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NY Giants: 5 biggest ‘what-ifs?’ in NFL Draft history

By Stephen Samra

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Saquon Barkley of Penn State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #2 overall by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Saquon Barkley of Penn State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #2 overall by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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The NFL Draft is the ultimate hindsight’s 20/20 event. Sometimes the most frustrating thing you can do is look back at a team’s draft history, seeing the player they selected vs. the players they passed on, and the NY Giants are no different.

The NY Giants have had their fair amount of what if’s when it comes to the draft – especially throughout the tenures of general managers Jerry Reese and Dave Gettleman. Both men have made picks that left fans collectively scratching their heads when the card is turned in.

The Giants have gone against the grain numerous times while building their teams, and the results have been mixed. While sometimes it’s resulted in Super Bowls, it’s also been an instrumental reason for some dark years.

This year, Gettleman will try to turn the No. 11 pick into one fans will look back on and say thank god, not what-if. If he can do that, he’ll begin to put the finishing touches on an impressive off-season.

Before the Giants are on the clock, let’s take a look at the five biggest what-if’s in NFL Draft history.

5) What if they passed on Ron Dayne?

The NY Giants decided to draft the player they thought was the best over their biggest need in the 2000 NFL Draft when they selected Heisman Trophy winner, Ron Dayne, No. 11 overall.

Unfortunately, they already had a top running back in the league on their roster in Tiki Barber.

The NY Giants believed the combination of Dayne and Barber, also known as thunder and lightning, would carry the team’s running game for the foreseeable future. While their first year together can be labeled a success, Dayne’s sophomore season was less than stellar.

The Wisconsin product’s running style didn’t fit the team’s offense, and his carries diminished every season. After drawing the ire of his coaches for his lack of commitment, he would be all but fazed out until the two parties parted ways after the 2004 season.

After the selection of Dayne by the Giants, seven of the next eight players drafted would go on to make at least one appearance in the Pro Bowl. The contributions of selections like John Abraham, Shaun Ellis or Keith Bulluck would’ve been felt far greater.

To make matters worse, the team selected Dayne over one of the great running backs to ever put a helmet on, Shaun Alexander. Imagining a backfield with Alexander and Barber teaming up would’ve been a nightmare for defenses everywhere.

Now that would’ve been some real thunder and lightning.

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