The New York Giants’ miserable 2021 campaign has come to a close, the organization is in search of a new general manager, a new head coach, and a new direction that might just be forged during this spring’s 2022 NFL Draft.
New York currently lacks depth or talent at many key positions, and with the Giants currently owning five picks between rounds 3-5, they have an opportunity to fix the holes in these positions if they draft correctly.
In a 2022 NFL Draft class that is full of talent, there are a handful of players who the New York Giants should target in the middle rounds of this draft, these players, if drafted by the NY Giants, could play a big role on the team if they pan out.
Here are 5 more middle round draft prospects the New York Giants should target during the 2022 NFL Draft:
TE Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina:
With current New York Giants tight end Evan Engram likely not returning next season, the NY Giants are going to have to find a replacement for the former Pro-Bowler.
A player who would make a great replacement for Engram is Isaiah Likely out of Coastal Carolina. While there are better TE prospects in this draft like Trey McBride and Jalen Wydermyer, they will both likely be picked within the first 2 rounds of the draft.
Coming in at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Likely caught 59 passes for 912 yards and 12 touchdowns in 13 games, including notable performances against Arkansas state, where he caught eight passes for 232 yards and four touchdowns, or his game against Northern Illinois where he caught 7 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns.
Likely is an elite receiving threat at the tight end position, using his tremendous athleticism to dominate opposing defenders. Likely is truly an elite receiver, possessing tremendous route-running skills, elite movement in the open field, and unbelievable hands, watching him is truly a treat.
A good example of all of these traits occurs on this play right here:
Isaiah Likely (#4) slips between the two defenders in the zone to get open, and once the quarterback makes the throw Likely quickly readjusts and makes a slick one-handed catch for the touchdown.
Something NY Giants fans will be happy to see is that on 77 targets this season, Likely only dropped one pass, something we are not used to with Evan Engram.
Another aspect of Likely’s game that is not similar to Engram’s is his ability to block, while he is not necessarily an elite blocker, he gets the job done from time to time, gaining a 66.5 pass-blocking grade and a 75.0 run-blocking grade, per PFF.
While at times Likely can lack commitment blocking in the open field, there are moments where he is deadly in that aspect, a perfect example of this is in this clip here:
Coastal Carolina runs an option play with Isaiah Likely as the lead blocker, Likely gets out into the open field and levels an opposing defender, making it so there is no one else in the way of his running back as he goes in for the TD.
Isaiah Likely is the definition of an elite all-around tight end, being an elite receiver and great blocker at times, if the NY Giants have the opportunity to draft him in the early third round they should consider drafting him. Likely has the potential to be a star right out of the gate in this league, as he has all the tools and traits to do so.