EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – For the second time in two weeks, the Giants have parted with one of their former first-round draft choices.
The Giants and New Orleans Saints today completed a trade that sent Eli Apple, the team's top selection in the 2016 NFL Draft, to New Orleans in exchange for a 2019 fourth round draft choice and a seventh round draft choice in 2020, pending the completion of Apple's physical.
Apple, the 10th overall selection in his draft, joins 2015 first-round pick Ereck Flowers as first-round choices now with other teams. Flowers was waived on Oct. 9 and now plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Apple started at left cornerback and had five solo tackles and a fumble recovery in the Giants' 23-20 loss to the Falcons last night in Atlanta.
In his three seasons with the Giants, Apple played in 30 regular-season games with 23 starts. He recorded 120 tackles (102 solo), one interception, 20 passes defensed, one forced fumble and five fumble recoveries, as well as two stops and one fumble recovery on special teams.
As a rookie in 2016, he played in 14 games with 11 starts for a team that finished 11-5 and earned its first postseason berth since 2011. He recorded 49 tackles (41 solo), seven passes defensed, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and one interception. Apple also started the NFC Wild Card Game in Green Bay and had four solo stops.
In 2017, Apple played in 11 games with seven starts and for the second year in a row, registered 49 tackles (41 solo). He also added two fumble recoveries.
This season, Apple started all five games in which he played. He was inactive for the victory at Houston on Sept. 23 and the loss at Carolina a week later with a groin injury. Apple has 22 tackles (20 solo), five passes defensed and the fumble recovery.
Apple is expected to be replaced in the starting lineup by five-year veteran and first-year Giant B.W. Webb, who started the two games Apple missed.
