Reviewing the Jets 2017 NFL Draft Selections (Rounds 2-7)

On Thursday, the New York Jets drafted LSU safety Jamal Adams with the 6th overall pick. Some were surprised that the team did not trade back, while others were more than happy with Adams, who projects as an above-average talent in the league. Regardless, as a rebuilding team, the Jets had several black holes on their roster, and addressed many of those needs on Friday and Saturday in rounds 2-7 of the NFL Draft. 

Woody Johnson (left) greets Mike Maccagnan (right) after the NFL Draft

In this article, we will take a look at each Jets draft pick, excluding Jamal Adams. For more on Adams, please read our recent article. 

Round 2, No. 39 overall: Marcus Maye, S, Florida

The Jets surprised many by electing to  go with another safety in the second round of the draft. That is not to say that it was a bad pick, in fact it was quite the opposite. 

In four seasons at Florida, Maye had 205 tackles, one sack, five interceptions, and defended 16 passes. Throughout his career, quarterbacks have targeted him 104 times, and he has allowed a catch percentage of just 54.8. 

Marcus Maye (pictured) was selected by the Jets in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft

According to NFL.com, Maye is an "interchangeable safety with the instincts of a free safety and the physicality of a box player." They claim that he "has the physical attributes and intelligence to step into a starter's role early on and will be a strong contributor on special teams."

The selection of Marcus Maye does not bode well for Calvin Pryor, the team's first-round pick in 2014. Last year, the Jets secondary was among the league's worst, so it is clear that the franchise is committed to reversing that as soon as possible. With Adams and now Maye in the fold, the Jets defense has the chance to return as a team strength in the foreseeable future. 

Round 3, No. 79 overall, ArDarius Stewart, WR, Alabama

Stewart (pictured) with Alabama in 2015

After two rounds, the Jets selected an offensive player in the draft. Standing at 5-11 and weighing 204 pounds, ArDarius Stewart is the latest addition to the Jets wide receiver corps, which already includes Quincy Enunwa, Robbie Anderson, Jalin Marshall and Eric Decker. In three years at Alabama, Stewart caught 129 passes for 1,713 yards and 12 touchdowns. In addition, he served as a kick returner, returning eight plays for 161 yards in 2016. 

Before the draft, Stewart spoke to reporters. He said "I'm bringing a lot of physicality to the game. I'm bringing that defensive mentality to the offensive side of the ball." According to NFL.com, Stewart "is an extremely competitive target who has been a catch-and-run option as well as a deep-ball threat, but he has the tools to become a solid starter who can be effective in all areas of the field."

Ultimately, Stewart gives the Jets another young, talented pass catcher. His role on the team moving forward is currently unknown, but one has to imagine that the Jets will properly utilize his versatility on the gridiron. 

Round 4, No. 141 overall, Chad Hansen, WR, California

The Jets chose to select another wide receiver in the fourth round, and the decision was met with criticism. However, 24-hours later, the team announced that receiver Devin Smith had suffered a torn ACL and would miss the entire 2017 season. That leaves the door open for the younger, less-experienced players, such as ArDarius Stewart and Chad Hansen. 

Last year, Hansen led the Pac-12 Conference with 92 receptions and 1,249 yards, and notched 11 touchdown catches for California's prolific spread offense. Hansen, standing at 6-2 and 202 pounds, had been praised by NFL.com entering the draft. They said "Hansen has good combination of size and speed for the perimeter with an ability to climb over the top of cornerbacks and with the deep ball."

Hansen (pictured) at the 2017 NFL Combine

Add Chad Hansen to the Jets list of projectable wide receiving options for 2017 and beyond. 

Round 5, No. 150 overall: Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson

Leggett (pictured) will be given a great opportunity with the Jets

New York selected a third straight offensive player by choosing tight end Jordan Leggett in the fifth round of the draft. Interestingly enough, for the first time since being named general manager in 2015, Mike Maccagnan used a draft pick on a tight end. 

Leggett, 22, caught 46 passes for 736 yards and seven touchdowns in 2016. Clemson moved him all around the field, as he saw playing time at half-back, tight end, wide receiver, and in the slot. Standing at 6-5 and weighing 258 pounds, Leggett's incredible build has allowed him to draw comparisons to Redskins tight end Jordan Reed. 

"They told me that they had a need at tight end when they worked me out individually after my pro day," Leggett said. "That was exciting. They stayed in touch with my agent, so I had a feeling. I had them on my list of eight teams that were going to take a tight end and liked me a lot."

Leggett figures to be an immediate contributor to the Jets, as current-starting tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins must serve a two-game suspension to start the season. In the last two years, Jets tight ends have caught 26 total passes, fewest in the NFL, but the addition of Leggett will hopefully improve that number. 

Round 5, No. 181 overall: Dylan Donahue, DE/OLB, West Georgia

Donahue (pictured) with West Georgia in 2016

GM Mike Maccagnan shocked many after he selected Dylan Donahue, a 24-year old Division II player. Standing at 6-3 and weighing 248 pounds, Donahue had compiled 25.5 sacks in the last two seasons. 

According to NFL.com "Donahue is a productive but undersized outside linebacker who lacks the desired length and strength at the point of attack that teams typically look for on the edge. His athleticism should serve him well on special teams and his ability to make impactful plays could land him on a roster."

Donahue is seen as a project, and it will be interesting to see how Jets outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene handles Donahue's progression, as the NFL Hall of Famer loves high-intensity players.

Round 6, No. 188 overall: Elijah McGuire, RB, Louisiana-Lafeyette

Standing at 5-10 and weighing 214 pounds, McGuire has good size for a running back. The 22-year old made headlines last year by running for 1,127 yards and seven touchdowns, and catching 29 passes for 238 yards. He also saw time with the special teams unit, returning 28 punts for an average of 8.1 yards per return in his four seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette. 

"I just want to come in and compete," McGuire said. "I'm versatile enough to do anything that the coaches ask me to. I'm going to work hard and try my best at everything they ask me to do."

McGuire (pictured) with Louisiana-Lafeyette in 2016

With Matt Forte and Bilal Powell ahead of McGuire in the depth chart, the rookie will certainly need to work hard to earn a roster crack in 2017. 

Round 6, No. 197 overall: Jeremy Clark, CB, Michigan

Clark is a gamble, as he is currently recovering from a torn ACL and is about "75 percent healthy." Once he returns to the field, however, it is possible that he sees a healthy dose of playing time. At 6-5 and 220 pounds, Clark has experience at both cornerback and safety, but the Jets plan on playing him at the former. 

Clark (pictured) after suffering a torn ACL in 2016

According to NFL.com, Clark "could challenge for a roster spot with teams looking for bump-and-run corners with an ability to operate on special teams." Overall, the Jets took a flier with Clark, and did not risk much by doing so. 

Round 6, No. 204, Derrick Jones, CB, Ole Miss

Jones (pictured) after scoring a TD in 2015

The Jets decided to use their final two picks on cornerbacks, as the team currently has a huge void at the position. Jones, a 6-2, 188-pound defensive back, finished the 2016 season with two interceptions, three passes defended and 21 tackles. Early in the year, he was suspended for three games for violating team standards. 

Rich Cimini of ESPN believes that Jones' future in the NFL is with special teams due to his speed and versatility. According to NFL.com, Jones has "the length and explosion traits that will appeal to teams looking for tall, press corners."

Jets strike gold with Jamal Adams in the 2017 NFL Draft

On Thursday, the NFL Draft officially kicked off in front of millions of spectators. For the Jets, a team that recently gutted their roster by releasing several veterans, GM Mike Maccaghan had a few tough decisions to make. Rumors had circled the team regarding their 6th overall pick, as some reports claimed that New York would trade down while others alleged that the Jets would consider reaching for a quarterback. Gang Green ultimately decided to hold onto the draft pick and selected safety Jamal Adams out of LSU. It is the eighth straight year that the Jets drafted a defensive player in the opening round. 

Adams (pictured) figures to be a huge part of the Jets future

In three years at LSU, the 21-year old played in 36 games and racked up 209 tackles with five interceptions. As a junior, he was named to the Associated Press All-Sec first team, and this past January, he announced that he would forgo his senior year and enter the 2017 NFL Draft. 

Standing at 6-0 and weighing 214 lbs, Adams had been projected as a top-five pick by most mock drafts. However, he fell to the Jets after a whirlwind of unexpected moves by the Bears and Titans, who drafted Mitchell Trubisky and Corey Davis, respectively. Jamal Adams, a Texas native, is the son of former Giants running back George Adams, who accumulated 886 rushing yards in six NFL seasons. 

With Adams (pictured) in the fold, the Jets can now focus on the offense

"We knew he was an alpha dog coming in, because we knew that's how he played at LSU," said Jets coach Todd Bowles. "Those were all his intangibles coming in. That's just part of it. The culture we're trying to create, I think he's perfect for our building." 

Adams can play either safety position, but will likely see time at free safety due to the knee injury to Marcus Gilchrist. The Jets last took a safety in the first round in 2014, when they selected Calvin Pryor out of Louisville. New York's secondary ranked among the worst in the NFL in 2016, as they allowed a 98.5 opposing quarterback rating. 

Upon hearing his name called, Adams spoke to reporters. He said "I have to go in and work hard and continue what I do best, and that's play ball. But I'm just going to first go in and earn the respect of my teammates, earn the respect of my coaching staff and let the chips unfold from there."

On Friday at 8 p.m. ET, the NFL Draft will continue to roll on, as we will see how Rounds 2-3 unravel for Gang Green. Then, on Saturday night, there will be Rounds 4-7. 

So far so good for GM Mike Maccaghan and the New York Jets. Now it is time to build offensive depth by grabbing a few running backs and wide receivers.

Jets add veteran McCown to quarterback mix

According to Mike McCartney on Twitter, quarterback Josh McCown has agreed to terms with the New York Jets. McCartney, McCown's agent, announced that it was a one-year deal worth $6 million in guaranteed money. 

McCown, 37, has evolved into an NFL journeyman throughout his 15-year career. Primarily a backup quarterback, the veteran spent the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, but struggled with injuries and poor play. Interestingly, Browns head coach Hue Jackson offered McCown a job on his staff at the end of the 2016-17 season, but McCown clearly feels that he still has enough left in the tank to play another year. 

McCown (pictured) will suit up for his eighth NFL team 

Holding a combined 2-20 record as a starter in the last three seasons, McCown will not be viewed as a savior to the franchise. However, he has seen much more success as a backup quarterback and that may be where the Jets envision him in 2017-18. Right now, his competition consists of Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg, both of whom have seen little-to-no NFL action in their brief careers. 

McCown (left) speaking to Manziel (right) in Mar. 2016

Perhaps the Jets see McCown as a mentor to the younger players. Recently, Hue Jackson claimed that the veteran helped Johnny Manziel, Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan make the transition from collegiate-ball to professional. 

In addition, Jackson also said "(McCown) knows what it takes to coach and play in this league, and he's going to be a rising star in this profession if that's what he chooses to do."

McCown has accumulated over 14,000 passing yards in his career, including 79 touchdown passes. On October 11, 2016, he had a career day, throwing for 457 yards against the Baltimore Ravens. 

For more on the McCown signing, please click here. 

Jets buy low on Claiborne

After letting go of Darrelle Revis earlier this month, the Jets have found his replacement. On Friday, New York signed cornerback Morris Claiborne to a one-year contract worth $5 million.

The #Jets are signing former #Cowboys CB Mo Claiborne to a 1-year deal worth $5M, source said. More than Dallas offered. Prove-it deal.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2017

Claiborne, an LSU product, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Since that point, he has struggled to make a name for himself in the league, dealing with injuries and mediocre performances. In 2016-17, Claiborne had his best season to date, but was limited to just seven regular season games. 

At just 27-years old, Claiborne still carries plenty of youth and truly represents a "buy-low" option for Gang Green. According to Ian Rappaport of NFL.com, the Jets offered more money than Dallas, thus prompting Claiborne's decision to join New York.  

Claiborne (pictured) has plenty to prove in the NFL

After backing out on free agent linebacker Dont'a Hightower, it was unclear where the Jets would direct themselves for the remainder of the off-season. With Claiborne leading the Jets' cornerback group, he will be joined by veteran Buster Skrine and second-year player Juston Burris. 

Claiborne represents a nice stop-gap option for a Jets team that does not expect to make a serious push in 2017-18. As a one-year rental, he still has enough upside to turn his career around, and certainly makes the Jets more competitive for the upcoming season. 

Jets part ways with Brandon Marshall

Last week, the Jets gutted their roster and seemed to change the entire direction of the franchise. The team continued this movement on Friday after they officially released star wide receiver Brandon Marshall, as per his request.

Marshall (pictured)  had one season left on his contract

Marshall originally came to New York in 2015 in a trade with the Chicago Bears. The six-time Pro-Bowler tallied 2,290 total receiving yards in 31 games with the Jets, but his production took a dip this past season. While it could have been a result of a struggling Ryan Fitzpatrick and inexperienced Bryce Petty, Marshall finished with just 788 receiving yards and 3 touchdown catches for Gang Green in 2016-17. 

The Jets are clearly entering a rebuild phase and Marshall, soon to be 33-years old, did not fit into their future plans. New York saved $7.5 million by parting ways with the 11-year veteran, who was set to hit free agency after this upcoming year. Now, Marshall will be a hot commodity on the market, and many teams, including the rival New York Giants, are expected to pursue him heavily. 

The loss of Marshall leaves the Jets without an experienced number one target, but the franchise has high hopes for both Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa. Additionally, New York still has Eric Decker, a proven asset who will be returning from both hip and shoulder surgery. 

Anderson (pictured) will have an increased role for NYJ in 2017-18

Marshall's contributions to the franchise cannot be overstated, as he helped return the team to relevancy in 2015-2016. Along with Decker, the duo had paired up with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to form into an offensive juggernaut to go along with an impressive defense. While the time was short-lived, Marshall's legacy with the Jets should be seen as positive, and his release should be understood by most fans that would like the team to return to a competitive state. 

Jets release four, including Mangold and Revis

Recently, the New York Jets made an array of transactions to create salary cap flexibility for the 2017-2018 season. They started off by releasing kicker Nick Folk and right tackle Breno Giacomini, and continued by cutting bait with center Nick Mangold and cornerback Darrelle Revis. As former integral players to the Jets franchise, it appears that the team is finally ready to turn the page and enter the next chapter in its history. 

After an 11-year Jets career, Mangold (pictured) has been let go 

Folk, now 32, originally signed with New York in 2010 after a small stint with the Dallas Cowboys. He had emerged as their top kicking option almost right away, and has finished his Jets tenure with 729 points scored. Folk's 1,052 career points tie him with Mike Nugent for 10th among active leaders. 

This past season, the Arizona product went 27-of-31 (87.1 percent) on field goal attempts and 24-of-26 (92.3 percent) on extra points. He was due $3 million in the one season remaining on his contract. 

Folk made 175 field goals with NYJ

Unlike Folk, the release of Giacomini was expected by many of the Gang Green faithful, as he was derailed with injuries. He began the 2016-2017 year on the Injury Reserve list due to a back injury, and made his debut in Week 8. After just 266 total snaps, Giacomini re-injured his back and was sidelined for the remainder of the season. 

Giacomini was due $5.1 million next year, and the Jets will save roughly $4.5 million by letting him go. 

Nick Mangold was the next person to receive his walking papers, but his departure was more emotional than the others. As a first-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, Mangold emerged as an elite center for the Jets for several seasons, but injuries had significantly devalued his stock. He played a career-low eight games in 2016-2017, and will enter his age-33 season in a few months. 

As a two-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler, Mangold started 164 games for the Jets and has indicated that he would like to continue playing in the NFL. New York will save about $9.075 million by letting go with the popular center. 

Finally, the biggest departure on this list will be Darrelle Revis, who was in his second stint with the Jets. Once the move was made official, owner Woody Johnson issued a statement on Revis and his contributions to the Jets franchise. 

"Darrelle Revis is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Jets uniform. His combination of talent, preparation, and instincts is rare and helped him become one of the most dominant players of his generation," Johnson said. 

He added by appreciating Revis' efforts to the organization and claiming that "his home will always be here with the Jets."

Originally a first-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, Revis quickly made a name for himself in the league, as he developed into an elite cornerback with the Jets. However, in 2013, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and also saw time with the New England Patriots before coming back to New York in March 2015. 

The 31-year old is currently facing four felony charges coming from an alleged incident in Pittsburgh earlier this month, and could receive punishment from the legal system and NFL sometime in the near future. By cutting Revis, the Jets will save $9.3 million in cap space, but still owe the veteran $6 million in guaranteed salary for the upcoming campaign. 

The odds of a third Jets stint for Revis are slim-to-none

In total, the Jets have freed an estimate of $37 million in cap space this off-season, but Mangold and Revis in particular were tough players to send packing. Both have been iconic pieces to the franchise's history, but their time was up, whether it was due to injuries or off-the-field trouble. As the Jets begin to shift into a full-rebuild, look for them to continue to cut salary and become financially flexible as the upcoming season creeps around the corner. 

Grading the Jets draft picks: Rounds 2-7

In the previous article, we discussed both Darron Lee and Eli Apple, who were taken in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Jets and Giants, respectively. Here, we will take a look at the remaining players that both organizations selected in the draft, and attempt to see where they will fit in with their team's next season. 

New York Jets

Round 2: Pick No. 51: Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State, Highlights

With the Hackenberg pick, the Jets now have three quarterbacks on the roster but none of them are starter-worthy. Ryan Fitzpatrick is still in free agency, and playing hard to get, so the Jets felt it was necessary to grab a quarterback as insurance if he doesn't come back. The only issue here is: they may have taken the wrong one. 

The main issue with Hackenberg is the idea that the Jets used a 2nd round pick to take him. Typically you don't draft someone that high only to have them ride the bench the following year. Hackenberg, who was loved by GM Mike Maccagnan, looks like he could handle the hard-hitting NFL plays, as he currently sits at 6'4" 223 pounds. He was a mediocre quarterback in his last two seasons at Penn State. Some blame this on the new coaching system, and others on the supporting cast. As a freshman, he had 20 touchdown passes with 10 interceptions, and scouts projected him as a future top-10 pick. The Jets are hoping to get that version of Hackenberg, and not the one who was a mess at the scouting combine.

"There's a lot of upside and potential. We vetted him thoroughly "  said Maccagnan.

The Jets are placing a lot of faith in offensive quarterback Chan Gailey.

Round 3: Pick No. 83: Jordan Jenkins, OLB, Georgia, Highlights

Jenkins (and Darron Lee) gives head coach Todd Bowles two new weapons to play with on defense. The outside linebacker currently sits at 6'3" 259 pounds, but wasn't a standout pass rusher at Georgia. In four seasons, he had 19 sacks, 40 tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles. He doesn't project to be an explosive player, rather one that can defend the run and handle the tight end at times. This has led to comparisons to Calvin Pace, which the Jets would gladly take. 

The Jets linebacking corps will look very different next season. Pace and Demario Davis are gone, David Harris will return to the middle, Erin Henderson will replace Davis, and Lorenzo Mauldin will become the starter on the outside. The speed will be improved with the addition of the younger players, but there will certainly be a learning curve. 

Round 4: Pick No. 118: Juston Burris, CB, North Carolina State, Highlights

Some expected the Jets to take a cornerback earlier in the draft, as they passed up on some good ones in the first few rounds. With Burris, New York is adding a young corner to their pipeline, which is something they greatly needed. Darrelle Revis is turning 31 soon, Antonio Cromartie is out of town, and former 1st round pick Dee Milliner will likely be a non-factor next year. 

Burris played a man-to-man scheme at North Carolina State, so some expect that he will have an easy transition to the Jets' man-heavy defense.

When speaking of Burris, Todd Bowles said "He's big. He's got long arms and he's very good at the line of scrimmage. He's got great eyes and ball skills."

Burris is listed at 6 foot, 212 pounds, which is an ideal size for the cornerback position. He only had three interceptions in the past three seasons, but was only targeted 44 times last year. His completion percentage was just 34 percent, which stands at an above average level. Bowles said that Burris has the ability to play the slot, but will likely start off on the outside. 

Round 5: Pick No. 158: Brandon Shell, OT, South Carolina, Highlights

The Jets traded up to acquire Shell, so they must have quite a bit of faith in his talents. In fact, they gave up more for Shell (4th round pick in 2017) than they did last year for Ryan Fitzpatrick, so this pick has a "reach" feel to it. 

The team did not want to come out of this draft without an offensive lineman, so they got Shell, who ranks third in South Carolina school history in career starts with 48. He moved to left tackle in his senior year, but recently said that he feels that he is more comfortable at right tackle. 

Round 7: Pick No. 235: Loc Edwards, P, Sam Houston State, Information/Scouting

The team needed a punter after Ryan Quigley left and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, so this move made sense. Edwards, who was born and raised in Australia, is the first punter that the Jets have selected in the draft since 1993, when they picked Craig Hentrich in the eighth round. 

In three collegiate seasons, Edwards averaged 42.8 yards on 185 punts. He is listed at 6'5", 205 pounds.

Round 7: Pick No. 241: Charone Peake, WR, Clemson, Highlights

Peake has been regarded as a potential steal for the Jets, as some projected that he would be taken in the third round. He slipped because of two major knee injuries, including an ACL tear in 2013. He was highly recruited out of high school, but fell under the radar after he was buried by DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins at Clemson. 

This past year, he finally got his first chance to become a full time player, and responded well. He had 50 catches, 716 yards, and five touchdowns. If he can stay on the field, the Jets may have yet another nice offensive weapon moving forward.

In case you missed it, check out my article detailing the Giants draft picks from rounds 2-7.

Taking a closer look at the Jets and Giants draft picks

The NFL Draft came a conclusion on April 30, and both the Jets and Giants came out of Chicago very happy. The Jets selected OLB Darron Lee with the 20th overall Pick, and the Giants selected CB Eli Apple with the 10th overall pick. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the two players.

Starting with the Jets, they made a bold move in taking Lee, the Ohio State University product. Many fans were hoping for quarterback Paxton Lynch, who was surprisingly still on the board. However, GM Mike Maccagnan decided to improve the defense, which was already an area of strength. In fact, for the 7th straight season, the Jets have taken a defensive player in the 1st round.

Shortly after the draft, Maccagnan spoke with reporters about Darron Lee. He said "What intrigued us the most about him is, he's a younger player but he's very athletic. He brings the ability to improve our overall team speed."

Although Lee was an outside linebacker at Ohio State, coach Todd Bowles noted that he will be an inside linebacker for New York. The team said that he will begin the season behind starter Erin Henderson, but has the ability to become a three down contributor. 

Lee is currently listed as 6'1" and 232 lbs, which may seem undersized for the position. Despite this, Bowles isn't considered about getting the 1st rounder to bulk up. He said "(Lee) doesn't have to be a 240, 250 lb linebacker. That's not what we're looking for."

He is 21 years old, and still only a sophomore, but had 27 1/2 tackles for loss with 12 quarterback sacks last season, finishing 2nd on the squad behind teammate Joey Bosa (third overall pick). Lee had 147 career tackles and 3 interceptions. 

"Honestly, I'm still in shock because I could not believe it and all my dreams are finally coming true. It was just a great moment for me," said Lee, who was a former teammate of current Jets WR Devin Smith at Ohio State. "I didn't know anything, honestly. I just knew that I had a great visit, I thought that I connected with the coaches."

As for my thoughts, I like the pick a lot since Lee seems to fit perfectly into Todd Bowles' defensive system. He is very versatile, and will bring much needed speed to the defense now that the team is without David Harris and Demario Davis. Although he won't start right away, this pick fills a long term need for the Jets, and that's all you can ask for with a late first round pick.

Moving on to the Giants, they too selected a defensive player from Ohio State. Eli Apple was a surprise pick by some as they did not expect his name to be called until later in the night. In fact, Mel Kiper Jr. did not have him going until the 29th overall pick, so at first glance it was questionable.

"I didn't know where I was going to go, honestly," Apple said. "You hear a lot of things... I was expecting everything."

Apple, now at 20 years old, started in both seasons at Ohio State, and currently sits at 6'1" and 199 lbs. GM Jerry Reese spoke about the selection, saying that he is "A really good, young player. Height, weight, speed. Big School. He holds all the tools to be a starter. He was the highest graded player on the board, beyond the guys with issues."

These issues are in reference to both Laremy Tunsil and Myles Jack, both of whom slipped dramatically in the draft. Minutes before the draft, a video surfaced on social media of Tunsil smoking marijuana. He was once considered the favorite to go No. 1 overall, but fell to No. 13 with the Miami Dolphins. Myles Jack was not selected in the first round, which came as a surprise to many.

"We like Eli because he's the No. 1 corner on the board," vice president of player evaluation Marc Ross said. "The guy is big. He's fast. He's athletic. He's clean off the field. He's got tremendous upside."

The Giants initially looked to trade up in the draft, but the price was too expensive. They received at least one offer for their 10th round pick, but decided to reject it.

"You trust your board and we got exactly what we wanted, where we wanted," said coach Ben McAdoo.

I really like this pick because the Giants desperately needed help at the cornerback position. Although they have Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and new signee Janoris Jenkins, Apple can now be viewed as a third string option in his rookie season.

Apple does have potential. He is young and has the necessary physical tools to handle an NFL workload, but it could take some time. McAdoo said that they will try Apple at different spots on the field and see what sticks.

Stay tuned for a future article detailing the remainder of the picks selected by the Jets and Giants.