NFL
2022 NFL Draft: Grades for Kayvon Thibodeaux and Every Other New York Giants Pick
Tim Crean started writing about sports in 2016 and joined Sportscasting in 2021. He excels with his versatile coverage of the NFL and soccer landscape, as well as his expertise breaking down sports media, which stems from his many years downloading podcasts before they were even cool and countless hours spent listening to Mike & The Mad Dog and The Dan Patrick Show, among other programs. As a longtime self-professed sports junkie who even played DII lacrosse at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, Tim loves reading about all the latest sports news every day and considers it a dream to write about sports professionally. He's a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan from Western New York who mistakenly thought, back in the early '90s, that his team would be in the Super Bowl every year. He started following European soccer — with a Manchester City focus — in the early 2000s after spending far too much time playing FIFA. When he's not enjoying a round of golf or coaching youth soccer and flag football, Tim likes reading the work of Bill Simmons, Tony Kornheiser, Chuck Klosterman, and Tom Wolfe.
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Will two picks in the top 10 of the 2022 NFL Draft be enough to get the New York Giants off the schneid and trending back up the NFC standings? That was certainly the hope heading into the Thursday portion of the proceedings, regardless of the plan of attack with disappointing incumbent quarterback Daniel Jones.
The Giants needed to knock this draft out of the proverbial park, but that was all the more difficult because the roster flaws are so pervasive. They needed significant help on the edges, at offensive tackle, and throughout the secondary (particularly at cornerback), and the list of minor needs stretched even longer, as you might expect from a squad that limped to a 4-13 finish.
At least Saquon Barkley is still on the roster and actually healthy? For now? Maybe?
2022 NFL Draft picks by New York Giants
- No. 5 Overall: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
- No. 7 Overall: Evan Neal, OT, Alabam
- No. 34 Overall: Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
- No. 67 Overall: Joshua Ezeudu, OG, North Carolina
- No. 81 Overall: Cordale Flott, CB, LSU
- No. 112 Overall: Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State
- No. 114 Overall: Dane Belton, S, Iowa
- No. 146 Overall: Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana
- No. 147 Overall: D.J. Davidson, DT, Arizona State
- No. 173 Overall: Marcus McKethan, OG, North Carolina
- No. 182 Overall: Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati
No. 5 Overall: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
The New York Giants need offensive linemen to protect Daniel Jones (and whoever’s next), but they have pick No. 7 for that. Pass-rushers are in high demand right now, and Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux is one of the best in this draft. He’s raw, and there are some question marks about his work ethic and focus on football. That said, the Giants are best when they have elite rushers coming off the edge, and Thibodeaux is that kind of prospect.
Grade: B
No. 7 Overall: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
After getting the edge-rusher at No. 5, the New York Giants got their offensive lineman at No. 7. Neal can play four different spots on the offensive line, and at 6-foot-7 ½, 337-pounds, he can dominate at all of them. The former Crimson Tide lineman will likely start at right tackle opposite Andrew Thomas for the G-Men. Neal needs to be more consistent and keep his weight down, but if he does, he’ll be a decade-long starter at some spot on an offensive line.
Grade: A-
No. 43 Overall: Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
The Giants were doing so good! What happened? It’s a different regime in New Jersey, but Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll made the same type of head-scratching pick as last year. Wan’Dale Robinson is a fast(ish) 5-foot-8 pass-catcher who seems a lot like last year’s first-rounder Kadarius Toney. It’s a weird pick, especially with better prospects like Skyy Moore available.
Grade: C–
No. 67 Overall: Joshua Ezeudu, OG, North Carolina
New York might have wanted to pick up depth along the interior of the offensive line at some point in the draft, but this felt far too early given that Joshua Ezeudu does not play with disciplined hands and fell behind multiple available offensive guards on most every draft board.
Grade: C-
No. 81 Overall: Cordale Flott, CB, LSU
LSU’s Cordale Flott is a solid developmental slot CB. He’s just 6-foot and 175-pounds, so he could get knocked around by bigger wideouts. If Flott can put on some weight and improve his ball skills (just one INT in college) he could become a starter in nickel packages with his athleticism.
Grade: B-
Day 3 Picks
No. 112 Overall: Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State
Saquon Barkley will love TE Daniel Bellinger as a run blocker and he has the athleticism to become a short-yardage possession pass-catcher at the next level. He’ll be a No. 2 tight end in 2022, though.
Grade: B
No. 114 Overall: Dane Belton, S, Iowa
Belton is a hybrid LB/S type and can be used in creative ways. He had five picks last season but isn’t an instinctual safety, which could limit him to sub-packages at the next level.
Grade: B–
No. 146 Overall: Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana
McFadden is a 6-foot-1, 240-pound off-ball linebacker who can blitz the QB, with 6.5 sacks last season. He’ll be a good backup and an excellent special teamer for now with some potential to grow into a sub-package backer.
Grade: C+
No. 147 Overall: D.J. Davidson, DT, Arizona State
Davidson is a first- and second-down run-stuffing nose tackle who needs to add more strength to truly control NFL interior lineman.
Grade: C
No. 173 Overall: Marcus McKethan, OG, North Carolina
McKethan is a huge 6-foot-6 1/2, 340-pound guard who plays with a ton of power. He doesn’t have the quickest feet or best technique but he’ll be a solid backup.
Grade: B-
No. 182 Overall: Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati
Beavers is a big inside linebacker without high-end athleticism to get him on the field much. He is an accomplished special teamer, though, so that could be a role in Year 1.
Grade: C
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Related: New HC Brian Daboll Just Revealed a Shocking New Role for Saquon Barkley
