Everyone is upset that Dalvin slipped to the second round and Rudolph wasn't drafted at all, but Rod Johnson lost millions by coming out early. Dalvin should have been a first rounder, but as several posters commented got "sabotaged" by a sports agent who drug up his past. Still he wasn't a top 15 pick and although he lost money, he can make it up on his second contract, as long as he stays healthy.
I don't think anyone thought Rudolph was going to be a high draft pick, and many on this board thought he would not get drafted at all. Travis is a high character guy, but only a good college receiver. He has a slight build and has neither elite speed or height. That was not going to change by him coming back. His numbers may have improved, but unless he put on a lot of muscle and got faster, which are both very unlikely, he would have probably been at best a 6th or 7th round pick next year. As a FA he was able to pick a team and the Giants wanted him. Even if he only makes a practice squad, that's pretty good $$$ compared to most right out of college and you never know what his financial circumstances are.
Big Rod is the one that hurt me the most. IMO, he was better as a sophomore than he was last year. He really needed to work on his skill set and improve his strength. He was so inconsistent last year, especially in pass protection where he got burned by speed rushers. Maybe he needed the money, but if that was not the case, could have really improved his draft stock with a year of hard work. I think we was very similar to Walker, who although he wasn't a high as pick as he wanted, if he came out last year, would have been a low round pick, if not a free agent. I sure hope Rod did not get bad advice to leave early because if he did, that's a real shame.
I don't think anyone thought Rudolph was going to be a high draft pick, and many on this board thought he would not get drafted at all. Travis is a high character guy, but only a good college receiver. He has a slight build and has neither elite speed or height. That was not going to change by him coming back. His numbers may have improved, but unless he put on a lot of muscle and got faster, which are both very unlikely, he would have probably been at best a 6th or 7th round pick next year. As a FA he was able to pick a team and the Giants wanted him. Even if he only makes a practice squad, that's pretty good $$$ compared to most right out of college and you never know what his financial circumstances are.
Big Rod is the one that hurt me the most. IMO, he was better as a sophomore than he was last year. He really needed to work on his skill set and improve his strength. He was so inconsistent last year, especially in pass protection where he got burned by speed rushers. Maybe he needed the money, but if that was not the case, could have really improved his draft stock with a year of hard work. I think we was very similar to Walker, who although he wasn't a high as pick as he wanted, if he came out last year, would have been a low round pick, if not a free agent. I sure hope Rod did not get bad advice to leave early because if he did, that's a real shame.
