Some of the NFL’s greatest players have been selected in Day 2 of the draft, which consists of Rounds 2 and 3.
This year, the New York Giants went into the draft with just one selection — No. 37 overall in Round 2. They traded back up later in the night to procure a third-round pick (No. 74, used to select Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields) to complete a banner two nights at the draft table.
With the 37th overall pick, the Giants took Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood, widely considered by experts a first-round talent, therefore making him a “steal.”
From ESPN:
After only two cornerbacks went in the first round — LSU’s Mansoor Delane (No. 6, Chiefs) and San Diego State’s Johnson — the second round included five. Tennessee’s Colton Hoodwent No. 37 to the Giants after recording two takeaways for touchdowns, 50 tackles and eight pass breakups in his only year with the Vols after transferring in from Colorado. Hood was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
“He was a one-year starter, did a tremendous job,” an SEC coordinator said. “His best football is still ahead of him. He’s a tough guy, can run. He’ll do well.”
Hood is not only a first-round talent, but he has a first-round swagger to him. He comes from a family steeped in NFL experience and was pretty much born and groomed to play corner at the top level. He is relentless in pass coverage.
“There’s no one in the Draft that’s as good as me when it comes to press,” said Hood. “I just want to continue to build on that and continue to build on my game so when the season comes, I can be dominant.”
The Giants are banking on that to be true.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: SEC coordinator: ‘Best football still ahead’ of Giants’ Colton Hood
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
