Giant's First Round Draft Review

The Giants selected Evan Engram from Ole Miss with their first-round pick.  While we expected that the tight end position was a likely choice, we thought it would be Miami’s David Njoku. Shockingly, the early round run on quarterbacks created a dynamic where OJ Howard slipped to 19.  It raised hope but the Bucs grabbed him and it was not meant to be.  The problem I have with the Engram pick is that he is only a tight end in name only.  At 235 pounds, he is similar in size to Brandon Marshall. He is a wide receiver who is called a tight end.  It’s not that he isn’t a good player who can create major mismatches.  I think he could be.  He is surprisingly fast (4.42 40) for a man of his size.  It’s just that we didn’t need a wide receiver.  We are good there.  Perhaps the Giants will come up with creative game plans to use his unique skills.  The Giants are stacked at wide receiver and didn’t need this pick with all the needs they have.
 
OT Bolles did get picked a few picks beforehand as well. As we predicted in the preview, I didn’t think the Giants loved the other tackles as first rounder’s, so it’s not shocking that they passed on them.  I did think they could take Alabama middle linebacker Reuben Foster with the pick - that is who I would have taken.  Given the question about his character and the Giants focus on high character players it’s not shocking that they passed.
 
Perhaps Engram can add 20 pounds and become something else, but I am not convinced. He is exceptionally fast and big enough to cause matchup problems but it’s not a pick I would have made.  Perhaps they are more bullish on last year’s 4th round pick B.J. Goodson than we realize and that was a reason to pass on Foster.
 
They also could feel there is decent quality tackles to be taken in later rounds and didn’t want to reach for one they didn’t love in round 1 once Bolles was gone.
 
I’m looking forward to the upcoming rounds over the next couple of days.  I think they will take a DT in round 2 or 3 and an OT but it really depends on how the draft shakes out.
This is my favorite time of the year.

- Ari Glass