The general consensus among pundits and fans is that the New York Giants will select an offensive tackle with one of their two first-round picks in the 2022 NFL draft.
But that consensus is not restricted to those on the outside looking in.
Ralph Vacchiano of SNY reports that NFL executives would be “shocked” if the Giants didn’t select a tackle in Round 1. In fact, one NFC scout said it’s the easiest pick in anyone’s mock draft.
“It means they’re taking a tackle,” the scout said of all the smoke. “That should be the easiest pick in your mock draft.”
One of the Giants’ rival executives doesn’t believe they even have a choice. With no real depth behind Andrew Thomas and no one to bookend him, what other alternatives does general manager Joe Schoen have?
“I think we’ve all penciled in the Giants for taking a tackle there,” said the rival executive. “How could they not? They don’t have a starter (at right tackle). They don’t have any money. They’d be crazy to do anything else. It would be a shock, it really would.”
The Giants have also invested heavy resources into scouting the available tackles. All three — Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu and Charles Cross — have met with the team, while Neal and Cross have been the focus of deep scouting.
According to multiple NFL sources, they’ve spent a lot of time and effort investigating all three. One NFC scout said they “seem to really love” the 6-foot-7, 337-pound Neal and had a large contingent, including Chris Petit, their director of college scouting, watching him at Alabama’s Pro Day.
“They’ve been sniffing around every offensive lineman in this draft,” said another NFC scout. “Every lineman I’ve talked to thinks the Giants are interested. You can’t go watch one without turning around and bumping into a Giants (scout).”
The Giants targeting a Round 1 tackle is the worst-kept secret in all of football.
