The New York Giants have 100 different directions they can take in the 2022 NFL draft, but with the 5th and 7th overall picks, landing top prospects shouldn’t be a problem.
Unfortunately for the Giants, this year’s quarterback class is rather thin, making potential trade partners from the mid-first round a bit more skeptical. Nonetheless, if a team falls in love, there’s always a possibility they look to move up and spend draft capital to land their preferred option. That is exactly where the Giants could capitalize, but there is an argument to be made about sitting still and drafting the best players available.
Recently, one name that has been connected to the Giants is Oregon stand-out pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux. The 6’5″, 258-pound edge rusher tallied 7.0 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 49 total tackles this past season.
With a unique blend of speed and power, Thibodeaux fits the NFL pass rusher profile perfectly. One buzzword that scouts utilize to detail speed around the edge is “bend,” something that Thibodeaux has plenty of with his lean, long frame that carries plenty of muscle and power.
With Wink Martindale taking over as defensive coordinator, adding a young player like Thibodeaux would be a blessing. His ability to drop into coverage is also something that shouldn’t be disregarded as an outside linebacker. Martindale’s scheme focuses on man coverage in a 3–4 base, making Kayvon a perfect fit.
However, ESPN’s Todd McShay recently reported at the Senior Bowl that Thibodeaux could end up slipping in the 1st round due to concerns. However, it’s fair to mention top prospects get negative attention every year and still pan out — notable names include Laremy Tunsil and, most recently, Micah Parsons.
“I heard a lot about Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, including concerns that he just doesn’t play with the same fire as some other top prospects. His ceiling is high, but the floor is lower than what you want for a top-five pick. And based on a handful of conversations, it wouldn’t shock me if Thibodeaux fell out of the top five. Speaking of which, it was very apparent this week that the top of the draft isn’t nearly as set as it normally is at this point. Picks at the top of the first round might be a little more based on team flavor than recent years.”
Aside from the negative rumors, Colin Cowherd spoke to Thibodeaux, who believes that he will end up with the Giants next season, providing a lethal one-two punch with Azeez Ojulari on the opposite end.
Kayvon Thibodeaux thinks he’s going to the New York Giants in the 2022 NFL Draft — in 100% here for it.
If NYG don’t trade back, landing a top OT prospect and arguably best pass rusher is a great 1st haul for Schoen. https://t.co/5ia5sDUB8X
— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) February 15, 2022
The New York Giants would hit a home run on “position value”:
If the Giants could walk away with the top offensive tackle and arguably best pass rusher in the draft class with the 5th and 7th picks, it would be a home run first draft for new general manager, Joe Schoen.
It is not often you have the opportunity to land two stud prospects, and the Giants can bolster both sides of the football with cost control contracts that will allow them to spend elsewhere in the future.