With two NY Giants draft picks featuring in the top-10, it’s hard not to get excited about the 2022 NFL draft. A much-needed offensive lineman, talented edge defender, or key secondary piece – you ask ten different people, and you’ll get ten different answers on where the Giants should go in round one.
As exciting as these two picks are, the Giants have an additional seven picks which don’t fall on day one. If you thought the first two picks were unpredictable, the team’s second-round pick genuinely has endless possibilities.
Let’s take a look at just a few potential Giants draft targets with the 36th overall pick.
NY Giants Round 2 Draft Target: Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
A lot can happen in the first round that affects where the Giants go with this pick. One of the most realistic options the team has at pick 36 is Wisconsin linebacker, Leo Chenal. The combination of filling a key need on the roster, as well as Chenal more than likely being available at the position, the pick makes sense for the team.
The Giants’ depth chart at linebacker is not pretty. When you look in the middle, you see a former “Mr. Irrelevant” (last player taken in the draft) in Tae Crowder and Blake Martinez who is returning from a torn ACL.
Why not fill the glaring hole with the 2021 Big-ten linebacker of the year. According to PFF, Chenal will fit right into a blitz-heavy scheme at the professional level.
"Chenal is going to thrive in man blitz-heavy schemes. He packs a punch as a downhill player, as he can light up offensive linemen with ease. His 94.1 run-defense grade wasn’t too far behind Micah Parsons’ (94.8) PFF college record."
If there’s one thing we know about a Wink Martindale defense – it’s going to blitz.
In four seasons as the Baltimore defensive coordinator, the Ravens finished top of the league in blitz percentage three times.
It’s a match made in heaven. With the comparison to Micah Parsons made by PFF regarding his run blocking score, it’s only fair the Giants bring him to the NFC East – a player rivalry that can span the best part of the next decade.
NY Giants Round 2 Draft Target: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
According to the ESPN analytics draft day predictor tool, there’s a 20% chance Zion Johnson will be available for the Giants at pick 36… So you’re telling me there’s a chance? Most commonly seen in the 20-30 overall range of mock drafts, it’s very likely Johnson will be a first-round pick.
He’s in this article, however, because this would be a dream scenario for the Giants. It is no secret that the offensive line in New York has been terrible over the past few years. The team is in desperate need of reinforcements at almost all positions along the line.
This is where Johnson becomes particularly interesting for the Giants. A three-year starter at Boston College, he played all over the line in his collegiate career. While most likely an interior player at the professional level, his versatility to slot in at tackle if needed would no doubt be appreciated by the Giants.
Johnson is an incredible athlete, a key reason he can play so many different positions on the line. He completed 32 reps on the bench press at the combine, most by all offensive linemen. He pairs that strength with incredible agility as well, finishing in the top five in the vertical jump, 3 cone drill, and 20-yard shuttle out of all offensive lineman.
Giants fans can dare to dream of plays involving Johnson pulling to the outside and leading the way for Saquon Barkley to break open a chunk play. The possibilities are endless with a physical talent such as Johnson in New York.
The team could enter training camp with a first-round tackle such as Charles Cross and a versatile interior piece in Johnson. Add to that free agent signing Mark Glowinski and Joe Schoen may have accomplished in four months what Dave Gettleman couldn’t in four years – fixing the offensive line.
NY Giants Round 2 Draft Target: Boye Mafe, DE, Minnesota
Coming out of the NFL draft with a top edge prospect would not surprise any fans of the New York Football Giants. Tell them it wasn’t Kayvon Thibodeaux however, and it may raise a few eyebrows. With so many needs, as well as the four teams ahead of them reportedly interested in Thibodeaux, there’s a high likelihood the Giants leave day one without him.
Enter Boye Mafe out of Minnesota. Often forgotten due to the top-heavy talent at the position this year, Mafe could easily be a day two target for Joe Schoen. One of the stand-out players from the ‘Reese’s Senior Bowl’, Mafe has caught the eye of many in the industry, including “Move the sticks” Daniel Jeremiah.
Just finished studying Minnesota edge rusher Boye Mafe. The splash plays at the SR Bowl weren’t a fluke. This dude is explosive!! He’s a first round talent.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 6, 2022
Everything Jeremiah said in his tweet should excite Giants fans. They desperately need a piece to compliment Azeez Ojulari after his promising rookie season. Much like Johnson, Mafe is an incredible athlete at his position.
Of all defensive ends who participated at the NFL combine, Mafe finished in the top five for the 40-yard dash as well as both the vertical and broad jumps. Proof of his incredible explosive power and speed.
It would be hard to find a Giants fan who is against filling this roster with incredible physical talent, something it has certainly missed for some time now. With such a premium placed on the position in recent years, landing a talent like Mafe in round two is something the team would be very happy with.
NY Giants Round 2 Draft Target: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
When you think about excitement on an NFL roster, most people will look to the offensive skill position players. This year’s draft in particular has incredible talent at the wide receiver position, with as many as seven receivers often being drafted in the first round of mock drafts. That doesn’t mean, however, the Giants can’t find an exciting young talent with pick 36 – Look no further than George Pickens.
One look at the Georgia prospect’s highlight tape and you’ll be dreaming of what could be for the Giants offense. Pickens is 6”3’ with sub 4.5 speed, the athleticism to catch the ball in all situations, and a desire to get to the football that results in incredible acrobatic catches downfield.
From everything I’ve said you might be wondering why Pickens isn’t a first-round lock. He tore His ACL ahead of his 2022 season at Georgia and missed a large portion of the year. The production in college unfortunately hasn’t matched the talent – not entirely his fault, however. Pickens might be exactly what the Giants need to kickstart the Joe Schoen era and give Daniel Jones his best chance to succeed as a starter.
There are hopes of a bounce-back year for Kenny Golladay and a break-out year for Kadarius Toney. If you add someone like Pickens to the mix, the Giants’ offense could transform into one of the most exciting in the division, conference, and NFL as a whole.