Giants 1st RD: Radavan Slobonovich, K, Lower Slobovia State

With the 23rd pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select Radavan Slobonovich, K, Lower Slobovia State.

Here is a transcript of the post pick press conference with Giants General Manager Jerry Reese:

“Jerry, you drafted a kicker in the first round.”
“Yes, Radavan Slobonovich, Lower Slobovia State. Questions?”
“Why?”
“Highest guy on our board. We always take the highest guy on our board.”
“But Garett Bolles and David Njoku were still available.”
“We liked them. We liked this guy more.”
“Nobody else even thought he was draftable.”
“We trust our scouts. We trust our board.”
“Mel Kiper doesn’t even know who he is.”
“Mel Kiper? Who the hell is Mel Kiper?”
“Were you surprised he was still available when you picked?”
“Sure. It’s pretty rare for a player of his talent to slip that far.”
“You turned the card in very quickly.”
“He was our guy. It was unanimous.”
“Did you have any offers to trade down?”
“Yes. We were offered a two to trade down.”
“You obviously turned it down. What were you asking to move down?”
“Three first round picks, and two seconds.”
“Isn’t that what Ernie Accorsi asked for John Elway?”
“This guy is the John Elway of kickers.”
“You said ‘player of his talent.’ But he missed six extra points, and had nine field goal attempts blocked last season.”
“All players have warts. We like his upside. You guys always focus on the negative.”
“One of his other field goal attempts went so far left, it got wedged in a tuba.”
“What is it with you guys and tubas? I remember when we drafted McCants, that’s all you wanted to talk about. Why don’t you talk about his field goal attempt that hit both uprights and the crossbar? Have you ever seen that? I’ve never seen that. That was unbelievable.”
“It was no good.”
“Like I said, you guys always focus on the negative.”
“Are you worried that he’s already 35?”
“No. Age is just a number. Bolles is almost 25. Aaron Ross was almost 25 when we drafted him. 35 is the new 25.”
“Was there any other reason you had him rated so highly?”
“He can cook.”
“What?
“He can cook.”
“But you said that didn’t matter when you drafted Eli Apple last year.”
“I was wrong. I’m starving. I haven’t had a decent meal since last April.”
“Is being able to cook really an important skill for a kicker?”
“It shows he’s versatile. We like versatile players. We’ll get him in the kitchen. We’ll see what he can do.”
“Is there anything in particular that you want him to cook?”
“No. Anything is fine. I’m famished.”
“What is your approach for tomorrow?”
“Same formula as today. We’ll stick to our board. Our scouts are ready. We trust the process. There are good football players in every round.”