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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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Cade McNown #8 of the Chicago Bears moves back to pass the ball as he is rushed by Cedric Jones (.Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport)
Cade McNown #8 of the Chicago Bears moves back to pass the ball as he is rushed by Cedric Jones (.Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport) /

3) What if they didn’t reach for Cedric Jones?

The 1996 NFL Draft features one of the most interesting top five in draft history. Starting with the New York Jets selection of Keyshawn Johnson first overall, it featured four players with Pro Bowl appearances, three Super Bowl champions and a couple all-time greats.

The Giants selected the outlier.

Eyes set on selecting a pass rusher, the team pivoted to Oklahoma’s Cedric Jones once Simeon Rice was selected. While Rice ended up becoming an All-Pro, Jones was out of the league by 2001.

While reaching for Jones is bad enough, the Giants passed on Hall of Fame quality players in Marvin Harrison and Ray Lewis. It especially hurts seeing Lewis there, as imagining him captaining the team’s defense alongside Michael Strahan would’ve been a sight to see.

The pick stings even more when you realize the Giants were also one pick away from arguably the greatest offensive lineman to ever play the game falling to them, with Jonathon Ogden selected fourth overall.

The NFL Draft – where the difference between a Hall of Fame quality player and a nobody can be as little as one selection.

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