The New York Giants Are Masters of the Post-Draft

Different NFL teams have different formulas, or at least reputations, for compiling talent. The Patriots, Steelers, Colts and Ravens are reputed masters of the draft. The Vikings are one of the few who have made hay with high-profile free agents. The Bengals frequently make do with players trying to rehabilitate their troubled reputations.↵↵The Giants, meanwhile, seem content to mine the ranks of the undrafted and undiscovered - more so than any other team in the NFL, at least. The six undrafted players currently on their roster average three more starts than those of the Chargers, the next best team in terms of getting production from undrafted players. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers goe the worst value out of their undrafted players, as the 13 averaged fewer than one start since joining the team.↵

↵↵⇥Nevertheless, the Giants’ success in this department is indisputable. After no other team offered Chase Blackburn (pictured) a tryout, the Giants pulled the linebacker off a construction site in 2005. He’s played 79 games since—and started 16 in the last two years. After only one other team offered Bruce Johnson a tryout last year, the Giants signed the cornerback and watched him return an interception for a touchdown against Dallas in the season opener.↵⇥↵⇥Guard Rich Seubert, another undrafted player, has been a full-time starter the past three years, and undrafted center Shaun O’Hara, who originally chose to sign with the Cleveland Browns instead of the Giants, is a captain and nine-year starter who has played in the Pro Bowl.↵⇥

↵↵↵There are two sides to this, of course. You could say that the reason so many undrafted players are making the team is because their actual drafting hasn’t been meeting expectations. Which is not exactly something to hang your hat on. Then again it can’t hurt to have that kind of scouting prowess to cover for your busts on draft day.↵

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