmur era of Giants’ football will be one of their most forgettable – perhaps no player embodies it more than Lauletta.