June 5, 2013
Solid Starter
Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse – Round 1 
The Giants had to get some young talent on their offensive line as Eli Manning was under too much pressure last season. The running game also needed to improve its blocking at the point of attack, so taking an offensive linemen in the first round made a lot of sense. Pugh was a surprise pick as most projected him to barely sneak into the first round or go on the second day of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Pugh was a good blind-side protector at Syracuse for Ryan Nassib. Pugh showed nice speed and athleticism to get depth in his kick slide to neutralize fast edge-rushers. He also was a good blocker in the ground game. However for the NFL, Pugh projects best as a guard or maybe a right tackle. The 6-foot-4, 301-pounder is very undersized for an NFL offensive tackle. Further hurting Pugh’s ability to play tackle is his very short arms (31 1/2 inches), so from a size perspective, he is a much better fit on the inside of the offensive line.
I would expect New York’s quality coaching staff to develop Pugh into a productive starter at guard. I don’t think he is going to be an overwhelming blocker or one of the most dominant guards in the game, but he could be a dependable player who enjoys a long career. Pugh isn’t a sexy pick, but years from it has the potential to prove to be a quality value for the Giants
Most Likely To Bust
Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M – Round 3 
I really like Damontre Moore as a player, but the reason I’m taking him as most likely to bust is the same reason why he fell to the third round. Moore simply is extremely immature off the field. I predicted a draft-day free fall and had Moore going in the third round before the 2013 NFL Draft. He could end up being a huge steal and boom pick for New York, but in order for that to happen, he is going to have grow up and dedicate himself to being a professional.
The 20-year old junior was one of the most consistent pass-rushers in college football in 2012, amassing 12.5 sacks – one of the larger totals in the country. Perhaps even more impressive than that, Moore led his team with 85 tackles – four more than the next closest defender. He had 21 tackles for a loss, two passes broken up, a blocked kick and a forced fumble, too. Moore (6-4, 250) was a great pursuit player, and once the game started, he went balls to the wall with a great motor for all 60 minutes. Moore’s lack of work ethic in the weight room during the week hurt him on the field as he was run over repeatedly on running plays coming straight at him. There were times when Moore was truly manhandled.
Moore needs to add more weight to be a 4-3 end in the NFL. That was visible at the Combine when he put up a disappointing total of 12 reps on the bench press. Moore also ran slowly in the 40. He did better at his pro day, but the disappointing workouts confirmed that he isn’t a good worker.
The Giants landed a player with huge potential, and it is up to their coaching staff and team captains to teach Moore the discipline to take advantage of his skill set. Scouts told WalterFootball.com that they believe that Moore is going to enjoy the lifestyle of the NFL with parties, money and women. That could be a big problem playing in New York, and that is why I’m picking him as the pick most likely to bust.
Potential Boom Pick
Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State – Round 2 
I considered putting Damontre Moore here because he definitely is a boom-or-bust pick. Hankins doesn’t have the bust potential of Moore and may not have as high a ceiling, but Hankins could prove to be a steal for the Giants from the second day of the 2013 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 320-pounder is a powerful load at the line of scrimmage who also has underrated quickness. He is a young player and I wouldn’t be surprised if New York molds him into being a difference maker.
Hankins totaled 55 tackles, four tackles for a loss and a sack in 2012. The junior’s play cooled off some after a dominant September, but he still caused problems at the line of scrimmage and finished his collegiate career strong with a good performance against Michigan. Hankins had 67 tackles with 11 tackles for a loss and three sacks in 2011.
Hankins is very difficult to move at the point of attack. He is a forceful run-plugger who can occupy blocks to free up other rushers.
Hankins has the power and quickness to collapse the pocket as a bull rusher. The Giants will want to improve his pass rush, but he has the potential to be better. New York has done a nice job of developing pass-rushers and Hankins has the upside to become a three-down defensive tackle in the NFL. He did a better job of rushing the passer than his sack total indicates. The Giants landed a nice value and scheme fit in Hankins. I think he could turn into a very good defensive tackle for them.
Future Depth Player
Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse – Round 4 The Giants were fortunate to land a backup quarterback like Nassib in the fourth round. New York has been lucky that Eli Manning has managed to avoid a serious injury thus far in his career, but that could change on any given play. Many thought Nassib would go in the first round to Buffalo or early in the second round. Landing a good backup to begin the third day of the 2013 NFL Draft was a steal for the Giants.
Nassib completed 62 percent of his passes in 2012 for 3,749 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last year. The senior displayed intelligence and accuracy. The 6-foot-2, 223-pounder has a good arm and is very smart. He has a hitch in his delivery, but he can rectify that while learning behind Manning.
Nassib may never be the starting quarterback in New York, but at least he could be a quality backup who could keep the team in a playoff race if he had to enter the lineup. The Giants could have a trade commodity in Nassib in a couple of years if he performs well in the preseason and other opportunities. New York general manager Jerry Reese played the draft well by selecting some good depth at the most important position in the fourth round.
2013 NFL Draft Individual Grades:
19. Justin Pugh, OT/G: C+ Grade
The good news is that Justin Pugh can pretty much play anywhere on the offensive line. The bad news is that Justin Pugh is a reach at No. 19. It’s unlike the Giants to make a pick like this. It’d be one thing if they were desperate for a left tackle, but they just re-signed William Beatty to a long-term deal. Pugh can play right tackle, and he would probably be an upgrade over David Diehl. Still, there were better options available.
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
49. Johnathan Hankins, NT, Ohio State: B Grade
The Giants signed Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson in free agency, but they apparently wanted a larger body. Johnathan Hankins was once projected in the first round, but this is the right range for him. This is a decent choice that makes sense.
81. Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M: A+ Grade
Wow. I never would have imagined Damontre Moore falling this far back in January when nearly everyone had him going in the top five. Moore struggled terribly at the Combine, running a 4.9 40, and then some character issues surfaced. It’s understandable why he maybe dropped out of the first round, but there’s no reason why he should have been available near the end of the second day. He’s just too talented.
110. Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse: A- Grade
When Doug Marrone passed on Ryan Nassib, the other 31 teams in the league had to think, “WTF is wrong with this guy?” But I’m sure the Giants looked hard at his tape Friday night and decided that they wanted to draft him as a developmental quarterback whom they could either use as Eli Manning’s replacement down the road or trade to a team that needs a signal-caller in the future (think Ryan Mallett with the Patriots). I like this move a lot.
152. Cooper Taylor, S, Richmond: B- Grade
Cooper Taylor drew a ton of attention in pre-draft visits, so it’s not surprising to see him get drafted in the fifth round. I feel like this is a bit early for him, but he does fill a need for safety depth with Kenny Phillips gone.
225. Eric Herman, G, Ohio: B Grade
If Justin Pugh plays right tackle, Eric Herman could eventually compete for a guard spot. This is a solid pick.
253. Michael Cox, RB, UMass: B- Grade
Andre Brown will be hitting free agency next year, so the Giants will need someone to step up behind David Wilson if he’s not retained.
2013 NFL Draft Team Grade: B . Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.
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