Retired New York Giants defensive lineman Justin Tuck understands what general manager Dave Gettleman is doing during the team's rebuilding process.

This was what Justin Tuck told SNY's Ralph Vacchiano on June 2.

Listen, I know Gettleman well. I know how he likes to build teams – or at least what his thoughts around that is. He's putting his stamp on it. Regardless of if you like it or not, this is what it is.

And I think one thing the Giants have done very, very well in their past is building through the draft. You can tell that's kind of been the focal point. If you look at history, the great teams that have been the Giants' past didn't come from us making splashes in free agency.

It came from having guys come in and learn the Giant way and being there for 10-11 years. I thought that started again last year with Saquon (Barkley).

Vacchiano agrees with Tuck's assessment. In his words, “Gettleman has been systematically purging the Giants of players brought in before he arrived.” Plus, he has been building the Giants' core through the last two drafts.

Dave Gettleman has also acquired some key players via trades. These include Jabril Peppers and Alec Ogletree. Some of the players he added via the free agent route include Antoine Bethea and Golden Tate. Dave Gettleman has traded some high-profile players such as Odell Beckham, Jr., Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison, and Landon Collins.

Justin Tuck wasn't happy about Collins' departure. He told Vacchiano, “That's probably the one that I'm most pissed about.”

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In the end, Justin Tuck told Vacchiano that culture is more important than talent. He said the most talented team he was on, the 2008 New York Giants, didn't win the Super Bowl.

On that note, Tuck is hoping the culture Dave Gettleman is trying to build in New York will result in more wins the next few years.