Who is the Giants' best 7th-round pick?

by Ed Valentine on Mar 30, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in News Comment 33 comments

We have reached the seventh and final round in our look back at New York Giants' drafts since 1970. Since the draft used to go beyond seven rounds, I will take a look later on at some of the best players the Giants took later than the seventh.

For now, though, this will be the last actual round we will look at.

One thing is really obvious. With four names on the list, two of those from the 2007 class, it's easy to tell how special that draft, Jerry Reese's first as general manager, was.

Let's look at the four candidates.

Perry Williams (CB, 1983)

Played for 10 seasons with the Giants, and was a starter and very solid player most of that time. Had 18 career interceptions, and helped the Giants win two Super Bowls.

Lionel Manuel (WR, 1984)

Had a solid seven-year career with the Giants. His best season was 1988, when he caught a team-high 65 passes. Finished his career with 232 catches.

Michael Johnson (S, 2007)

Started all 16 games for the Giants last season, and finished with 66 tackles. Johnson is still developing, and I don't think we know how good he will be yet.

Ahmad Bradshaw (RB, 2007)

Bradshaw is a playmaker, and has become a bit of a cult figure in his two seasons. Almost all Giants' fans have been clamoring for him to play more, and a segment of fans calling themselves 'Bradshawlics' are still insistent he is a better player than Brandon Jacobs. I'm not buying that argument, not even close. With Derrick Ward gone, though I am very interested to see how well he performs as the No. 2 back. I am confident he will do just fine.

My thoughts: Someday, the answer to this question might be Bradshaw. Or Johnson. I just believe that neither of them has been around long enough to deserve winning this vote. But, that's just my $.02. It will be interesting to see how this vote turns out.

Poll

Who is the Giants best seventh-round draft pick since 1970?

Perry Williams

434 votes

Lionel Manuel

230 votes

Michael Johnson

138 votes

Ahmad Bradshaw

602 votes

1404 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 33 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Right, for the reason you cite it's got to be Perry or Lionel

I voted for Perry. Ten years of solid play? How many seventh rounders do that?

by blue gonz on Mar 30, 2009 7:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I would agree

It’s funny. Look at it — back-to-back 7th rounders in ’83 and ’84 helped set up the late ’80s run. Same thing now. Shows how critical drafting well is.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 30, 2009 7:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I disagree on Lionel.

He wasn’t anything exceptional. I’d vote Johnson and probably Bradshaw over him right now.
But I voted Perry.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Mar 30, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Has to be Perry I reckon

Part of those killer defenses.

by brisulph on Mar 30, 2009 7:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

10 years in the leage and a starter

is much more than you’d expect for a 7th rounder. Perry Williams is definitely the best for right now.

Eventually, I also think that the 2007 guys will be the best. Johnson has been a starter for some of his rookie year and all of last year. He looks to be the 2007+ version of Williams.

Bradshaw unless the Giants really think that he is more valuable as a kick returner, (which I can’t see cuz he didn’t do much), is gonna have a breakout season this year. Jacobs will get banged up as usual, and that will leave Bradshaw finally with a whole lot of carries.

by FreeBradshaw on Mar 30, 2009 8:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Early vote

I’m watching Bradshaw lead the early vote, and I think it’s a lot of the ‘cult status’ he has attained. I know he’s a playmaker and could end up having a great career. But I am not getting how so many people can vote for a third-string RB w/2 years in the league (no matter how good they THINK he might be) instead of a guy who started in the league for 10 years on a tremendous defensive team and won two Super Bowls. I don’t understand that at all. Not knocking Ahmad, but he hasn’t done enough yet.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 30, 2009 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea I have no idea how Bradshaw is winning

Personally, I’ve never even heard of Williams cuz he was drafted 2 years before I was born, but considering he was a starter for 10 years like the first poster said, I can’t argue with him being the best.

As for even right now, Bradshaw isn’t the best 7th rounder. Johnson is starting, and will continue to start. He may be the next Pery Williams actually.

Bradshaw like you said, may not even be a starter. We’ll know more come draft time, but should the Giants make a first day pick or even a first rounder on a RB, a guy like Moreno or McCoy, then you know for sure what they think of Bradshaw.

I definitely think he has the potential to be a better contributor at his position than Johnson, M. Johnson seems like a solid starter and nothing more while Bradshaw does have a bit of Tiki-ness in him; and just like Tiki he needs to get that ball protected better.

by FreeBradshaw on Mar 30, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think as of right now..

Johnson is even better than Bradshaw.. Some people on the Giants Beat think that Bradshaw won’t even be the second string running back. Ahmad needs to keep the ball high and tight before i ever vote for him.. and prove himself against a defense that isn’t softened up by the juggernaut

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Mar 30, 2009 8:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No doubt

You have to be realistic about this. Johnson started all 16 games last season. Bradshaw, as good as people believe he can be, has really not done much yet. I know people will say it’s because of ‘opportunity.’ But, if you look at this objectively he is the least accomplished of the four players on this list — easily.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 30, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like what I've seen of Bradshaw when he comes in late in the game

and the opposing D is worn down. I’m not convinced yet that he can be as effective when the opposing D is fresh. He’s not that fast, but he has fantastic moves, real ankle breakers. I don’t believe he has enough speed to be a top flight return man.
I’m anxious to see him get more carries so that it’s possible he can he can have the breakout season you’re sure he’ll have. I’m not yet convinced that he’s all that his most rabid BBV supporrters think he is. I hope it works out the way you (and Im sure many others) predict.

by blue gonz on Mar 30, 2009 8:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

re Bradshaw's speed

We mentioned this several times over the course of last season, but didn’t it seem like Bradshaw had lost a step compared to the year before? It seems to me that in his rookie year when he broke one he was gone and nobody could catch him. This past season he was run down from behind several times, which was actually a large percentage of his carries since he didn’t get that many.

by potroast on Mar 30, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's exactly right, pot.

He seemed a lot slower this year, almost pathetic on returns. I still have high hopes for him, though.

by blue gonz on Mar 30, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Manuel & Williams

I liked Manuel quite a bit, but I’d have to go with Perry Williams as well. Just a solid performer on some of the greatest defenses to ever grace the NFL.

I agree with Hoya … of the ‘07 draft class its got to be Johnson ahead of Bradshaw until AB proves that he can handle a substantial part of the load. We’ll likely get our answer to that this year.

by potroast on Mar 30, 2009 9:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gotta go with Williams

No disrespect to newbies Johnson and bradshaw, but their history is too short to compete with the other two at this time. I loved Lionel Manuel. He was totally unheralded but always contributed. For a good part of his career the Giants other WRs weren’t very good, so his performance was that much more impressive. He always seemed to be the guy Simms went to on third and long. But ultimately the nod has to go to Perry Williams. Starting at corner for many years, one of the most crucial and visible positions on defense is a substantial achievement. What’s more, with mark Collins on the other side, who hardly anybody bothered to throw at, Williams got a disproportionate share of action.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Mar 30, 2009 9:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bradshaw

don’t forget, he was our leading rusher in the playoffs during the Super Bowl run. So it’s not like he hasn’t done anything at all. That said, I voted for Perry Williams – I don’t really remember him, but any 7th rounder who could start on that defense for a decade gets my vote.

by cjmulrain on Mar 30, 2009 10:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bradshaw winning

this vote, I think I have made clear by now, annoys me. Even though I had a pretty good idea that is what would happen before I posted the poll. That’s a popularity vote, most likely from the younger part of our audience. It’s not an objective vote based on the facts. Bradshaw simply has not done as much as any of the other players on this list.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 30, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"...pretty good idea...,"

Not me. I’m amazed. Loads of potential, yes. Actual accomplishment? Not so much, and last year lees than year one. Where you stand depends on where you sit. If you took a vote today on the all-time Giants team, a lot of the guys who made it then wouldn’t get the votes now. Even if he’s an HOFer, many won’t vote for a guy they never saw play.

by blue gonz on Mar 30, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

George, we saw some of this when we selected an All-Time Team last off-season. To me, Williams wins an objective vote. Five years from now, maybe not. But today, no question.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 30, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It angers me..

and I’m only 20 years old!

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Mar 30, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good for you

A young fella w/perspective.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 30, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

By the way

I’m 48. George, or ‘blue gonz’ as he is going by now is somewhere around a million years old. In fact, he may have passed from ‘Gandalf the Gray’ to his ‘Gandalf the White’ stage already. LOL!!

by Ed Valentine on Mar 30, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

I’m with you guys, I was just pointing out that Bradshaw has accomplished something. Without him, they might not have won the Super Bowl. But still, how you can vote for a 2nd year guy who has averaged 20 yards a game over 2 seasons over a guy who was a starter for 2 championship teams and one of the best defenses in the league is beyond me. I’m 24, btw.

by cjmulrain on Mar 30, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, in my family I'm a spring chicken.

Aunt Nellie has the record—lived to 110. Full of piss and vinegar and taking snuff right to the end.

by blue gonz on Mar 30, 2009 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gummed her food those last few years, though.

by blue gonz on Mar 30, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's TMI, George

Did we really need that? LOL!!

by Ed Valentine on Mar 30, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I voted Manuel.

To be honest, I don’t recall either the corner or the wide receivers playing especially critical roles on their respective sides of the ball during the 80s (that’s another discussion), but Lionel stood out in my mind as someone who was good contributor in blocking and catching.

Funny enough, I was reading his wiki page and had no idea Parcells cut him more than halfway through the season.

by rzor on Mar 30, 2009 1:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs