NFL Draft Grades: Mel Kiper Jr. and others loved the NY Giants moves
The NFL Draft may have wrapped up a couple of days ago, but people aren't done talking about the spectacular performance from NY Giants head man Joe Schoen. Across the board, experts have had nothing but good things to say about what was able to get done in East Rutherford.
Obviously, fans are fired up about the first three selections and rightfully so. Majors positions of need were addresses once the G-Men took cornerback Deonte Banks, center John Michael Schmitz and wideout Jalin Hyatt, in that order. NFL experts were left blown away with Schoen, offering up plenty of praise for the second-year GM. He's four analysts in particular who offered up their thoughts, with one questionable one.
4. Mel Kiper Jr. gave the NY Giants an A- for their NFL Draft work
It was also a big weekend for ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., as he was celebrating his 40-year anniversary covering the NFL Draft for the Worldwide Leader in Sports. When it comes to draft coverage, Kiper is a true icon in the game. So, when he shows your general manager some serious love, then you've got to get excited about it.
"I mentioned this Friday night, but the Giants landed three of my top 45 prospects in the first two days of the draft. That’s impressive stuff from general manager Joe Schoen. Cornerback Deonte Banks (24) was consistently impressive when I watched his 2022 tape, and he stuck to receivers in man coverage. He is both experienced (he started eight games as a freshman) and toolsy (42-inch vertical leap at the combine). We can slot him in as a starter on the other side of Adoree’ Jackson."
- Mel Kiper Jr.
That's quite the statement there from Kiper, who was impressed with the G-Men. He handed out Big Blue a grade of A-, which fans will surely take. Schoen was worried someone would leap him to try and get Banks before him, which is why he traded up to the No. 24 overall pick. It was the right decision in our eyes and Kiper agrees. Next up, the team over at PFF admired Schoen's work.