The NY Giants have missed the playoffs in eight of the last ten seasons. There are a litany of reasons why the Giants have been dreadful over the last decade (last year not included), but the main reason: insanely poor drafts.
Since 2011, the Giants have made nearly 100 picks. Only four - Sterling Shepard, Odell Beckham Jr., Daniel Jones, and Dexter Lawrence - have received a second contract after their rookie deals expired. That is just plain bad development.
Dave Gettleman deserves much of the blame, as he badly misfired on some first-round picks. Gettleman took DeAndre Baker in the first round of the 2019 draft and selected Kadarius Toney in the first round of the 2021 draft. Neither player made it through two seasons with the Giants.
Development is the key to a sustainable winning culture. Unfortunately for many Giants draft picks, they were never developed. Here are three former Big Blue draft picks who are probably done in the NFL:
3. LB/S Landon Collins
It's very sad to say, but it is likely we've seen the last of Landon Collins on the football field. The Giants, then led by two-time Super Bowl Champion Jerry Reese, traded up to select Collins with the first pick in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Collins burst onto the scene his rookie season, wracking up 112 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble. That stellar season earned him a spot on the 2015 PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Collins went to three Pro Bowls as a Giant and was a First Team All-Pro selection in 2016. He left for Washington in 2019 on a monstrous contract but dealt with injuries and struggles, which led him back to New York in 2022. He mainly played linebacker in 2022, and recorded this pick-six, stepping in front of a Nick Foles pass intended for newest Giants wideout Parris Campbell Jr., taking it to the house.
Collins' touchdown helped the Giants secure their first postseason berth since 2016. Despite all the love Giants Nation has for Collins, it's unlikely we see him back in Blue, and it is likely we don't see him put the pads on again.
The veteran has made just 20 appearances over the last three years due to injury. When he has been on the field, Collins has struggled and given up plenty of big plays. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 70.7% of passes when targeting Collins during his career, resulting in 2,900 yards and 22 touchdowns given up by him.
As he has gotten older his athleticism has diminished, which is why he had to make the move from safety to linebacker. There's plenty of young physical linebackers in the NFL, and teams will likely perfer those players to a veteran converted safety.