We’re still not sure of all the details because we never got the full story from one trusted source, but this is our best take on how the 10th pick went last Thursday based on nuggets of information we have been able to piece together from several different sources. Literally from the time that they went to see Leonard Floyd work out at the Georgia pro day, the Giants only real concern was that someone would try and jump ahead of them to get the guy. And those worries only grew when it became apparent that Myles Jack likely wasn’t going to go before the 10th pick because of concerns about the long-term viability of his surgically repaired knee.

As the Giants pick approached on Thursday they talked to Cleveland about the possibility of moving up to the 8th pick, but there was just no way they were going to outbid Tennessee for that spot once the Titans offered a 3rd this year AND a second in 2017 to move up from the 15th spot. And the angst in the Giants’ room edged up a couple of notches when Tennessee took Jack Conklin. Not that Conklin was ever the Giants’ target with the 10th pick – they were never going to use a top ten selection on a RT – but he was their smokescreen that just maybe Floyd wasn’t their target. They did talk with Tampa Bay about flipping the 9th and 10th picks, but the Buccaneers wanted the Giants third rounder and they just weren’t prepared to part with a premium pick to move up one slot to get a guy who while he had a ton of upside was far from a sure thing.

The Giants also held out some hope that even if someone else moved ahead of them – even Chicago when that trade was announced – it was to get Laremy Tunsil rather than Floyd. They also reportedly felt pretty comfortable about possibly losing out on Floyd because they were very comfortable knowing that even if they didn’t get the latter they would have a choice of two very good corner prospects both of whom would fill arguably the team’s biggest need of a 3rd corner.

In the end, they chose Eli Apple over Vernon Hargreaves in large part because the former has way more upside. He’s bigger, he’s faster, he’s younger and while he’s not quite as quick as Hargreaves, he’s actually very agile for a long corner. And while Hargreaves is more polished, the fact is that he’s not going to get any bigger, while most of the flaws in Apple’s fundamentals can be coached up.

One also doesn’t want to underestimate the size factor. Whoever they drafted at the position this weekend was going to be the presumptive starter as soon as next year and, given that Janoris Jenkins, who they signed in the off-season is also a smallish corner, it meant they would be very small at corner in an era when receivers are getting bigger and bigger if they had gone with Hargreaves.

Still, the Apple pick was a major surprise as he was something of polarizing prospect heading into the draft as there were analysts who some him as the best corner candidate in this draft, while there were others who saw too many flaws in his technique and didn’t think he was more than a mid-to-late first round. In particular, Apple has a reputation of being a little on the grabby side and has to learn to a better job locating that ball. Time will tell!

We also had some initial questions about the 3rd round pick of Darien Thompson who did not test at all well at the combine where he barely got under 4.7 seconds in the 40. However, it turns out that Thompson wasn’t well in Indianapolis and ran much better at his pro day. No question, though, that Thompson was a productive player at Boise State where he had 19 career picks; he’s got really good instincts and ball skills, but has been known to get fooled by pump fakes. And if nothing else, Thompson will head to camp as the Giants biggest, most experienced FS.

On the other hand, one really has to go looking for reasons to dislike any of the Giants’ other picks. Indeed, we were pounding the table for Sterling Shepard when the Giants got on the clock for the 40th pick. Shepard isn’t very big, but he is a quick, fearless inside receiver with great hands and concentration who has the potential to be a great fit in the Ben McAdoo offense. That said, the Giants could very well still be in the market for a bigger veteran free agent receiver to work outside opposite Odell Beckham.

We also note without reservation that Shepard is still a draft pick and like every other draft since 1935 this one was crapshoot. We mention that because the last receiver we pounded the table for with the Giants on the clock in the second round was Reuben Randle! Ouch!

Meanwhile, speaking of potentially great fits in the Giants offense, we actually had TE Jerell Adams on our short list of possible picks in the third round and actually had kind of forgot about him by the 6th. Adams is not a polished receiver who’s likely ever going to catch 100 passes, but he has a unique combination in the fact that he is decent blocker AND can run with the potential to get in the seam and stret5ch defenses. As such, he offers McAdoo the chance to create some real match-up problems for opponents. If the defense has a run defense on the field, the Giants will be able to flex Adams out and see how the defense wants to cover him. Good luck trying to cover him with a LB as there likely aren’t many backers in the league who can run with him. Indeed, opponents likely will have to slide over a safety if Adams goes wide meaning there is one body less to double up on Odell and company. And if the defense goes to a cover package, that’s when you bring Adams back into the line and think run.

Meanwhile, Paul Perkins could be a fun guy to watch this fall as he was one of the most elusive backs in the country the past couple of years as he was one of the most elusive backs in the country the past couple of years. Indeed, Perkins has the vision and agility to give the Giants that ability to jump cut into a secondary that they haven’t had since Tiki packed it in for whatever. For good measure, Perkins is also a willing blocker and better than average receiver who may already be the best all-around back on the roster.

At the same time, the unsung guy on the Giants’ 2016 board may ultimately be LB B.J. Goodson who kind of got lost in that talented Clemson, but he’s just a good solid all-around backer with good speed, decent instincts and a great motor. He’s also a very versatile guy who can the rush the pass and contribute in coverage; he can also play all three all positions such that it wouldn’t be a huge stretch if Goodson started the season as the primary back-up at all three. And while he’s probably a natural mike backer, it also wouldn’t be a stretch if Goodson puts some real pressure on Devon Kennard at SSLB.

We aren’t big on grading drafts, especially just days after the picks were actually made; bottom line here, though, is that we really liked the Giants draft. In particular, there is a legit chance that each of the 6 players drafted last weekend are starting in some fashion by mid-season. Of course, as noted above, it’s still the draft and one never knows until the players actually get on the field. On paper, though, this was a solid draft.

Just a note on the fact the Giants did not select either an offensive or defensive lineman through the 6 rounds of this year’s draft. In fact, it is our understanding that the Giants never seriously considered selecting an offensive lineman this year. In particular, as noted above, there never was any intention to use the 10th pick on what would in essence be a RT. The game plan has always been to address the issues on the right side in free agency and that does not appear to have changed. And in a worst case scenario they make do with what they had last year, which at least from a statistical perspective wasn’t all that bad. The DL may have been a slightly different case in that the Giants would have liked to add an edge rusher with one of their top two picks if a player they liked was available. However, it is likely that any defensive lineman taken after the second round was going to be more a developmental type who likely wouldn’t start the season as much more than the 4th DE or DT. The other part of the equation is that the Giants may be willing to wait and see what they have in Odi Odighizuwa and Jay Bromley as rotational guys in a much more aggressive scheme this fall. Stay tuned!