TheMachBack Draft - NYG take RB as 2012 rookie NFL selection process gets under way
April 27th 2012 06:53
The 2012 NFL Draft - Thursday 26th April
Let’s be honest, after the atmospheric rise of the rookies in recent years the stock of the NFL draft and moreover the 1st round picks have risen dramatically. Mark Sanchez went to two consecutive AFC Championship games off the back of a first round selection, Jason Pierre-Paul was integral in the New York Giants run to the Super Bowl championship in just his second season in the league whilst Ndamukong Suh has made the previously penetrable Detroit Lions a force to be reckoned with. Then there was last season; AJ Green was the highest drafted WR and lead his team to the playoffs along with fellow rookie Quarterback Andy Dalton as Cam Newton broke out and smashed a long standing rookie season record set by none other than Peyton Manning after going first overall to the Carolina Panthers who were much improved over 16 games thanks to the annual NFL draft.
Of course the franchises don’t always get it right. Alex Smith never quite lived up to the hype that followed him as the number one draft pick for the 49ers some years ago whilst JaMarcus Russell… who? Exactly. Nevertheless, with last night’s first round selections made in New York it’s clear that everybody is looking for an immediate impact from their primary selection.
As reigning and defending World Champions the New York Giants fell into the unenviable slot of last pick in the first round. With rumours of a trade up that never materialised, Jerry Reese, Tom Coughlin and co sat back and watched as the talent pool was raided and grew ever smaller.
It was no secret as to what the three main requirement areas were for the Big Blue. Linebacker was up there although a new contract for Chase Blackburn who emerged on that odds defying run towards the rings earlier this year somewhat quenched that thirst. After losing their third choice yet superstar wide receiver Mario Manningham to the San Francisco 49ers they would be on the lookout for a wideout to ply his trade behind Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz and a new partner for Ahmad Bradshaw at running back after his best buddy also went coast to coast to formulate a new tandem with Frank Gore in the city by the bay.
Earth, wind or fire?
It was here at running back that their journey into the 2012 NFL draft began. With obvious candidate Trent Richardson heading to the Cleveland Browns after a trade up with the Vikings the Buccs stole in one place ahead of the Giants and took Doug Martin with the 31st pick and their second in the first round. The Giants were left with a simple decision to make 20 year old running back David Wilson their first round pick from out of Virginia Tech. Highly rated on BleacherReport™ tipped to “compete for the offensive rookie of the year” no less, Giants fans will be salivating at the prospect of what the 2011 ACC Offensive Player of the Year can do for them through 2012 as he builds a partnership with Ahmad Bradshaw, scorer of the winning touchdown in Super Bowl 46.
Whether the Giants continue to re-vamp at Wide Receiver, Linebacker and possibly Tight End remains to be seen as the 2012 NFL draft rolls on over the next couple of days.
** as a footnote to expand on an issue that was touched on earlier in the article, the San Francisco 49ers somewhat surprisingly selected a wide receiver A.J Jenkins as their initial draft pick at number 30. Granted given last season’s impressive run to overtime in the NFC Championship game the 49ers looked strong in all areas especially on the opposite side of the ball with defense and special teams. The selection of a WR will come as a surprise to most especially considering the 9ers already added Randy Moss and Mario Manningham through free agency as well as having talented youngster Michael Crabtree in this position. With Crabtree the leading receiver in the corps and Moss added for his experience and wisdom, the decision will no doubt affect Manningham the most. Although his talent was appreciated and undoubted in New York, Mario was unlucky to fall behind some of the league’s most stellar wideouts in his time at the Giants but was always considered much better than his number 3 status suggested. No more so was his vitality to the Giants cause highlighted than with the spectacular catch in the most recent Super Bowl which extended what was eventually the winning scoring drive. After parting company with the Big Blue on good terms as a fan favourite and more poignantly a World Champion, Manningham will have relished his fresh start on the west coast and the chance to join Harbaugh’s work in progress and prove himself as a leading receiver in the National Football League. However, following the selection of yet another receiver in the first round of the NFL draft it was clear that the 49ers were not yet satisfied with the depth at this position which will do little to encourage their newest acquisition.**
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