Figure the Giants will not need to spend much time or money on a leadership seminar for their 2014 draft picks. Five of the seven players they selected were team captains in college.
“Weaving through the character, the leadership, the responsibility, the accountability weaving through this group is a good thing,’’ coach Tom Coughlin said.
Of the seven, only first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. and fourth-round pick Andre Williams were not team captains but, like the others, were described by general manager Jerry Reese as “clean’’ players, meaning they have no medical or character issues.
Co-owner John Mara, following last season’s dismal 7-9 finish, said the Giants may have reached and taken too many risks in the draft for players who were either not very productive or had some off-the-field problems. Reese said there was no concerted effort to change his approach. The results, though, certainly are revealing, as there’s a definite need for these rookies to come in and make an immediate impact.
“If there are five captains here there is some maturity here,’’ Coughlin said.
It was no secret the Giants wanted to add a safety, given the likelihood they will lose Will Hill for perhaps half the season because of another violation of the NFL drug policy. They filled that need by using a fifth-round pick on San Diego State’s Nat Berhe, who does not have the desired size or speed but has gotten this far with his instincts and playmaking ability.
“I try to be the biggest, the baddest dude out there,’’ Berhe said. “I try to play with a lot of anger. I try to take people’s heads off. That’s the way the safety position is supposed to be played.’’
Linebacker Devon Kennard, taken with the fifth-round compensatory pick, impressed the coaching staff when he visited.
“One of the sharpest guys we’ve had as far as football knowledge,’’ said Marc Ross, the vice president of player evaluation.
The Giants have six spots available for undrafted free agents but likely will sign more than six, as Reese said he likely will “swap out’’ players already on the roster.
Coughlin said Eli Manning is an “amazing guy’’ in that he is ahead of his rehab schedule coming off arthroscopic ankle surgery. Coughlin said Manning has taken a few snaps during the spring workouts.
For the first time, the Giants allowed NFL Network cameras into their draft room. It was a non-event. “Some more ties were in the room than usual,’’ Coughlin said.
Sixth-round pick Bennett Jackson, a cornerback from Notre Dame, is from Hazlet, N.J.
“I always liked the Giants and hated the Jets,’’ he said.