The 2022 NFL Draft could have major implications for the NY Giants‘ future. With that being said, there are several prospects in each round the Giants must scout heavily, as they could potentially be the key to turning the franchise around.
While the second round of this year’s draft class is not nearly as flashy and exciting as the first round, per usual, there are still plenty of potential stars who could be selected by the Giants in the second round. Whether they decided to go offensive line, defensive line, linebackers, etc. The Giants have several positions of need they could potentially fill in the second round.
Here are some players the Giants could potentially draft in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
NY Giants Round 2 Target: OG Zion Johnson, Boston College
While I believe that there is a very good chance that Zion Johnson ends up going in the first round to teams like the Bengals, Buccaneers, Cowboys, etc. If Johnson manages to fall to the second round, the Giants must not hesitate to draft him.
Zion Johnson is a prospect that I have been very high on since I began my draft evaluations, as I believe he has the potential to be the best guard in the entire draft. Coming in at 6’3, 316 pounds, Zion Johnson had a monster season at Boston College, tallying a pass-blocking grade of 81.6, alongside a run-blocking grade of 84.4 per, PFF. In addition to these grades, Zion Johnson also only allowed 1 sack, 3 QB hurries, and 2 QB hits in 364 pass-blocking snaps.
There is a lot to like about Zion Johnson. Whether it be his remarkable combination of speed and power, his great hand technique and footwork, or even his ability to manage different defensive stunts, something previous Giants guard Will Hernandez could never do. There are plenty of reasons for the Giants to draft Johnson.
That being said, I still believe there is a good chance that Zion Johnson is selected in the first round. As he is too good of a talent to slip to the 2nd round. However, if Johnson manages to fall to the second round, the Giants should not hesitate to draft him. As I believe he has the potential to be a star offensive lineman right out of the gate.
NY Giants Round 2 Target: LB Quay Walker, Georgia
With the Giants’ current linebacker core looking quite weak, it is likely that they look to draft a potential starter in one of the first 3 rounds. I believe a good prospect who could come in and make an impact on the defense is Quay Walker out of Georgia.
Coming in at 6’4, 241 pounds, Quay Walker had a very solid season at Georgia playing next to Nakobe Dean. In 15 games played, Quay Walker tallied 66 tackles, 18 QB hurries, 2 sacks, and 3 pass deflections.
While these stats may not be the most eye-popping, watching Quay Walker play shows the potential he has. As he possesses a great IQ in the run and pass game, he is a great tackler and is able to hit the correct holes in the run game hard and quick, something that current Giants linebacker Tae Crowder cannot do.
One of the things that intrigue me the most about Quay Walker is his potential in pass coverage. This is something the Giants have needed out of their linebacker core for quite some time. Per PFF, Quay Walker garnered a pass coverage grade of 70.6 this season, not too bad. However, if you watch him play, you can see he has the speed and IQ to potentially develop into a very good coverage linebacker.
Quay Walker may not have the star potential of some players in this draft, but he has a very high floor as a linebacker in this league. If the Giants draft him, they could find themselves with a very solid linebacker for a long time.
NY Giants Round 2 Target: LB Leo Chenal, Wisconsin
For the same reasons as Quay Walker, I believe the Giants should look to draft Leo Chenal due to their lack of talent at the linebacker position. However, unlike Quay Walker, Leo Chenal has a definite upside to being a star in this league. His floor is just not as high as Quay Walkers.
Coming in at 6’3, 250 pounds, Leo Chenal had a monster season at Wisconsin this year. In 11 games, Chenal tallied 99 tackles, 10 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 8 QB hits. Another interesting thing to look at with Leo Chenal is his numbers at the combine. While he did not participate in all of the events, he showed out in the ones he did. For example, in the 40-yard dash, he ran a 4.53, and in the vertical jump, he showcased a ridiculous 40-inch vertical.
Leo Chenal is a beast when it comes to tackling, showing his immense power and technique to make it very hard for offensive players to get around him. However, he still has a lot to work on. For example, he is not the most fluid when he goes to tackle, which could keep him from becoming consistent at the pro level. However, his dedication to football is unmatched, so I truly believe in his upside to become a far better talent.
While Leo Chenal may not have everything down from a technical standpoint, his upside truly excites me. As he has all of the physical and mental traits to become a star in this league. If he can get in the lab to work on his game, I believe he truly has the potential to be a star in this league.
It may take some time for Leo Chenal to fully blossom into the start I think he can be. However, this should not stop the Giants from drafting him. Because if he reaches the potential that I and many others think he has, it will be a scary sight for the league.