5 NY Giants players the front office gave up on too soon

3. CB Eli Apple

One of the most disappointing players the Giants front office gave up on way too soon is cornerback Eli Apple. The former first-round pick No. 10 by New York in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. Apple was a highly touted prospect with a lot of upside and promise to him, and he had his fair share of highs and lows with the Giants. He played with Big Blue from 2016 to 2018, and while he didn't necessarily perform poorly on the field, his attitude off the field ruined his reputation.

As the 2017 season drew close, reports surfaced about Apple's strained relationships with his teammates, leading to him being labeled a 'cancer' in the locker room. Landon Collins even expressed that Apple should not be part of the team in 2018. This tension culminated in Apple's suspension for the 2017 season finale following a dispute with the coaching staff. In 2018, the Giants traded the veteran cornerback to the New Orleans Saints, a move that significantly altered the trajectory of his career.

Apple finished the year with the Saints, played the 2019 season with New Orleans, and then played with the Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, and most recently, the Miami Dolphins. In 2020, Apple helped lead the Bengals to the Super Bowl. While Apple played a significant role on the field, he became scrutinized when Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp beat him to score the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He had previously trolled Chiefs wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman on social media after defeating Kansas City in the AFC Championship.

While Apple did not necessarily perform poorly for the Giants and turned out to be a decent player, Big Blue was forced to trade him because of his attitude and off-the-field antics. It's tough to say that the Giants' front office gave up on him too soon compared to others listed, but Apple is more of a what-if scenario for the New York Giants. The former No. 10 overall pick could have had a stellar career in New York, but that was not the case because of what he brought to the locker room, which is sad because of his potential.