Mike Tannenbaum has the New York Giants addressing two vital needs in the 2022 NFL draft with the projected selections of Evan Neal and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Tannenbaum has the Giants selecting Evan Neal, an offensive tackle from Alabama, with the fifth overall pick.
An offensive tackle pairing of Neal and Andrew Thomas gives quarterback Daniel Jones the protection he needs. Neal gave up just one sack last season, and he has 40 career starts under his belt. I considered NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu here, too, but I just believe there’s more certainty with Neal considering the level of competition he faced at Alabama. Being that dominant against SEC pass-rushers is something.
Neal is currently among the draft’s highest-graded offensive tackles after dominating SEC play as a left tackle. He was a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide where he played guard his freshman year and was then moved to right tackle for the 2020 National Championship season. Neal also gained some experience playing left tackle in his 2021 season where he was an All-American.
Two picks later, the Giants are projected to select a practice adversary for Neal with Kayvon Thibodeaux, a defensive end from Oregon.
The Giants managed just 34 sacks last season and have been looking for a game-changing pass-rusher for several years. No way they can pass on Thibodeaux’s ceiling, which is extremely high despite some concerns about his motor. He has the size, speed and power, and he posted 19 sacks over three seasons at Oregon. I’m pretty happy with the haul here for New York, landing Neal and Thibodeaux to address holes in a massive way.
The 2021 All-American had a stellar college career featuring 19.0 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss in 30 games. The former No. 1 overall recruit is still somewhat of a raw prospect entering the draft but his natural athleticism, length, and power are things that can not be taught.
Due to his lack of multiple pass rush moves and subpar play recognition ability, Thibodeaux has fallen in most mock drafts. However, a fall to seventh overall still seems unlikely due to his untapped potential.
Nevertheless, if Thibodeaux is on the board with the seventh overall pick it seems like a no-brainer for the Giants to draft him.
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