Every NFL general manager would love to have an opportunity to go back in time and fix their mistakes, mainly at the draft table.
That’s exactly what the folks at Pro Football Focus did with the 2016 NFL draft recently. Many mistakes were made by many teams, and if they had a chance to do it all over again, they certainly would.
For the New York Giants, who held the 10th overall pick, it was a key draft that likely sunk the career of general manager Jerry Reese. He was outmaneuvered and then made a godawful selection, bypassing some big names that could have really helped Big Blue.
Reese had his eyes on two players: Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin and Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd.
As the first round unfolded, it appeared he might get a shot at at least one of them. Tennessee traded up to No. 8 to snare Conklin. Then, Tampa Bay traded picks with Chicago at No. 9. The Bears took Floyd, and Reese was left scrambling.
With the 10th overall pick, the Giants took Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple, a player they certainly could have gotten either later in the round or, in retrospect, just simply passed on altogether.
“A really good, young player,” Reese said of Apple after making the pick. “Height, weight, speed. Big school. Only 20 years old. Has all the tools. He holds all the tools to be a starter. He was the highest graded player on our board, beyond the guys with issues.”
Apple was a raw kid who would take years to develop. It was not the type of gamble one should take with a top 10 draft pick.
Reese also said he had opportunities to move up and move back, but didn’t like the deals presented to him. So, he was stuck with Apple, a player who struggled mightily as a Giant and one they couldn’t rid themselves of fast enough.
In the PFF re-draft, the Giants didn’t move up or back as they didn’t need to. Oregon defensive lineman DeForest Buckner fell into their laps at No. 10. Buckner was originally taken seventh overall by San Francisco.
Apple was a miss by the Giants, lasting only three years in New York before getting traded to the Saints. In this redraft, New York opts for Buckner, who has made three Pro Bowls and been one of the five most valuable defensive tackles in the NFL since he was drafted, according to PFF WAR.
A no-brainer in the re-draft, but if you look at some of the players Reese should have considered over Apple, you see why he wasn’t long for the job as the team’s GM: Taylor Decker, Laremy Tunsil, Keanu Neal, Ryan Kelly, and Chris Jones. Ouch.