[EmpireWF]

Last year, rookie GM Jerry Reese had perhaps the best draft in hindsight. All of his picks made the team and all but one contributed on the field to the Giants Super Bowl run. A year later, many places are considering the Giants as one of the top draft classes in the NFC and even in the NFL. Let's take a look...

With the last pick in the first round they selected safety Kenny Phillips from the University of Miami (Florida). A terrific pick, Phillips was the only safety with a first round grade by most. Why his stock dropped in the weeks leading up to the draft is uncertain. Was it the fact that Miami's program sucked this year? His production certainly didn't drop. Expect Phillips to start right out of the gate. He'll compete with veteran Sammy Knight for the spot.

In the second round they improved their secondary depth with cornerback Terrell Thomas out of Southern California. He started each game for the past two seasons for the Trojans so you know he can play. He's a big guy at over six feet and two hundred pounds. Injury concerns caused him to drop. You can't ignore the production at a top school. 45 tackles last year and five takeaways. He's a good bump and run guy who can use his size. He'll either be the nickle or dime corner.

Perhaps the biggest boom or bust pick was made by the Giants in the third round with the 95th overall selection. They chose wide receiver Mario Manningham from the University of Michigan. There was a ton of talk about his personal character which caused him to fall to day two of the draft. Manningham has reportedly told teams his "wild" days are behind him. The Giants said his leash will be short. His playing time, if he makes the team, may not be a lot (if Steve Smith and David Tyree can stay healthy). He will be able to learn from fellow Michigan-alum Amani Toomer and all-world Plaxico Burress. Fans are wondering whether Sinorice Moss' Giants career is over with this pick.

The Giants used their next two picks in the fourth and fifth rounds to boost their meager line backing group. OLB Bryan Kehl out of BYU and ILB Jonathan Goff out of Vanderbilt are both smart and instinctive players. The Giants say they will keep Mathias Kiwanuka at LB so it looks like Kehl will compete with Gerris Wilkerson for the weakside starting spot.

The final two Giants draft picks came back-to-back in the sixth round. They selected quarterback Andre Woodson out of Kentucky. The interesting thing about this pick is it means either Anthony Wright or (former Kentucky QB) Jared Lorenzen will be cut. Eli's back-up is David Carr. The Giants talked up Woodson and their desire to have a young QB sit and learn the system and develop for several years.

The Giants final draft pick was defensive end Robert Henderson from Southern Mississippi. The Giants like his size (6'3", 278 lbs) and athleticism. He's a pass rusher although he has to develop his skills. The Giants think he can work into a factor over the next couple of years. The Giants won the Super Bowl in large part due to their pass rushers. I'm not saying Henderson will play this year...or next, but the Giants will always look at adding potential pass rushers.

So it looks like the Giants added potentially two starters on defense. Another two defensive players who figure to get some playing time. A couple of development picks in Woodson and Henderson. Finally, they have a receiver who has the potential to be a player...or become the next (that guy the Lions picked a few years back in the Top 5).