Grading the Draft: New York Giants

Grade: C

1. Kenny Phillips-S Miami (FL)
2. Terrell Thomas-CB USC
3. Mario Manningham-WR Michigan
4. Bryan Kehl-OLB BYU
5. Jonathan Goff-ILB Vanderbilt
6. Andre' Woodson-QB Kentucky
6. Robert Henderson-DE Southern Miss

When you win the Super Bowl, it's hard to say a team has any real weaknesses. However, if there was one to pick out for the Giants, it was their secondary. Their rather pedestrian coverage was masked well by the best defensive line in the league. The offseason departure of S Gibril Wilson to Oakland didn't help either. Therefore, the Giants threw their first two picks at solving the problem. Kenny Phillips could be the next big thing out of "The U," attempting to add his name of the lineage of Ed Reed, Sean Taylor and Brandon Meriweather, all first-round safeties. Terrell Thomas will try to boost the cornerback corps, as Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters continue to age. Aaron Ross come on spectacularly last year, so Thomas could have a nice grace period to find his place in the defense.

While selecting Mario Manningham in the third round isn't as big of a risk as taking him in the first, it is still a roll of the dice. His slow 40-time scared some teams, but it is his character that's questioned the most. He finally admitted to failing multiple marijuana tests in college, after originally lying to NFL scouts at the combine. This is also the third straight year the Giants have invested early picks on wideouts. First Sinorice Moss, then Steve Smith and now Manningham. With Amani Toomer still in good shape for his age and Plaxico Burress at the top of his game, Manningham will have to work that much harder just to see playing time. Also, let's not forget about David Tyree, the miracle worker of the Super Bowl.

The loss of Kawika Mitchell in free agency and the need for Mathias Kiwanuka to move back to defensive end due to Michael Strahan's retirement warranted a few picks for the linebacking corps. Jonathan Goff is a possible sleeper and the Giants like the upside of Bryan Kehl.

With Eli Manning showing he can be the man, the Giants didn't need to make too much of an investment in quarterback. However, a more capable backup than Jared "The Pillsbury Throwboy" Lorenzen wouldn't hurt. They found a good value in Andre' Woodson, who was a projected second-round pick early on, but ill-advised passes late in his senior season and his slow throwing motion dropped him to the sixth round. If his mechanics can be improved, he has the size and arm strength to make Giants fans feel at little more at ease should Eli ever go down.

Overall, the Giants didn't need to add to much to a championship team. Free agency hurt, as it usually does when teams win it all and players want their payday. However, the Giants used their first-round pick to replace the loss of Gibril Wilson and two mid-rounders to fill the void of Kawika Mitchell. To their fault though, they didn't make much of an effort to bolster either line, and the retirement of Michael Strahan is a huge loss. If injuries hit this team hard, there isn't much to fall back on in the trenches. The Manningham selection probably could have been used on something more pressing, and in the NFC East, nothing comes easy. With all the other teams in their division on the upswing and using their drafts wisely, the Giants needed to make some more solid choices.