With the 2022 NFL Draft quickly approaching, the Giants face incoming artillery from the top-5 teams. The four selections ahead of Big Blue will determine how GM Joe Schoen approaches the draft, but he has plenty of leverage in trade-back scenarios if need be.
However, the Giants continue to show interest in Oregon standout pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, who’s receiving plenty of interest from team’s at the top of the board.
According to NFL.com, Thibodeaux is preparing to meet with a number of top-5 teams this week:
The Oregon product is slated to visit with the Detroit Lions (No. 2 overall pick) on Tuesday, then he meets with the New York Giants (No. 5 pick) on Thursday and New York Jets (No. 4 pick) on Friday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Monday, per sources informed of the plans.
The Giants have a tough decision to make at No. 5 overall — go for the best offensive tackle available or take a risk and draft Thibodeaux with the possibility they may miss out on a favorable OL prospect. The scouts have done a tremendous amount of research regarding late 1st round OTs and even Day 2 options, despite the massive falloff in talent.
The prospect of landing a top OT and EDGE in the 1st round is extremely enticing, despite the need for quarterback insurance in the 2023 NFL Draft. Both HC Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen have indicated they prefer to take a BPA (best player available) approach, but haven’t ruled out the idea of moving back if the haul is worthwhile.
Nonetheless, adding Thibodeaux to a defense that already has a young pass rusher in Azeez Ojulari would be fantastic. Having two offensive tackles and both edge rushers on rookie contracts is exactly the type of strategy that promotes a successful rebuild.