*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
2023 NFL Combine Results - Weigh-Ins and 40 Times
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2023 NFL Combine Stock Report:
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Giants Could Take Two OL in Top 10
Updated March 1, 2022
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
Over recent years under former general manager Dave Gettleman, the New York Giants consistently fielded an inferior offensive line. Gettleman tried to build a young line by spending a first-round pick on offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, a second-rounder on guard Will Hernandez, and a third-round pick on Matt Peart, while also signing veteran Nate Solder to a big contract in free agency. The line, however, continued to be a weakness, struggling to protect young quarterback Daniel Jones and open holes for running back Saquon Barkley. The Giants have two top-10 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, and some sources with the team say all options are open, including taking two offensive linemen in order to hopefully finally fix the line.
At the fifth-overall pick, the Giants could have Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal fall into their lap, and he could make for a good bookend to go with Thomas. If the Jaguars pass on Neal for Aidan Hutchinson with the first pick, the next three teams probably won’t take an offensive tackle. The Lions at No. 2 have two first-round offensive tackles in Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell. The Texans at No. 3 have high-priced veteran left tackle Laremy Tunsil and also bigger roster needs than another tackle. The Jets at No. 4 have recently invested first-round picks in Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker. With their plethora of picks, the Jets have the option to address their offensive line later.
The Giants have other good tackle options who are consensus top-10 picks for the 2022 NFL Draft in N.C. State tackle Ikem Ekonwu and Mississippi State left tackle Charles Cross. Other offensive line prospects with the potential to rise include Tulsa’s Tyler Smith, Northern Iowa offensive tackle Trevor Penning, Iowa center Tyler Lidnerbaum and Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green. Some sources with the Giants feel the team should double up on offensive linemen to fix the line unless there is a really good edge rusher available. At picks No. 5 and No. 7, the Giants could have a shot some of the top edge-rushing prospects like Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, Michigan’s David Ojabo and perhaps Georgia’s Travon Walker.
While it is early in the process, and a lot can change, it sounds like the new Giants regimes has an early inclination on building up the trenches with either two offensive linemen or one offensive lineman and a pass rusher in the 2022 NFL Draft.
