General manager Jerry Reese did fill all the questionable positions in rapid-fire order.

"It was a case of value when our turn came up each time," he said, "and with three or four players in a cluster we took the highest grade."

So the first-round receiver, Hakeem Nicks, showed up to replace Plaxico Burress. Two players in the second round -- linebacker Clint Sintim and offensive tackle Will Beatty -- clearly filled two other needs. In the third round, towering wide receiver Ramses Barden (6-6, 230) was chosen after a move put the Giants ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles, who were also said to covet the Cal-Poly product. It is likely that Barden will become part of the team's red-zone offense, and can replace the retired Amani Toomer. The second pick in the third round turned out to be tight end Travis Beckum, who is almost certainly going to replace either Michael Matthews or Darcy Johnson as the backup for Kevin Boss -- and he is an H-back type who could get his own special role as well.

The fourth round produced what might have been the steal of the draft, running back Andre Brown, the prototype replacement for Derrick Ward.

"You always have a short list ready," said Reese, who failed to confirm day-after reports that the Giants attempted to move into the 20th position to snag Jeremy Maclin, who went to their chief rival in the NFC East, the Eagles. "We were happy to see Nicks there when our turn came up. We had four players grouped there (linebackers James Laurinaitis, Rey Maualuga and defensive tackle Connor Barwin), but Hakeem had the higher rating."

Since taking over the general manager job from the retired Ernie Accorsi, Reese has had an incredible draft record. In 2007, all eight of his choices made the final roster; last year, five of seven were on the roster while one (quarterback Andre Woodson) spent the year on the practice squad and the last (defensive end Robert Henderson) was pushed to preseason injured reserve.

With nine incoming prospects (one of the team's two fifth-round choices was traded to Philadelphia for the right to move up and take Barden), the Giants might be hard-pressed to match Reese's previous accomplishments. It is difficult for that many rookies to earn spots on a relatively young and obviously talented roster.