Are the NY Giants winners or losers after Round 1 of 2022 NFL Draft?

With the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft wrapping up last night, several teams and their writers are evaluating how their respective front offices did in terms of drafting or trading. The NY Giants owned the 5th and 7th picks of the first round, and with these picks, they selected Kayvon Thibodeaux out of Oregon and Evan Neal out of Alabama. Filling two massive holes in both the offense and defense.

While this is definitely one of the easiest questions to answer in recent memory, the question still needs to be asked. Are the Giants winners or losers after the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft? The answer is quite simple.

The NY Giants are WINNERS after Round 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft

As I said, this is probably the easiest question I have ever had to answer. Coming into the draft, I was very nervous about who the Giants were going to draft, as it almost entirely depended on who was selected prior to their 5th and 7th picks.

However, as the 5th overall pick ever so slowly came to be, my confidence in the team grew immensely as they finally decided to address the team’s weak pass rush by drafting edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux out of Oregon.

Arguably the best player in the entire draft class, I was very shocked to see Thibodeaux fall to the 5th pick but was very excited when our beloved Sam Prince called his name. The Giants’ pass rush has been weak for quite some time. So it is very nice to see the Giants attempt to solve this issue by drafting arguably the best edge rusher in the entire class to pair next to rising star Azeez Ojulari.

However, after the 5th pick came and went, my nervousness returned, as I quickly remembered the Panthers were likely going to select one of the top 3 offensive tackles. I, myself, desperately wanted the Giants to select Evan Neal out of Alabama. So when Commissioner Goodell called up Ikem Ekwonu for the Panthers, I felt relieved.

With that in mind, the Giants were quick to select Evan Neal, a 6’7, 337-pound behemoth of a man who is almost certain to be a star in this league. Finally addressing the Giants’ league-worst offensive line.

Joe Schoen has made a massive impact on the Giants since becoming the new GM of the team. Making both key signings and draft selections that will surely send this Giants team in the right direction.

Both Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal were considered to be the best player in the draft class at one point or another. For the Giants to manage to get both of these players is unbelievable. The pairing of Neal and Thibodeaux with the 5th and 7th picks was often thought of as the “dream” scenario. So to see that dream come true gives me confidence in the front office I have not had in years.