With the ink barely dry on draft cards, grades flew in from outlets across the country on the 2015 class.
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And the Giants received an "A" from NFL Network.
Analyst and former 11-year NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger gave the top mark to Big Blue, which welcomed six new members over the past weekend.
"I loved Ereck Flowers," Baldinger said. "I think he needs a lot of coaching. Pat Flaherty, the offensive line coach of the Giants, has got a lot of work to do, but the talent is there…They loved Flowers all the way through the process -- his size, his athletic ability, his love of the game, it's there. But I think the Giants got better at two positions because now Ereck Flowers will go to right tackle and Justin Pugh will go to right guard. And I just think the Giants got better on the right side of their offensive line for a long time to come by drafting Ereck Flowers."
Baldinger on Collins: "The fact that a coveted player at that position was available -- and a guy that played a lot of NFL coverages at Alabama -- I think he's a bright kid. I think he's hungry. The fact that he dropped to the second round, I think the Giants got themselves a Day 1 starter in the secondary and should help that team."
Baldinger on Odighizuwa: "He hasn't played a lot of football, let's face it, and he's just I think on his way up. I think his future is very bright. The talent is there. And I just think if you look at Steve Spagnuolo, the new defensive coordinator, he loves pass rushers. When he was the defensive coordinator when they won their first Super Bowl under Tom Coughlin, their defensive line was as good as any in football."
MORE DRAFT GRADES:
**NFL Network**
GRADE: A
"I loved Ereck Flowers. I think he needs a lot of coaching. Pat Flaherty, the offensive line coach of the Giants, has got a lot of work to do, but the talent is there…They loved Flowers all the way through the process -- his size, his athletic ability, his love of the game, it's there. But I think the Giants got better at two positions because now Ereck Flowers will go to right tackle and Justin Pugh will go to right guard. And I just think the Giants got better on the right side of their offensive line for a long time to come by drafting Ereck Flowers." -- Brian Baldinger
GRADE: B+
"Drafting Miami's Ereck Flowers No. 9 overall, coach Tom Coughlin and the Giants will be able to start him at right tackle and move 2013 first-round pick Justin Pugh to guard."
GRADE: B
"Ereck Flowers will be perceived by some as a reach, but his combination of length, strength and nastiness is precisely what the Giants have been missing along the offensive line for several years. No one will be questioning how high he was selected five years from now when he has helped stabilize New York's leaky offensive line. Similarly, the Giants should receive an immediate impact from safety Landon Collins and defensive end Owa Odighizuwa, each of whom offer pure explosiveness but lack ideal agility. In terms of aggression and physicality, no club improved more than Big Blue with its first three picks. In a division boasting playmakers, though, the lack of flexibility of these defenders could leave New York vulnerable. Of New York's Day Three prospects, wideout Geremy Davis has the size and reliable hands to surprise." - Rob Rang
GRADE: B-
"I expected the Giants to take either Brandon Scherff, if available, or Ereck Flowers with the No. 9 pick, so when Scherff ended up at No. 5, Flowers became the man. He could end up at right tackle, pushing Justin Pugh inside. If Flowers can transition well, the Giants could get better at two positions with one pick, but you just can't make that promise. While the pick made sense, I had Flowers at No. 27 overall on my final Big Board, so for me this wasn't a "best player available" situation. I was a fan of the move up to get Landon Collins in Round 2. The Giants don't just have a need for a box safety, Collins can also become something akin to a WILL linebacker for them. You move up for a guy you think helps you right away, and Collins certainly does. Owa Odighizuwa (say it together: OH-DIG-HE-ZOO-AH) was a reasonable value in Round 3, and though his pass-rushing skills can be underwhelming, he's a great athlete with a sturdy frame, and the Giants are woefully short on edge depth. The addition of another safety in Round 5, Mykkele Thompson, just emphasizes the need at that position and, perhaps, how they plan to use Collins. I just thought it was a reach. I had better options available on my board, but again, it's all about fit and development at this point. Geremy Davis is a sleeper at WR because he's quite an athlete who maybe does more on a better team. I think the Giants did pretty well in hitting needs, but the transition to tackle isn't an easy one, and fans shouldn't expect Flowers to fix that O-line overnight." - Mel Kiper Jr.
GRADE: B-
"Big Blue's draft started out with a big thud in the minds of some when the Giants selected Miami left tackle Ereck Flowers with the ninth pick. I had seven tackles ranked ahead of Flowers, a powerful run blocker whose pass protection leaves a lot to be desired. Things got a bit better in the second round when the Giants took Alabama safety Landon Collins to beef up their depleted secondary. Collins is a work in progress in coverage, but he'll be an enforcer against the run early. And getting UCLA pass-rusher Owamagbe Odighizuwa in the third round was a bit of a steal. "Double O" rushes the passer with bad intentions and a lot of power. Tom Coughlin's team grabbed another safety in the fifth round—Texas's Mykkele Thompson, who plays with range and could be a rotational asset." -- Doug Farrar
