With one game left to go in the season, the NY Giants sit at 4-12 with two top 10 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft
The NY Giants have plenty of holes in their roster, this is obvious, however, with the Giants owning a multitude of draft picks this year, they have the opportunity to plug these holes if they draft the right players.
As of 1/5/22, these are where the NY Giants draft picks currently sit:
First round: picks No. 5 and No. 8 (via. Chicago Bears)
Second round: pick No. 36
Third round: picks No. 67 and No. 79 (via. Miami Dolphins)
Fourth round: pick No. 110 (via. Chicago Bears)
Fifth round: pick No. 145 and No. 170 (via. Kansas City Chiefs)
Sixth round: pick No. 182
(The NY Giants do not own a 7th round pick)
With 9 total picks, the NY Giants can seemingly turn things around in one draft, IF they draft correctly.
One of the biggest problems they can solve during this year’s draft is the issue’s on the offensive line, the NY Giants currently have one of, if not the worst offensive lines in all of the NFL, and lucky for them, this draft class is full of offensive linemen who can come in and possibly become instant impact players.
With that being said, here is a full 7 round mock draft for the NY Giants based on their picks as of 1/5/22:
Round 1, pick No. 5: OL Ikem Ekwonu, NC State:
As previously mentioned, this draft class is chock-full of offensive lineman who are considered to be elite prospects, and Ikem Ekwonu is one of them.
With it being likely that top prospect Evan Neal will be picked before the NY Giants make their selection, Ikem Ekwonu is the next best prospect at tackle.
Coming in at 6’4, 320 pounds, Ekwonu has been dominant all season at NC State, gaining an overall grade of 91.6, per PFF.
Ekwonu was one of the best run-blocking offensive linemen in the country, obtaining a grade of 93.8 in that aspect, per PFF. Using his fantastic technique, strength, and athleticism, Ekwonu dominated almost every defender he faced in the run game, and with the NY Giants being in desperate need of a top tier run blocker for Saquon Barkley, Ekwonu seems like a perfect fit.
Something that could become interesting if the NY Giants decide to draft Ekwonu is if they decide to move him to guard, which for his size is his more ideal position, or keep him at tackle.
For what the NY Giants need that they should keep him at tackle, Ekwonu’s ability to get out into the open field is otherworldly, and when you combine that with his great ability as a pass blocker, it makes more sense to keep him at tackle.
In 500 pass-blocking snaps this season, Ekwonu only allowed three sacks, 10 QB hurries, and zero QB hits, proving that he has the potential to be an elite pass blocker in the NFL, this being mostly due to his elite technique and hand work.
Round 1, pick No. 8: C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa:
Now, before you call me crazy or stupid for suggesting the NY Giants take a center with the No. 8 pick, keep in mind how elite of a prospect Tyler Linderbaum is.
Coming in at 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, Linderbaum made a name for himself this season at Iowa, becoming the highest-graded offensive lineman in the country this season, per PFF.
Linderbaum is also the highest graded center in PFF history since they began their college evaluations in 2014.
Having similar traits to that of Eagles center Jason Kelce, Linderbaum possesses elite speed as an offensive lineman, using this gift to get out into the second level, and even at times keep up with his teammates to help escort them to the end zone.
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1477380640798613507
Linderbaum literally runs FASTER than his wide receiver until he needs to slow down and help secure a block for this teammate, this is just absurd.
Not only does Linderbaum possess elite speed and athleticism, he also has some of the best technique I have seen out of the offensive lineman in this draft class, he is the definition of an elite prospect.
While positional value may cause Linderbaum to fall somewhat in the draft, he has the potential to be one of, if not the best centers in the NFL right out of the gate, he is that special.
With Billy Price not having a good season, alongside the fact that it is currently unknown if Nick Gates will be able to return after suffering a gruesome leg injury earlier in the season, the NY Giants should not miss out on the opportunity to secure one of the best offensive lineman prospects ever.
Round 2, pick No. 36: OG Zion Johnson, Boston College
In this mock draft, the NY Giants decide to go all out on fixing their offensive line problems, that includes taking offensive guard Zion Johnson out of Boston College.
Coming in at 6-foot-3 and 316 pounds, Johnson dominated during his senior season at Boston College, using his elite strength and technique to make life a living nightmare for opposing defenders.
Johnson is a fantastic two-way offensive lineman prospect, being a great run and pass blocker, he has the chance to make a huge impact on this struggling NY Giants offensive line.
With Will Hernandez likely not returning next season, alongside the question mark that Shane Lemieux is, the NY Giants need to find a new offensive guard, I believe Zion Johnson is that replacement.
One of the best aspects of Johnson’s game is his ability to get into the open field and block at the second level, this is something the NY Giants desperately need.
Johnson also possesses elite strength which makes it extremely difficult for bull rushers to get through him, his hands are like mechanic clamps, once they latch on, it’s almost impossible for a defender to get out of.
Johnson is also a very smart blocker, having the IQ to diagnose different defensive stunts, something current guard Will Hernandez cannot do.
If Zion Johnson is available when the NY Giants make their selection in the second round, it would be in their best interest to select him to help bolster their offensive line.
Round 3, pick No. 67: LB Chad Muma, Wyoming
With the NY Giants linebacker core not looking to be very strong next year, with Blake Martinez returning from a torn ACL, Tae Crowder being bad, and the other linebackers on contract next year being 7th round picks, the NY Giants should look to fix this issue by drafting Chad Muma out of Wyoming.
Muma is a 6-foot-3 and 242 pound beast of a linebacker who put up some insane statistics, by college linebacker standards.
Tallying 148 combined tackles, 2 sacks, 17 QB hurries, and 3 interceptions, Muma was one of the nation’s most productive linebackers.
I’m sure you’re wondering how a player who puts up stats like this is projected to go into the third round, this is because of a lack of talent Muma played against, with Wyoming not playing a single top 25 team this season.
However, this should not take away from the fact that when you watch Muma’s film, you can see that he has the tools to become a star in this league. Muma is elite at diagnosing plays, disengaging from blockers to make a play, and is even solid in coverage, something the NY Giants desperately need from their linebacker core, gaining a 77.7 coverage grade, per PFF.
If the NY Giants decide to draft Muma, it is likely that he will start from day one, barring a free agent signing or trade. I believe Chad Muma has all the tools it takes to be an elite linebacker in this league, it’s all just a matter of if these tools will translate.
Round 3, pick No. 79: TE Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
With Evan Engram likely not returning to the NY Giants next season, the Giants will likely look to replace him through the draft, I believe a good candidate to replace Engram is Isaiah Likely out of Coastal Carolina.
With it being likely that the top two tight ends in this year’s draft in Trey McBride and Jalen Wydermyer will both be selected before the third round, I believe the next best prospect for the position is Isaiah Likely.
Coming in at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Isaiah Likely broke out this season, tallying 59 receptions for 912 yards and 12 TD’s in 13 games played.
Something NY Giants fans will be excited to hear is that Likely only dropped one pass this season on 77 targets, this is a bit different than what fans have become accustomed to with Evan Engram.
Another aspect of Likely’s game that should excite NY Giants fans is his ability to block, gaining a 75.0 run-blocking grade.
Likely is a tremendous athlete, using this gift to become an elite route runner while also being a great open-field runner, Likely can truly do it all at the tight end position, having the potential to be a star for any team that drafts him.
Round 4, pick No. 110: EDGE Sam Williams, Ole Miss
With the NY Giants pass rush struggling this season, it is likely that they look to improve in this area. A good candidate to help improve this area of need is Sam Williams out of Ole Miss.
Coming in at 6-foot-‘4, 265 pounds, Sam Williams dominated the competition all season long at Ole Miss, tallying 47 combined tackles, 13 sacks, 8 QB hits, 40 QB hurries, and 4 forced fumbles in 13 games played this season.
Sam Williams possesses elite strength and some solid pass rush moves off the edge, making him a deadly threat for opposing offensive lineman.
One of the only weaknesses I could really find with Williams is he sometimes has a bit of a lack of burst off the edge, this can hurt his chances to be a consistent pass rusher but with his size and strength, he can still have a chance to be a dominant pass rusher in today’s NFL.
Round 5, pick No. 145: DL Curtis Brooks, Cincinnati
With Danny Shelton and Austin Johnson’s contracts both expiring after this season, the NY Giants are going to need to look for replacements since they will likely be unable to re-sign either of the two due to their cap issues.
With this in mind, a good prospect for the NY Giants to bring in is Curtis Brooks out of Cincinnati.
Coming in at 6-foot-2, 285 pounds, Curtis Brooks had himself a breakout season this year, tallying 50 combined tackles, 9 sacks, 6 QB hits, 28 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble, and 12 tackles for loss.
Brooks succeeds as both a run stopper and a pass rusher, two things the NY Giants desperately need out of their defensive line, with the NY Giants defense ranking 10th in rushing yards allowed.
Another good thing about Brooks is that he is a swiss army knife, playing all spots on the defensive line this season, he could be of use for the NY Giants defense if they decide to draft him.
Round 5, pick No. 170: DB Josh DeBerry, Boston College
With James Bradberry having a down season, there is a chance the NY Giants move on from him, regardless of whether they decide to or not, a good corner prospect for the NY Giants to draft to add depth to the position is Josh DeBerry out of Boston College.
Coming in at 5-foot-11 and 176 pounds, Josh DeBerry had himself a solid season at Boston College, tallying 56 combined tackles, 2 interceptions, and 3 pass deflections, all while only allowing 248 yards and 1 TD, on a 52.3% completion percentage in 10 games played this season.
Lining up in the slot, DeBerry possesses great awareness and reaction time, something the NY Giants could use in the secondary. Out of the 10 games DeBerry played in, he only allowed more than 30 yards two times, this is very promising for a prospect.
DeBerry has the potential to carve himself out a pretty solid career in the NFL, its just a matter of if these tools will translate for him.
Round 6, pick No. 182: LB Troy Andersen, Montana State
With the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft for the NY Giants they look to add more linebacker depth by selecting Troy Andersen.
Similar to Chad Muma, Andersen puts up some pretty insane stats, but will likely fall in the draft due to a lack of talent played against.
In 14 games played this season, Troy Andersen tallied 135 combined tackles, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 6 pass deflections, gaining an 87.1 pass coverage grade, per PFF.
While Andersen can be over-aggressive at times, leading him to hit the wrong hole on run defense snaps or simply miss a tackle by trying to do too much, his capabilities in pass coverage is what intrigues me the most.
As previously mentioned, outside of Martinez, the NY Giants don’t have any linebackers who are even decent in coverage, even then, Martinez himself is not the best in that aspect.
If Anderson can prove his worth during training camps and the pre-season, there is a good chance he can become a solid player in the NFL, however this will require him to fix the issues that he has.