Give Jerry Reese and the New York Giants credit where it’s due, they did an excellent job in regards to talent evaluation last offseason. It goes past signing Janoris Jenkins, Damon “Snacks” Harrison and Olivier Vernon to big free-agent deals. The Giants also drafted or signed a handful of NFL-ready rookies.
Eli Apple, Sterling Shepard, Paul Perkins, Andrew Adams and Romeo Okwara all made big contributions to a team who won 11 games. Safety Darian Thompson may also have started if not for injuries.
Let’s assess how this year’s picks fared through the entirety of 2016.
Apple may have been picked on by Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the Giants’ 38-13 wild-card playoff defeat, but it won’t be the lasting image of his rookie campaign.