NFL Draft: 5 Defensive prospects New York Giants must have on big board

The New York Giants will have the opportunity to add some blue chip talent to the roster, with a pair of selections in the top-10 picks of the 2022 NFL Draft

The New York Giants have found themselves in a position where they will be able to select two of the top prospects in this year’s class.

While the Giants could choose to address an array of issues with their two top-10 selections, there is  a good chance that at least one of their picks goes towards the defensive side of the ball.

If the New York Giants do go defense in their first round, there is a short-list of prospects that they should look at adding. Whoever they choose will need to make a big impact from day-one. And whichever player they choose will be expected to play a big role in both the short and long-term of this team.

Here are five defensive NFL Draft prospects the New York Giants should have on their big board

Oregon Edge, Kayvon Thibodeaux

Heading into the 2021 college season, Oregon edge rusher  Kayvon Thibedeoax was seen as the consensus best defensive player by much of the country.

After a somewhat lackluster season compared to what he had done in his previous seasons, and the emergence of Michigan edge Aiden Hutchinson, Thibodeuax has fallen down some draft boards. But he should be directly atop the Giants board for multiple reasons.

Over his three seasons at Oregon, Thibodeaux recorded 126 total tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss, and 19 sacks. He did all this while playing in just 30 career games.

Thibodeaux has found his success by utilizing his blend of power and speed. At 6-5 and 258 pounds, he has the size and flexibility to get around even the best tackles.

The addition of Thibodeaux would be an immediate upgrade for this New York Giants defense. He should perform at a high level from day one. He has already proven that he can be effective in both the run and pass game.

He has the potential to be one of the best edge rushers in the NFL given proper development. Pairing him alongside Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, and Azeez Ojulari could make for an intriguing mix of talent alongside the defensive line.

Michigan Edge, Aidan Hutchinson

No player heading into the 2022 draft has improved their draft stock like Aidan Hutchinson has.

Prior to the start of the 2021 collegiate season, Hutchinson was seen as a borderline day-one prospect.

Now, Hutchinson is a consensus top-five pick and will be expected to make an immediate impact at the next level. Adding Hutchinson to this Giants defense could elevate this group to a new level.

When watching Hutchinson, you see a player who has an elite skill set. His explosiveness paired alongside his strength made him a matchup-nightmare for most offensive lineman. This led to Hutchinson recording three sacks in three different games this past season.

Hutchinson finished his final season with a statline that rivaled some of college football’s best. He totaled 62 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks. He also took home the award for Big Ten defensive player of the year and finished second in Heisman voting.

Hutchinson doesn’t have the perfect game, but his talent could be too much to pass on. His jumpiness off the ball occasionally hurts him as he gives up leverage to the opposing tackle. Given time, this is a problem that will be fixed.

His effectiveness in all areas of the game, plus the impact that he will make immediately should make him one of the top names on the Giants big board. If Hutchinson falls to pick number five, he could be the perfect prospect for the Giants.

Notre Dame S, Kyle Hamilton

Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton could potentially be the best prospect in this year’s draft. With the possibility of losing veteran safety Jabrill Peppers to free agency, Hamilton is the type of player that should be right atop the Giants big board.

At 6’4 and 220 pounds, Hamilton is built like a modern-day hybrid linebacker. His elite speed and range allows for him to be an effective playmaker in the secondary, regardless of who he is matched up against.

During his time at Notre Dame, Hamilton made his case to be the best defender in college football. Over 31 career games, he recorded 138 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, eight interceptions, and 16 defended passes.

Through his ability to defend any opposing receiver, Hamilton will be able to contribute at a high level from day-one. His impact would also be felt in the run game as he has proven to be one of the best tacklers in football and has been known to track down players in the backfield.

The addition of Hamilton would impact this defense instantly, and in a way that some other prospects might not be able to. A pairing of Xavier McKinney and Hamilton could be one of the most intriguing young duos in the NFL.

Utah LB, Devin Lloyd

Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd would instantly step in and fill a much needed role for this Giants team. After three strong collegiate seasons, Lloyd has cemented himself as the top linebacker prospect of this year’s group.

While at Utah, Lloyd played in 36 games. He stuffed the stat sheet by racking up 256 total tackles, 43 tackles for loss, and 15.5 sacks. He also recorded five interceptions, with four of them coming last season. This was the second most in the Pac-12.

Lloyds ability to be effective in pass defense is what makes him such an intriguing prospect for this Giants defense. He is both fast and physical enough to cover the middle of the field and lock down receivers who cross his path. This allows for him to be more than able to hold his own in both man-coverage and zone-coverage.

This above-average pass defense paired alongside his strong run defense allows Lloyd to be capable of making a play whenever he is on the field. He is also able to generate pressure in a way that nearly no other player can. He recorded 10 in one single game against Stanford this past season.

While selecting Lloyd with either of their top-10 picks could be a scrutinized decision, if he is able to perform at a high-level from day one, the Giants will happily live with this decision.

LSU CB, Derek Stingley Jr.

Derek Stingley Jr. was among college football’s elite during LSU’s historic 2019 run. Over his freshman season, Stingley rose to prominence by recording 38 total tackles, six interceptions, and 15 passes defended.

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Since that 2019 season, from a numbers perspective, Stingley has come back down to earth. Over the past two seasons, in which he played just 10 total games, he totaled 35 total tackles, five defended passes, and zero interceptions.

While his numbers have taken a hit, Stingley is still regarded as not only a top cornerback prospect, but also one of the best prospects in this year’s class. His blend of speed and pure ability to lock down any opposing receiver allows Stingley to work on an island whenever he wants.

Over his entire college career, he lined up in man-coverage on 49% of his coverage snaps. You can argue that his numbers have taken a hit solely because opposing quarterbacks refuse to even look his way.

Stingley is the pure cornerback prospect that nearly every team looks for. He is able to keep up with anyone lined up across from him, regardless of who they are. His time spent in the SEC prepared him for the receivers that he will face on a regular basis in the NFL.

At 6-0 and 195 pounds, he is regarded as “undersized” by some but this has clearly not stopped him up to this point. If Stingley can play at a high-level each time that he steps out onto the field, he could become one of the best corners in the NFL. Putting him onto this defense would basically eliminate an entire portion of the field to opposing offenses.