What are some draft related stories/opinions you've had over the years that stick out to you every time the draft rolls around? Predictions that panned out? Predictions gone wrong? Picks you may have guessed. Guys you wanted that wound up elsewhere?
Here are a few of mine.
First, a bad one. I LOVED the Marvin Austin pick. I thought he was going to be a beast. I even started a thread on BBI praising the selection. OOPS.
In 2011 I was pissed we took Prince even though it was seen as a great value pick at the time. The reason I was mad? I wanted Mark Ingram.
In 2005 I was very confused when we took a RB out of Southern Illinois in the 4th rd. I remember thinking, "who is this guy?"
In the now famous 2007 draft, for just about the only time I can remember, I accurately predicted a non-1st round NYG pick. I was at a concert at MSG later that afternoon during the 2nd round when my buddy said "Giants are on the clock, who do you got?" Steve Smith WR USC.
I wanted Donte Stallworth over Jeremy Shockey.
A couple of guys that I really wanted but wound up elsewhere were Chandler Jones and more recently TD White (early yet but a good one).
I was at the NYG draft day party in 04 firmly aboard the draft Eli train. After the early action in the first round with the pick and the trade I got bored and decided to take off. Would have been nice to have been around when he showed up at the party later that day. Oh well.
I've only attended two drafts, 1983 and 2004. Oddly, they are both remembered for great QBs and a #1 pick who refused to play for the team that selected him.
1. 2004: Listening to the draft, probably on the local DC sports yakker, and sitting in a Barnes & Noble parking lot listening to the Manning-Giants-SD drama go down . . . I was honestly not that crazy about trading stuff for Eli.
2. 1997: Driving to BWI airport to pick up my mom when the Giants drafted Tiki; I'm a UVA guy, I went NUTS.
3. 2009: Also in the car when we traded up for Ramses Barden, and I thought it was a GREAT move.
So, on two out of those three moves, I was quite wrong.
The one draft at the time I was psyched about because I mocked the draft the night before and had him going to the Giants would the Tyrone Wheatley selection.
The draft where I was like WHAT, Thomas Lewis WR Indiana.. He was rated by Mel Kiper as the 22nd best WR and he was the Giants selection in the FIRST round..... GRRR.
1996 was a bad one too.
...held a 3-Day conference at the Marriott Marquis (on 45th and Broadway) in late April which often times led up to the NFL Draft.
Late on the second day of the 1994 Draft I found myself in a nearly empty balcony right above Mel Kiper who was relaxing for a moment during a commercial break. I leaned over, called out his name and asked him point blank what he thought of the Giant's unexpected selection of Thomas Lewis, WR out of Indiana in Round One (24th pick).
Mel Kiper could not have been more gracious with his time. He looked up, smiled, shook his head and thought Lewis was a late riser in the Draft and was a pretty good receiver. I asked if he was worthy of the 24th pick. Mel Kiper said something to the effect that "beauty was in the eye of the beholder." I then cut to the chase: How are his hands... can he catch the ball. Mel Kiper said don't worry about that!
I think injuries curtailed his career.
Iirc, Williams was never the same after that 2000 Jags game
What a draft in retrospect, we chose Rocky Thompson, the next 2 picks, Jack Tatum and Jack Youngblood. So typical of the ineptness of the Giants in that era.
And in 1999 at Phil in LA's for the draft, I think Greg from LI was there, too, but I may have him mixed up with someone else. As the Giants 2nd round pick was approaching we were talking about possibilities and I said, "I like Joe Montgomery" or something like that. At the time Montgomery was considered a 4th round prospect (give or take a round at best), so everyone was surprised (including myself) when he was selected by the Giants.
And of course the 2004 draft was quite memorable. I had been sounding the bell since January that the Kerry Collins days were over and the Giants would draft a QB and I had taken a lot of abuse for that opinion (in the beginning I was a lone wolf, but as the draft got closer others posting on BBI began to share my opinion), so on draft day someone posted a thread titled "Somewhere Milton is doing cartwheels!". That made me chuckle, because indeed, it felt good.
And in 1999 at Phil in LA's for the draft, I think Greg from LI was there, too, but I may have him mixed up with someone else. As the Giants 2nd round pick was approaching we were talking about possibilities and I said, "I like Joe Montgomery" or something like that. At the time Montgomery was considered a 4th round prospect (give or take a round at best), so everyone was surprised (including myself) when he was selected by the Giants.
And of course the 2004 draft was quite memorable. I had been sounding the bell since January that the Kerry Collins days were over and the Giants would draft a QB and I had taken a lot of abuse for that opinion (in the beginning I was a lone wolf, but as the draft got closer others posting on BBI began to share my opinion), so on draft day someone posted a thread titled "Somewhere Milton is doing cartwheels!". That made me chuckle, because indeed, it felt good.
So your favorite draft day memories are all out you being right?
;>)
(If that's the case I hope you're right about this year's pick at 2.)
I was super against the JPP pick when it happened. I remember leading up to the draft, there were quite a few mocks that had the Giants selecting him and I kept thinking it would be a remote thrower if true. It wasn't until he got on the field that I warmed up to it but I was pissed after that pick. I was wrong about that one. lol
I wanted the Giants to get Collins so bad after the first round ended. I kept hoping he would somehow keep sliding down to their pick but didn't think he would. So when they announced the trade up, I got all nervous thinking they might take someone else. But they got Collins and I was thrilled there.
It felt like the entire forum wanted Odighizuwa from that draft too with the next pick. I did too. What a bust he was. Hopefully he has his head on straight now.
I wanted Hargreaves over Apple. I wasn't too happy about that one but I tried warming up to it after the draft.
How great was that 2005 draft for not having a first round pick? I only wish we could get players like that from rounds 2-3-4 now. I liked Tuck a lot and was kind of busy that day. I had a chance to glance at the screen on ESPN and they have the picks scrolling by. I saw the Giants name and all I saw with it at first was "Notre Dame" so I was relieved when they were able to get Tuck there. We need to start hitting on later picks like that again.
So your favorite draft day memories are all out you being right?
What a draft in retrospect, we chose Rocky Thompson, the next 2 picks, Jack Tatum and Jack Youngblood. So typical of the ineptness of the Giants in that era.
The following year, trying to figure out who Eldridge Small was.
And the joke was that the Giants used Street and Smith to decide on their picks.
Eli was the best one I recall, though.
Eli was the best one I recall, though.
I'm sure there will be a thread on this Thursday, it's a draft tradition, but I can watch it over and over.
Jets draft day blunders - ( New Window )
The jets draft day blunders on you tube are absolutely hysterical.
Being a Domer, I also thought Harrison Smith would be a damn good player & was surprised he dropped so low in the 1st.