The New York Giants need offensive linemen. Several of them. But in the latest mock draft courtesy of ESPN’s Todd McShay — which comes after the NFL Combine and several big-name trades — general manager Joe Schoen ignores the position outright.
With Ikem Ekwonu and Evan Neal going off the board just ahead of them (No. 3 and No. 4), McShay has the Giants pivoting and addressing their other major need: pass rush.
With the No. 5 overall pick, the Giants select combine standout and Georgia defensive end Travon Walker.
The Giants generated just 34 sacks (tied for 22nd) last season, and while Walker didn’t pile on the QB hits at Georgia (six sacks and 29 pressures last season), he was asked to do a lot of different things in a Bulldogs’ front seven that presents three other likely first-rounders. The 272-pound Walker had a terrific workout in Indy, running a 4.51-second 40 and 6.89-second three-cone drill. Few players I’ve ever evaluated can generate the power he does from the ground up, and that was on display with a 35½-inch vertical and 10-foot-3 broad jump. Teamed up with Leonard Williams and Azeez Ojulari, Walker will only continue to develop while giving the Giants a dynamic edge rusher to spark the defense.
Walker would certainly provide the Giants with a premiere edge rusher who will start on Day 1. But it leaves them empty along the offensive line, so naturally they address that with their next pick, right? Wrong.
Rather than taking someone like Trevor Penning — and having missed out on Charles Cross (gone at No. 7) — the Giants instead add yet another skill position player. This time, Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
Kenny Golladay led the Giants in receiving last season with just 521 yards. Evan Engram led the team in catches with all of 46, and he’s headed to free agency. The next two on the list were running backs. And Sterling Shepard and Kadarius Toney each struggled to stay healthy. You get the point. With the top three linemen in the class off the board already, new GM Joe Schoen and new coach Brian Daboll can get quarterback Daniel Jones help in another fashion. Wilson has elite body control, 4.38 speed and a big catch radius. New York can walk away happy on Day 1 with exciting new players on defense (Travon Walker) and offense (Wilson).
Walker and Wilson are quality picks, but it leaves the Giants’ offense in the exact same position it was a year ago. And unless the team can find several legitimate O-Line starters in the middle rounds, Wilson will struggle to produce in much the same way Golladay, Toney, Shepard and others did in 2021.
