We have already sliced and diced the New York Giants 2016 NFL Draft class a number of ways. Let's add one more to the pile of information and opinion as we wait for what really matters -- seeing what they do on the field. Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is one of the most well-respected and well-connected NFL writers in the business. Before the draft each year, he solicits comments on nearly every player from a variety of scouts. Let's go back and look at what scouts told McGinn about the players the Giants ultimately drafted.
Round 1 -- CB Eli Apple
"He got beat probably more than you want but he's got tremendous upside," said one scout. "He is too young (20) to be coming out but he is so you've got to project what he's going to be. I think he's going to be a pretty high-level starter." ... "Some there (OSU) were worried he wouldn't break 4.6 and then popped the (4.39)," said another scout. "They were surprised he ran that well. I worry about him because of off-the-field issues. The kid has no life skills. At all. Can't cook. Just a baby. He's not first round for me. He scares me to death." ... "He probably has as much talent as anybody but he, like a lot of those Ohio State guys, is inconsistent," said a third scout. "He squats, and receivers run by him. He's more in catch-up mode than reaction mode. He bothers me a little bit."
Round 2 -- WR Sterling Shepard
"He's a slot," one scout said. "He's quick, he's shifty, knows how to play. Not the biggest and toughest. He doesn't play as fast as he times but he should do well in there. Randall Cobb has more grit, versatility, big-play stuff." ... "He is (just a slot), but most teams run 60, 65% of their offense in a three-wide receiver package," a second scout said. "So he's going to be on the field a lot. He's very steady. Really good hands. Very good route runner." ... "He's not a real fast guy and not a real (big) guy, but he just has that knack and he's a pretty good punt returner," a third scout said.
Round 3 -- S Darian Thompson
"Probably the smartest safety in the draft," said one scout. "I wish he ran just a step faster. I would envision him developing into a starter, probably in Year 2." ... "Really good ball skills and natural cover skills," said another scout. "Can match up with tight ends. Doesn't have the explosive long burst but can cover the hash and be a single-high safety. He finds the ball. ... His tackling is above average, at best. He doesn't have knock-back power as a tackler. Kind of gets his guy down. More of a wrap-grab tackler." ... "On tape I didn't see the speed deficiency," a third scout said. "He played a lot of man coverage. Like him."
Round 4 -- LB B.J. Goodson
"He's not a very good athlete but he had a good year," one scout said. "He's aggressive, he's active. He made a lot of plays for them. I didn't see him stack and shed. Instinctive kid. Not a real big guy." ... "Really good between the tackles," another scout said. "Has some range between the numbers. I question his ability going backwards in coverage. He's tight."
Round 5 -- RB Paul Perkins
"He is a darting runner," one scout said. "He will run hard. He will run in the red zone hard. Not real big, but he has quick feet and good cut ability and vision. Near the goal line he's moving forward." ... "Really good college player," one scout said. "Just doesn't have burst. Really good vision and feet but there's nothing dynamic about him."
Round 6 -- TE Jerell Adams
"Straight-line speed, pretty good athlete and solid, not special hands," one scout said. "Still learning a lot in the blocking game using his power. He's a No. 2 at best, a No. 3 early on." ... "He's got all the physical skills in the world," another scout said. "What holds him back is what's between his ears. Does he have the will to work through his deficiencies? That's what you have to ask yourself. He's explosively talented." ... "Tough guy," a third scout said. "Got some athletic ability. He's just not real good mentally."
Do what you will with any of this information. It's just more data to put in the memory bank as we try to figure out what to expect from these young players.