New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese quashed speculation that the Super Bowl champions missed out on Boise State running back Doug Martin when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved up to take him with the previous pick in the first round of the NFL draft.
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"There's been some conjecture that Tampa had moved up in front of us and took Martin," Reese told WFAN Radio on Tuesday. "That's not true ... Martin would not have been our pick."
The Giants selected Virginia Tech running back David Wilson with the 32nd pick, one choice after the Bucs took Martin, leading analysts to speculate that Tampa Bay jumped in front to nab the player New York really wanted.
"First of all, (Wilson) was the highest player on our board at the time that we picked," Reese said. "That was an easy pick for us. It was a value and a need pick for us, we thought."
Reese said Martin was considered for their first-round pick but eventually was rated lower than a few other players, including Wilson.
Reese added that Ahmad Bradshaw will continue to be the Giants' top back and that they wanted to get another runner after losing Brandon Jacobs in free agency.
Bradshaw has embraced Wilson, saying he will treat him as his "project."
