In the very first 2022 NFL mock draft released by ESPN’s Todd McShay back in mid-December, he had the New York Giants going all defense in Round 1.
With pick No. 5 overall, the Giants nabbed Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis. Two picks later, they selected Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean.
In a mini-mock draft published in January, McShay teamed up with Mel Kiper Jr. and projected NC State lineman Ikem Ekwonu to the Giants at No. 5 overall. They did not simulate a pick at No. 7 overall.
On Wednesday, McShay released his post-Super Bowl LVI mock draft and in it, he again has the Giants taking entirely different names.
First up at No. 5 overall? Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Yes, the Giants need offensive linemen, but with a second top-10 pick on deck and the top two linemen off the board, we’re pivoting to the other massive weakness: pass rush. And wouldn’t you know it, Thibodeaux falls right into the Giants’ lap here. He has great quickness, a good arsenal of pass-rush moves and plenty of versatility. His tape is up and down, hence a slight slide to No. 5, but he’d immediately elevate a New York pass rush that had 34 sacks (tied for 22nd) last season. And he’d perfectly complement Leonard Williams and Azeez Ojulari, the team’s 2021 second-rounder who led the defense with 8.0 sacks in his rookie year.
The Giants are in desperate need of offensive linemen, but coming in at a close second are edge rushers. And over the past several weeks, Thibodeaux to the Giants is really picking up steam.
Still, the Giants need a right tackle desperately. And as fate would have it, despite missing out on two over the first five picks, they still manage to land a potential Day 1 starter at No. 7 overall: Charles Cross of Mississippi State.
As I mentioned above, I’m not totally sure Cross is a top-10 pick. But he handles speed rushers well and plays with patience, and I see good angles on tape in the run game. He’s the next best tackle on the board, and after landing Kayvon Thibodeaux at No. 5, New York can afford to reach a little bit here. With a new GM, head coach and offensive coordinator, the Giants are going to give quarterback Daniel Jones every chance to succeed in 2022 before making a decision on their future under center. Jones has taken a lot of hits, and though left tackle Andrew Thomas rounded into form in 2021, the line remains a glaring problem. Cross, who gave up one sack on 683 pass-block snaps last season, helps.
There are some who believe Cross has the highest upside of the all available tackles, but we’ve heard that before. A similar debate raged in 2020 when the Giants selected Andrew Thomas in Round 1.
Either way, the Giants address two pressing needs here and there’s more overall value being added than in the mock drafts that have them taking safeties and wide receivers.
Loading...
Follow the Giants Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
