The Giants know all about the impact a rookie can make.
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Last season their first-round draft pick went on to be named the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year while becoming a star around the league in the process.
But who will it be from this year's class?
The crew over at NFL Network debated which rookies -- one on each side of the ball -- will have the biggest impact in 2015. On defense, analyst Brian Baldinger chose Giants safety Landon Collins.
"He was a guy that dropped all the way through the first round and nobody thought he would do that," said Baldinger, a former 11-year NFL offensive lineman who played for the Cowboys, Colts, and Eagles.
"They always thought he was going to be the first safety drafted. Look, they need safeties in [Giants defensive coordinator] Steve Spagnuolo's new defense right here. I think he's been a smart guy. He's been well coached by Nick Saban and that staff in Alabama. And I think he's got a big chip on his shoulder with something to prove."
Photos of Safety Landon Collins in Giants Blue
Collins, whom the Giants traded up to select with the first pick in the second round, was a unanimous All-American and national champion at the University of Alabama, where he was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe and Nagurski awards, as well as the Lott Trophy.
With the Giants, Collins has been thrown into the deep end, playing on first-team defense throughout organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp.
"Collins has done a good job, has gotten better and has really done a good job of starting to direct back there," coach Tom Coughlin said. "And I think the coaches are excited about him going forward."
On offense, Baldinger's choice for an impact rookie was someone who will possibly go up against Collins as soon as Week 6: Philadelphia wide receiver Nelson Agholor, who was the 20th overall pick out of USC.
