THE NFL DRAFT 2009: SECOND DAY

MEL KIPER'S HAIR HAS NOT LOST A STEP - THAT SUCKER COULD DEFLECT BULLETS

Mel's hair was on full display the second day of the draft - which is the day drafts are made. The first round picks and those made on the first day certainly garner the most attention, but team success is heavily dependent on the contributions of the players drafted on the second day.

How did the G-men do?

Jerry Reese is beginning to cement his reputation as one of the best talent evaluators in the NFL. He may have helped his reputation even more yesterday.

After not being able to swing a deal for a marquee WR to replace Plax--although Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin could still end up in Blue--Reese & Co. managed to provide depth to the WR core and diversified the offense with WR Hakeem Nicks and TE/H-Back Beckum as well as red-zone threat 6-6 WR Ramses Barden. RB Andre Brown in the fourth round is a steal and provides replacement for Dedrick Ward. Second rounders William Beatty T and Clint Sintim LB project as solid pro prospects. No real reaches or gambles in the bunch.

GIANTS PICKS:
1 - Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina (6-1, 212)
2 - Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia (6-3, 256)
2 - William Beatty, T, (6-6, 307)
3 - Ramses Barden, WR, Cal Poly (6-6, 229)
3 - Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin (6-3, 239)
4 - Andre Brown, RB, N.C. State (6-0, 224)
5 - Rhett Bomar, QB, Sam Houston State (6-2, 225)
6 - DeAndre Wright, CB, New Mexico (5-11, 198)
7 - Stoney Woodson, CB, South Carolina (5-11, 195)

The only knock so far is that they could have gone for a S rather than QB project Bomar in the fifth. The 6-7 picks are so far down the depth chart of available CB's that I would be surprised if they stick.