

Over the past two decades, the New York Giants have experienced their fair share of highs and lows in the draft, making some selections that quickly turned out to be failures. While the team has had notable successes, such as the selection of Saquon Barkley in 2018, there have also been picks that left much to be desired. Although the Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll era is just beginning, the draft moves made before their arrival are already under scrutiny, with several questioned decisions continuing to impact the team’s recent history.
The NFL draft is a crucial tool for any team looking to rebuild or solidify their roster, and the Giants have not been immune to its challenges. While not all failed picks can be attributed to a single factor, several players selected in early rounds never managed to live up to their potential, whether due to performance issues, injuries, or off-field conflicts. The combination of these factors has led to a series of disappointments that continue to resonate with fans and analysts alike.
Players with great potential
One of the worst decisions in the Giants’ recent history was selecting Kadarius Toney in 2021. The wide receiver from the University of Florida showed flashes of great talent during his college season, but his time with the Giants was marked by inconsistency and injuries. Toney demonstrated his potential with an impressive performance against the Dallas Cowboys, recording 10 receptions for 189 yards. However, his inability to stay healthy and his failure to adapt to the Giants’ system led to him being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in his second season. What could have been a key player for the Giants’ offense quickly turned into a selection mistake.
Another clear example is DeAndre Baker, chosen in the first round of the 2019 draft. The cornerback from Georgia had won the Jim Thorpe Award as the best collegiate cornerback, raising high expectations for his NFL career. However, Baker’s legal issues, including accusations of armed robbery and aggravated assault, overshadowed his entire career. Although the charges were eventually dropped, his time with the Giants was brief and marred by controversy, and his NFL journey was short-lived.
The collapse of the Offensive Line
On the offensive line, one of the Giants’ biggest failures was selecting Ereck Flowers in the first round of 2015. Flowers was chosen to be the franchise left tackle of the line, but his career was plagued by inconsistency. Throughout his early years, he showed significant flaws in pass protection, particularly against fast pass rushers. Despite being moved to right tackle, he was never able to establish himself. After being released by the Giants in 2018, Flowers passed through the Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Football Team, and Miami Dolphins, but never met the expectations placed on him.
Similarly, Marvin Austin (second round, 2011) was selected with high potential but had a history of internal issues at his college. Although he was considered an All-American before his downfall at the University of North Carolina, Austin never recovered after a significant injury that kept him out for the 2011 season. His time in the NFL was brief, and although he played for teams like the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys, his career never took off.
Injuries are an inevitable part of football, but in some cases, they can mark the end of a promising career. Clint Sintim, selected in the second round of 2009, was a linebacker with impressive physical attributes and a standout college career at Virginia, but injuries kept him out of action for several seasons. Sintim was expected to play a major role in the Giants’ defense, but after suffering an ACL tear, he missed several years and eventually retired in 2013 without fulfilling expectations.
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