(Note: This is the first in a seven-part series that will include all the Giants draft picks.)

When the Giants turn rolled around in the first round of the NFL Draft, two players they really liked, LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Martin, were both on the board. Ultimately, they selected the player they thought was the best value for them with No. 12 overall pick.

The response was mixed. Giants fans wanted another offensive lineman to further solidify the protection of quarterback Eli Manning. On the other hand, a playmaker -- any sort of playmaker -- could help. The only weapon that Manning has to work with right now that seriously scares anyone outside the Giants facility is wide receiver Victor Cruz. That is not enough.

Beckham has the ability to change that, and it's rather easy to see on tape. He moves faster, cuts sharper and attacks the football better than most receivers. It wasn't an accident that he finished with 1,152 yards, eight touchdowns and close to 20 yards per catch last season at LSU.

Beckham may not be the biggest receiver (5-11, 198), but he can do a lot of things well. These are the reasons the Giants selected him 12th overall Thursday night in the NFL Draft.

Let's take a deeper look at them.

Playmaking Ability

It's obvious watching Beckham that he has a unique ability to make plays. It's not just one skill (his blazing speed) either. It's his total package -- sharp cuts, great leaping ability, tremendous speed, strong hands, solid route running.

Here in a 2013 game against UAB, it's all on display. Despite the corner playing a good 10 yards off, Beckham is able to get downfield. He does it with speed and a well-run route that turned the defender around. He then makes a tough catch using impressive body control and his huge hands. Look at the size of those puppies.

On this play in LSU's season opener against TCU, Beckham's speed and shiftiness allows him to turn a nothing play into a big gain. This is the type of weapon the Giants and new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo needed, almost in the mold of Packers' all-purpose wide receiver Randall Cobb. No wonder the Giants brass all used the word "versatile" to describe their first-round pick.

Speed

Beckham can fly. This intrigued the Giants right from the start. Prior to the draft, there was nobody (healthy at least) on the Giants offense with true game-breaking speed.

"There are guys he plays with in the SEC, that whatever side [Beckham] goes to, those guys back up," general manager Jerry Reese said after making the pick. "He is that big speed that you need on the outside that can go get that ball."

Beckham ran a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. That speed also showed on tape, and not just when running deep routes.

Here the cornerback is forced to play 10 yards off Beckham and then can't make the tackle as he explodes out of his cut. Speed made this play happen.

Attacks the Football

The Giants plan to keep Cruz in the slot and have Beckham on the outside. That likely wouldn't work if Beckham didn't attack the football like he does. He's stronger than he looks in the air and can jump. His 38.5-inch vertical leap and dunking ability are evidence.

These plays below are more. The first one even comes against TCU and fellow first-round pick Jason Verrett.

Almost Pro-Ready

The Giants made it very clear they expect Beckham to contribute immediately. He needs to as they try to rebuild a "broken" offense.

The fact that Beckham is "almost pro ready," as Reese explained on Thursday, helps greatly. Check out the crispness of his routes, particularly the way he works in and out of cuts and always keeps his arms pumping to hide that he's about to make a move. This is what Reese, coach Tom Coughlin and VP of player evaluation Marc Ross were talking about when they noted he was almost pro ready.

Dynamic Returner

Beckham's ability to return kicks and punts is a bonus. He would have been a high draft pick without it, but it does give the Giants options.

If anything, Beckham will likely contribute as a kickoff returner. That is where he did most of his damage on special teams at LSU.

There is a lot to like in that phase of his game. Beckham runs hard and makes defenders miss. He rarely took hard hits either, a key when you're talking about putting your first-round pick back there to return kicks. On this play, Beckham turns a decent return into a big play with his elusiveness.

Dropped Passes

OK, this is the one thing that showed up on tape that could be troublesome moving forward. Beckham did have his fair share of drops, especially in the 2013 opener against TCU and during the 2012 season.

The good news is most didn't have anything to do with his hands. His hands looked solid. More than anything, they appeared to be concentration drops. That is something that he should be able to fix simply with maturation. This can't happen at the pro level, especially on a fairly regular basis.

Overall, though, the Beckham pick looks like a good one, especially if the drops disappear at the next level.