Draft Review: 2009 A Failed Draft Class? Not Really

With the news that 2009 second-round draft pick Clint Sintim has been waived by the New York Giants, the tired refrain that the 2009 group is the worst draft class of Jerry Reese's tenure as general manager is sure to be recycled. I am not so sure that is really a valid argument.

What is a valid statement is that Sintim's career with the Giants was a failure. We will never know for certain if Sintim could have successfully made the transition from 3-4 defensive end to 4-3 strong-side linebacker. During the first two seasons of his career his progress was tortorously slow. He seemed to be a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. Then he wrecked his knee at the end of the 2010 season, and wrecked it again during training camp in 2011, missing all of last season.

Sintim wore a sweatshirt during training camp that read 'Don't Count Me Out.' Truth is, though, the Giants had not really counted him in for a long time now.

Back to the discussion of draft classes, though.

The 2009 class has often been referred to as a weak one for the Giants. Granted, the bottom four picks (Andre Brown, Rhett Bomar, DeAndre Wright and Stoney Woodson) were useless. Yes, Ramses Barden and Travis Beckum have never really fit into the offense. Yes, we are still waiting for Will Beatty to put in a full season at the starting left tackle.

But, and this to me is a big 'but.' The first-round pick in this draft was wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, taken 29th overall. Nicks is a star, and easily at this point the best offensive player that Reese has ever drafted. Granted, the depth of this class can be questioned. I don't think, however, that you can call the class a bad one when one of those draftees is one of the top five receivers in franchise history just three years into his career.

There are other Reese draft classes that have brought the Giants more useful players. For my money, though, any draft that results in bringing in a guy who is showing he could be one of the best players in franchise history has to be considered a good one.

Below, the Giants year-by-year draft picks with Reese as general manager: