Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |
There's nothing more memorable than finding a monster player in the NFL draft - unless it's bungling a high-profile pick. Thanks to the Internet and fans' long memories, those dud choices live forever, long after careers have ended.
How will that play out for the Giants on Thursday in the latest installment of the draft? Is there another Dave Brown waiting for them, come draft night? Another high-profile Duke quarterback is available, so what could go wrong?
With that in mind, here's a look at the Giants' biggest mistakes in the draft over the last 25 years. Brown doesn't make this list, since he was picked in the 1992 supplemental draft. But you'll probably remember plenty of the guys who do.
Thomas Lewis (first round, 1994, 24th overall)
Lewis was supposed to add a deep receiving threat to help the Giants build their wow factor, but he was a disappointment who only lasted four seasons. In 34 games, Lewis had 74 catches - 53 of those grabs in the 1996 season alone - for 1,032 yards and five touchdowns. The Giants could've picked receiver Isaac Bruce, who had 1,024 catches and 91 touchdowns, or Hall of Fame center Kevin Mawae. Bruce was taken 33rd overall and Mawae went 36th.
Tyrone Wheatley (first round, 1995, 17th overall)
Wheatley, the talented Michigan product, had a stormy tenure as a Giant and Dan Reeves reportedly had not wanted to draft him. The running back had 1,280 yards on 356 carries in four years with the Giants and then went on to better success in Oakland.
Cedric Jones (first round, 1996, fifth overall)
The Giants hoped they were added a QB-harassing complement to Michael Strahan when they nabbed Jones, an Oklahoma product. But he only produced 15 sacks over five years and forced Strahan, a burgeoning star, to change from right defensive end to the left side. Jones, it turned out, had an eye issue severe enough that he could not play on the left side of the line of scrimmage. Strahan, obviously, managed very well after the move.
Joe Montgomery (second round, 1999, 49th overall)
Montgomery emerged out of Ohio State after a hideous knee injury in college, but he never took off in the NFL. In 10 games over two seasons with the Giants, he ran for 352 yards on 116 carries and four touchdowns. He did have a memorable 111-yard game in 1999 in the Giants' 41-28 victory over the Jets.
Tim Carter (second round, 2002, 46th overall)
Carter was a track star at Auburn as well as a wide receiver, but his blazing speed did not translate into big gains with the Giants. Hampered by injuries at times, he never had more than 26 catches in any of his five seasons in blue and totaled 72 receptions for 967 yards in his Giants career.
William Joseph (first round, 2003, 25th overall)
The '03 draft was a bonanza for the Giants' pass rush, but that had nothing to do with Joseph, who did not live up to pre-draft billing. Joseph, the last defensive tackle drafted by the Giants in the first round, provided a jolt in his first game when he forced a Kurt Warner fumble that was recovered for a TD.
But there weren't many big plays afterward. Joseph won a ring with the 2007 Giants while on injured reserve, but only finished with seven sacks in 55 games for Big Blue. That production paled in comparison to the man taken 31 picks after Joseph - Osi Umenyiora. And check this: Think of the angst the Giants would've saved themselves and their fans if they had overdrafted Jason Witten with this pick; Dallas took the tight end star 69th overall.
Sinorice Moss (second round, 2006, 44th overall)
Maybe the Giants were hoping that Moss' career would resemble that of his brother, Santana, a productive wide receiver for the Jets and Redskins for 10 seasons who scored 66 career receiving touchdowns. It was not to be. Sinorice Moss, who at 5-8 was two inches shorter than his brother, only played 37 NFL games, starting just twice, and was out of the NFL in 2009. Sinorice finished his career with 39 catches for 421 yards and three touchdowns.
Clint Sintim (second round, 2009, 45th overall)
The University of Virginia product was supposed to be a pass-rushing linebacker, but his career was derailed by two serious knee injuries. Sintim played in 24 games and recorded one sack and 23 total tackles. He never played after the 2010 season. Houston took pass rusher Connor Barwin with the very next pick and LeSean McCoy went to the Eagles at 53rd overall.
David Wilson (first round, 2012, 32nd overall)
It's probably unfair to call Wilson a bust, but the NFL is a results-oriented business and injury robbed Wilson of the chance to produce, leaving the Giants lacking. He was an explosive running back who made the 2012 NFL All-Rookie Team thanks to his return prowess. But his career lasted only 21 games because of a neck injury that ultimately led to spinal stenosis, wrecking his career. Wilson recorded 504 yards rushing on 115 carries, scoring five touchdowns on the ground, one via reception on one on a kickoff return. In a twist that still resonates now, the Giants could've had Russell Wilson in the same draft - the QB was picked 75th overall.
Ereck Flowers (first round, 2015, ninth overall)
Flowers, originally a left tackle, was supposed to anchor the offensive line for years. But he, ahem, wilted while protecting Eli Manning's flank. The Giants tried to make it work for three seasons, but ultimately signed Nate Solder to play left tackle and shifted Flowers to the right side. That didn't work either and Flowers was finally cut after five games of the 2018 season.