In the latest three-round mock from our friends at Draft Wire, the New York Giants selected Kyle Hamilton, a safety out of Notre Dame, with the fifth overall pick.
Seeing two tackles already off the board has to hurt, and it’s possible the Giants could talk themselves into an edge defender here. It’s high for a safety, too, but Hamilton might be the best overall prospect in this year’s entire class, making him worthy of consideration.
With the likely departure of Jabrill Peppers, the Giants will potentially need to add another safety this offseason. Hamilton is said to be a generational talent with his elite 6–foot-3, 218-pound frame.
Hamilton had an impressive 138 tackles and eight interceptions as a Fighting Irish defender. He was constantly all over the field making big play after big play. Most recently in 2021, Hamilton recorded 34 tackles, four passes defended, and three interceptions. This outstanding play earned him a Consensus All-American recognition in 2021.
Draft Wire predicts that following this defensive selection, the Giants will turn to the offensive side of the ball and select Charles Cross with the seventh overall pick. Cross would add much-needed help on the offensive line as the Giants prepare to finally build a conducive environment for Daniel Jones.
After going best-player-available with their first top-10 pick, the Giants make a more need-based selection here, adding much needed help up front for Daniel Jones (or whoever eventually replaces him). Cross is big, athletic, and was dominant against SEC competition.
New York appears to have talented weapons but the thing holding the offense back is clearly the line play. Adding a solid tackle in Cross to play opposite of Andrew Thomas, who is developing into one of the better tackles in the NFL, should help Brian Daboll get the breakout year from Jones he hopes for.
With the remaining three selections the Giants possess in the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL draft, Draft Wire predicts that the Giants will go all-in on the defense.
With the 36th pick, the Giants are projected to draft Christian Harris, a talented linebacker out of Alabama. Finally, Big Blue is predicted to go with Arnold Ebiketie (an edge rusher from Penn State) and Mykael Wright (a cornerback from Oregon) with their two third-round selections.
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