Giants address secondary with Eli Apple

The New York Giants have continued adding to their secondary this offseason.

After signing Janoris Jenkins to a huge deal in free agency, the G-Men selected cornerback Eli Apple out of Ohio State 10th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The surge to address the secondary shouldn't come as a shock, as New York finished dead last against the pass last season, conceding nearly 4.800 yards through the air. The Apple selection specifically, though, should raise a few eyebrows, as Vernon Hargreaves III was also still available at the time.

In addition to Jenkins and Apple, the Giants still have Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on the roster, giving them a decent trio of cover men to deal with the likes of DeSean Jackson and Dez Bryant in their division.

Eli Apple Bio

Position: CB
School: Ohio State
College Experience: Redshirt Sophomore
Height: 6-1
Weight: 199 lbs.

Strengths

• Size: Ideal height, weight, and arm length. Able to cover receivers of any stature.
• Mirroring: Great ability to read receiver's body, and superb footwork allows for close man coverage. Doesn't get caught with eyes in backfield.
• Awareness: Knows where he is on the field. Uses sideline as an extra defender. Can come off his own man for support coverage when ball is in the air.
• Physical: Not afraid to come up and make tackles in the run game.

Weaknesses

• Closing speed: Struggles to make plays on the ball in off coverage. Doesn't posses the quick-twitch instincts necessary at the NFL level.
• Hands: Had only one interception in sophomore season.
• Undisciplined: Panics if he feels a receiver has a step on him, has a tendency to take penalties. Took four holding and seven pass-interference penalties in 26 career games.

Combine Results