The New York Giants have a busy month ahead as the 2022 NFL draft approaches. Having attended the Pro Days of Cincinnati corner Sauce Gardner and Oregon stand-out pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, there is obvious interest in the stud defenders.
However, the Giants also need a new right tackle opposite Andrew Thomas, a position they failed to address in free agency which suggests their plans in the draft. There have been talks of trading back and acquiring more draft capital this off-season, something the Philadelphia Eagles just executed on Monday, wheeling and dealing with the New Orleans Saints.
The Eagles send picks No. 16, No. 19, and No. 164 in exchange for the Saints’ No. 18, No. 101, No. 237, and a 2023 first-round pick and 2024 second-round pick.
With the Saints now having two 1st-rounders this year, they could leverage their spot to move up in the draft, and the Giants could be in a position to capitalize.
1st round mock trade between the Giants and Saints:
Saints trade: 16th, 19th, 98th overall pick
Giants trade: 5th, 147th overall pick
In this deal, new general manager Joe Schoen moves back to the middle of the first round, adding two first-round picks in the process, giving them a total of three. While trading the 7yj overall pick may be the more ideal scenario, the Saints are going to want to move up as high as possible, and they can’t risk the Carolina Panthers stealing their target with the 6th overall pick.
With that being the case, the Giants become the obvious trading partner, allowing them to land one of the top three offensive tackles at 7yj overall and having two first-rounders to work with later on in the draft. Realistically, the chances of landing Thibodeaux or Gardner are completely out the window if they go with a right tackle at 7 in this scenario.
Players that may be available include Clemson corner Andrew Booth Jr., IOL Zion Johnson, and edge rusher George Karlaftis out of Purdue. They could always go with one of the top linebackers in the draft, notably Devin Lloyd or hope that tackle Trevor Penning out of Northern Iowa is available.
Nonetheless, head coach Brian Daboll indicated on Monday that the Giants would take the best player available at their draft spots this year.
Ideally, we’re going to try to select the best player available. We’re going to start our meetings with the scouts here toward the end of the week with the coaches’ evaluations and the rankings of the players the way we see it and sit down with the scouting department and (General Manager) Joe (Schoen) and their staff and talk about it. At the end of the day, you set the board and we’ve always said let’s draft the best available player. Let’s not reach for a position just because it’s a position of need to build our roster. When those two match, a position of need and the best available player, that’s what we’re looking for.