In 2003, the New York Giants had the 25th pick in NFL Draft and their choice ended up being one of the most disappointing of the 21st Century so far.
William Joseph, a defensive tackle out of Miami, started just 17 of 55 games with the Giants racking up just 88 tackles and seven sacks. The draft class was considered a success even without hitting on Joseph.
Second-round pick Osi Umenyiora would go on to record 85 sacks for the Giants, David Diehl, taken in Round 5 would become one of the best linemen in the league over the next decade and sixth-round pick David Tyree would go on to make perhaps the most famous play in Giants’ history.
The Giants could have really hit big if they had passed on Joseph and chose cornerback Marcus Trufant of Washington State, who Brad Gagnon has falling to the Giants in this 2003 re-draft from Bleacher Report.
What actually happened: Drafted DT William Joseph
Where he was actually picked: 11th overall by the Seahawks
It’s been a tough re-draft for the Giants, who already lost Umenyiora and Diehl before hitting the clock. At least they get a do-over on Joseph, who started just 17 games in his career and wasn’t a factor when the team made its Super Bowl run in 2007.
It works out well that the best player available here would have helped a secondary that was still somewhat of a liability.
Marcus Trufant was an instant starter at cornerback in Seattle. He intercepted five passes as a sophomore and made the Pro Bowl with seven picks the year the Giants won their first of two Super Bowls this century. He likely would have been the No. 1 corner in New York from at least 2005 to 2008.
Even with the Plaxico Burress incident, maybe Trufant could have helped keep the Giants in line to win another title in 2008.
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