Giants lose intriguing rookie to season-ending ACL injury

As Brain Daboll and the New York Giants try to revamp the roster, the offensive line remained a point of emphasis throughout the offseason. After using a first-round pick on Evan Neal, New York added another big fellow in the middle by drafting North Carolina guard Marcus McKethan.

After using a third-round selection on fellow Tar Heel Joshua Ezeudu, Joe Schoen decided to use a fifth-round draft choice on McKethan. With Ezeudu likely slotting in as the primary backup behind Shane Lemieux at left guard, McKethan was likely going to beef up the depth chart behind Mark Glowinski at right guard,

McKethan could have quickly thrust his way into the starting lineup at some point during the season, as he is coming off a very solid final collegiate season. Unfortunately for Giants fans, they will need to wait until 2023 at the absolute earliest before McKethan straps on his pads.

McKethan was ruled out for the 2023 season after tearing his ACL in practice. Even if he didn’t factor into the team’s starting lineup like Neal or Kayvon Thibodeaux, one of Schoen’s most interesting late-round picks already has seen his Giants career fall into serious jeopardy.

New York Giants: Marcus McKethan will miss 2022.

Despite tipping the scales at around 340 pounds and coming into the league with some serious questions about his lack of tremendous athletic ability would impact him, McKethan was drafted on the back of his raw power and potential to be an extremely successful road-grader at the next level.

McKethan was a two-time All-ACC honorable mention in college, starting the bulk of the last two seasons under Mack Brown. He and Ezeudu were part of the offensive line that helped Sam Howell write his name all over the North Carolina record books.

McKethan had also seen some snaps at right tackle, as he was trying to show that he can be a versatile backup in the NFL. Considering that someone who already lacked amazing explosion just saw one of his knees give way, Schoen has to be sweating bullets over McKethan’s health.

Not only is this injury crushing for McKethan, but it may further highlight the fact that Daboll and Schoen are not totally done in their quest to revamp the offensive line. McKethan is still worth developing, but it might take a lot longer than initially planned for him to show off the full extent of what he could be.

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