The Giants brass insist Sterling Shepard was the top player on their board when he was drafted, which is what they always say this time of year, when presenting a unified front is important.
Whether or not that is true, the selection of the wide receiver out of Oklahoma with the ninth pick in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday made it clear rookie coach Ben McAdoo is being given every weapon needed to turn the Giants offense into an unstoppable force.
Defense always had been the identity of the Giants franchise, dating back to Andy Robustelli, Sam Huff, and all the way through Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor and Michael Strahan.