New York Giants' Draft Busts: No. 4 ... William Joseph

by Ed Valentine on Apr 12, 2011 8:11 AM EDT in New York Giants News

William Joseph on the Giants' bench. Where he spent a considerable amount of time. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images)

We have reached No. 4 in our list of the worst New York Giants' No. 1 draft picks since 1960. Today we come to the most recent of our draft "busts," 2003 No. 1 pick William Joseph. As you will see, Joseph is this high on the list partially for his performance, but also partially for who the Giants passed over to select him.

I did a 'first-round flops' post way back in 2009. As you can see my list has changed somewhat since then. I think this is a better, more well-researched list that isn't quite so much off the top of my head. What I wrote about Joseph still applies, though.

The Giants drafted Joseph 25th overall when defensive tackles were the rage. He was the 6th one taken in the first round that year (the 10th defensive lineman) and never lived up to it. Had he been a third-round pick his production probably would have been OK. But, as first-round picks go 80 tackles and 7 sacks in 5 seasons just doesn't cut it.

The other reason why this pick turned out so badly for the Giants is the players they left on the board. There were seven picks left in the first round after the Giants grabbed Joseph. Here are three that should upset you.

Larry Johnson (27th, RB, Kansas City) -- Brandon Jacobs before Brandon Jacobs, only better. A 230-pound power back who gained more than 1,700 yards in both 2005 and 2006.
Nick Barnett (29th, LB, Green Bay) -- A starter in the middle for the Packers for the last eight seasons. Better than Antonio Pierce in his prime? Don't know about that. Better than Willie Jo? Definitely.
Nnamdi Asomugha (31st, CB, Oakland) -- Only one of the two best cornerbacks in football along with Darrelle Revis. Ugh!

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Ouch

Some very good talent left on the board to take him.

by brisulph on Apr 12, 2011 8:20 AM EDT reply actions

Now this was a bust

Cederic Jones was better than this guy with one eye!

by Late for Dinner on Apr 12, 2011 8:22 AM EDT reply actions

Joseph=Dayne in my mind

Both seemed to suffer from a lack of effort. Total wastes.

All the Giants should play like Mark Bavaro.
Tom Quinn Must Go!
On second thought, let's not blame players or coaches, they are not responsible. The unsupportive fans are to blame.

by UnknownJintsFan on Apr 12, 2011 8:23 AM EDT reply actions

WillyJo

The legend continues

Didn’t some team cut a G mid game after he got a sack?

by trueblue63 on Apr 12, 2011 8:43 AM EDT reply actions

Joseph should be on this list but...

…not higher than Dayne or Cedric Jones.

Ron Dayne was a top 15 pick, a Heisman winner and before Tiki’s breakout 2000 year was supposed to be the answer as a powerback.

Cedric Jones was a top 5 pick and a disaster, especially in light of the fact he was drafted so high with an eye issue. Jones was also the final flop in a particularly bad run of Giants draft picks.

I dont recall having the same expectations of William Joseph that I would have had of Dayne or Jones, making both bigger busts than Willie Jo.

by Danny332 on Apr 12, 2011 9:23 AM EDT reply actions

you got that right

by NortheastKingdom on Apr 12, 2011 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

As bad as Jones and Dayne were

We at least got a season of decent production out of both, Willie Jo gave us nothing at all and was benched a lot of the time.

by Late for Dinner on Apr 12, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

nnamdi

by The Blood of Eli on Apr 12, 2011 9:24 AM EDT reply actions

At least it wasn't as bad as the Eagles pick

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Apr 12, 2011 9:24 AM EDT reply actions

cmon man

Jerome had a great career. He even had a tackle for us!

Prove me wrong TC.

by Flynner on Apr 12, 2011 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Draft Fashion & 2011

Yes. Joseph was awful. Another pick in an era when we did nothing in the first round and can only be thankful for good later round drafting. But I note with some interest the statement above: “The Giants drafted Joseph 25th overall when defensive tackles were the rage. He was the 6th one taken in the first round that year”

If we look at the mocks out there, this is the year of the OT and/or the OL. I can, unfortunately, see the Gints getting stuck in the same situation – where we are picking the 5th or 6th best OL in the draft because ’that’s what the Giants do/need’. Gimme the 3rd best CB or LB in the first round. Yeah….I’m on the Jimmy Smith wagon (there’s no band for it yet). Just sayin…..

by TallWriter62 on Apr 12, 2011 9:29 AM EDT reply actions

couldnt agree more

with the offensive lineman thing…. which is why we need to get Akeem in here

by The Blood of Eli on Apr 12, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

Very good point. Any one who is anti-Ayers claiming Ayers is a reach for need over talent, but those same ppl are willing to take who ever is left on the board for OL. Both postions need to be addressed. We know Ayers will start if drafted and we’ll see if he’s a fast learner. Any OL will ride the bench for at least one yr and we’ll see their impact some time in 2012 or so.

by hit_hard on Apr 12, 2011 12:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Worst-Ever Giants' Draft Pick That Nobody Remembers

It was when the USFL broke up and the NFL cherry-picked the pieces. NYG, drafting just ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles, picked OT Gary Zimmerman, who wanted no part of the Big City andc wound up in Minnesota. Next Up; Philadelphia, and they scooped up Reggie White! Could you just imagine Reggie and LT on the same side of the ball?

by homeralbie on Apr 12, 2011 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

scary thought

Two of the top five players ever.

by NortheastKingdom on Apr 12, 2011 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Zimmerman

Deserves a category all his own.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 12, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

You took the words out of my mouth

When you trade a known quantity (he was dominant in USFL) who goes to HOF for 2nd round picks, that’s a total disaster

by trueblue63 on Apr 12, 2011 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Other notabels form 03 Draft

EJ Henderson, LB, 2nd Rd
Anquan Boldin, WR, 2nd Rd
Lance Briggs, LB, 3rd Rd
Jason Whitten, Te, 3rd Rd
Asante Samuel, CB, 4th Rd
Robert Mathis, DE, 5th Rd
Cato June, LB, 6th Rd

Undrafted in 2003:
Tony Romo, QB

by John W on Apr 12, 2011 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

by ryanwk628 on Apr 12, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Tony Romo

Carson Palmer, Byron Leftwich, Kyle Boller, Rex Grossman, Dave Ragone, Chris Simms, Seneca Wallace, Brian St. Pierre, Drew Henson, Brooks Bollinger, Kliff Kingsbury, Gibran Hamdan, and Ken Dorsey.

That is the list of qbs that were chosen before Tony Romo in 2003. This list alone shows you that the draft is an absolute crap shoot if you ask me. How can 13 guys get picked before a pro bowl qb in the same draft?

by The Blood of Eli on Apr 12, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions