NFL Draft: Todd McShay’s latest mock is New York Giants’ ideal Round 1

New York Giants GM Joe Schoen adds two top prospects, and immediate starters, in the first-round of the 2022 NFL Draft in Todd McShay’s latest mock draft

The New York Giants, who have made the postseason just once in the past decade, own two of the top-10 picks in the NFL Draft later this month, and barring a trade back must come out of the first round with a pair of elite immediate starters.

That’s exactly how the board plays out for the Giants in ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay’s latest mock draft projection.

McShay projects Joe Schoen will mine two immediate starters while plugging two gaping holes on the roster with picks No. 5 and No. 7 overall.

Todd McShay’s New York Giants NFL Draft first-round projections:

With the No. 5 overall pick, McShay has North Carolina State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu sliding to the New York Giants.

“He’s a really good prospect,” an NFC personnel executive tells FanSided of Ekwonu. “He has length, and all the versatility you’d want to be able to play offensive guard or tackle. He’s athletic, and has toughness for days.”

Ekwonu has the potential to be an ideal bookend starter at right tackle, opposite former No. 4 overall pick Andrew Thomas.

Meanwhile, McShay has the New York Giants choosing Notre Dame Safety, Kyle Hamilton, No. 7 overall.

Hamilton, 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, produced 34 total tackles and intercepted three passes as a junior prior declaring for the NFL Draft.

Some inside the league view Hamilton as the premier player in this entire draft class.

“He could legitimately go No. 1 overall,” an NFL scout tells FanSided. “His range and football IQ are easily his best traits, and I just can’t see how he would slide anywhere past No. 7 (Giants) or No. 10  (Jets).”

Hamilton’s range, ability to be a playmaker deep in coverage as well as as a blitzer up near the line of scrimmage could make him an ideal fit for Wink Martindale’s scheme and perfect complement to the versatile Xavier McKinney in New York’s secondary.

If Hamilton and Ekwonu wind up being the New York Giants’ top two selections later this month, it would set an impressive tone to the start of a pivotal draft to the franchise’s trajectory.