NY Giants: Which Rookie will have the most Impact
By Michael Stewart (@golferbad)
Every year, all eyes are on which rookie could make the most impact during their 1st season in the NFL. Well, this year’s group does have a few rookies that could impact the Giants season in a positive way. Here’s a look at the Giants 6 draft picks in order of impact (first to last) for 2017:
DT Dalvin Tomlinson” 6’3/310 (round 2 (55): With the departure of Jonathan Hankins and the unproven track record from Robert Thomas and Jay Bromley, Tomlinson will certainly be given the best opportunity to play alongside Damon Harrison for most of the snaps along the Giants DL. Despite the fact that DC Steve Spagnuolo likes to rotate fresh bodies along the DL, Tomlinson is the early candidate among the rookies for the simple fact is that he was drafted to fill a vacancy left by Hankins and should become a starter by opening day.
TE Evan Engram: 6’3/235 (round 1(23): Very dynamic TE that plays more like a wide receiver. Engram will most certainly have more eyes on him when he’s on the field. Blessed with 4.42 speed (40 yard dash), Engram should create mismatches for opposing Defenses in the NFL and give the Giants a weapon mid-field. Engram would have been my 1st choice, however; he will be a victim of the numbers game. The Giants have a crowded group of receivers but Head Coach Ben McAdoo will utilize Engrams talent.
RB Wayne Gallman:6/215 (Round 4 (140) Gallman will be utilized in a RB by committee with Paul Perkins and Shane Vereen for the most part. This could be the plan throughout the year, unless there’s an injury or lack of production. Gallman is not an electrifying running back that will make opposing defenses lose sleep at night. However; he is more of a jack of all trades and can complement Perkins very well.
DE Avery Moss: 6’3/265 (Round 5 (167): Moss is a multi talented DE who can play the run well and also be an effective edge rusher. Moss will battle for playing time along with Okwara Romeo, Kerry Wynn & Odighizuwa Owamagbe. Should be an interesting competition in training camp as Moss is more of a pure pass rusher than the others mentioned.
OT Adam Bisnowaty: 6’6/305 (Round 6 (200): Bisnowaty will need time to develop, but the basic ingredients are there as Bisnowaty has a nasty side, long arms and above average footwork. In time he could develop into a starting LT in the NFL. However; he will have to battle it out with a number of current and UDFA OT in training camp.
QB Davis Webb: 6’5/230 (Round 3 (87): Many experts have stated (including me) that this was a reach in round 3, but the damage is done. Webb appears to have all the tools and makeup to be Eli Manning’s successor once Manning retires. In the meantime, Webb will be delegated to take over the role that was once Ryan Nassib and hold a clip board as he develops.
Final Thought: Like every draft, it will take roughly a solid season or two to see if these rookies were the right choice or not. My early grade of C+ could very well change over the course of the season or two (in either direction). As I mentioned after the draft, this was not a bad draft by Reese at all, as I believe each prospect (except Davis Webb) will contribute for the Giants this season. My only beef with Reese is that he is not aggressive at times when it appears he needs to be and this draft was the perfect opportunity to be aggressive.
If so, this draft could have been special instead of average.