The NFL Draft is a crapshoot. That’s for certain, but in reality, it’s an opportunity for the smart teams to take advantage of the not-so-smart teams.
Players are always overdrafted and underdrafted and in watching how things unfold, we are always left scratch our heads about why some players were taken too early or too late.
Every year, teams walk away from the draft as if they’ve just completed some type of coup having selected players of great value in the later rounds.
In this year’s draft, each team has such a player — or two — that they are beaming about. Brett Sobleski of Bleacher Report complied a list of each team’s “surprise rookie gem” to look out for.
For the New York Giants, it’s Oregon guard Shane Lemieux, selected in the fifth round with the 150th overall pick in April’s draft.
Spencer Pulley is the New York Giants’ projected starting center, but he’s not guaranteed a spot despite Jon Halapio’s departure.
Incoming fifth-round pick Shane Lemieux could snag a starting role if he undergoes a smooth transition from guard.
“He’s a guy that’s going to have interior swing value,” Giants head coach Joe Judge said, per NJ.com’s Matt Lombardo. “We’re going to cross-train him guard and center. It’s going to be something he has been working on out at Oregon, and we’re going to keep on building with that, as well.”
Lemieux started 52 consecutive games at left guard for the Oregon Ducks. The transition might be difficult.
But the Giants wanted to revamp their offensive line and did so with multiple draft selections. Each will compete to play sooner rather than later.
As high as the Giants are on Lemieux, he will simply not be handed the job. There are other forces at play in East Rutherford.
The Giants are closely monitoring Jon Halapio’s rehab from his Achilles’ injury and if he can pass a physical may be re-signed. The team has also said publicly that Adam Gates, who has played both guard and tackle, will also be tried at center.
