Thursday, April 14, 2022

New York Giants 2022 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 7.0

Throughout the year and leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft, we will update our New York Giants Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the New York Giants from several prominent sites and draft analysts.

The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Giants:

ESPN - Mel Kiper (4/13)

5. Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State

If the board shakes out this way, the Giants would have to be thrilled to get their pick of the top two offensive tackles. I have Ekwonu just slightly over Evan Neal, but it's tough to go wrong with either -- they are my Nos. 2 and 3 prospects in this class. Ekwonu answered every question about his pass-protection ability last season. If left tackle Andrew Thomas keeps improving, these two could form one of the NFL's best bookend pairings.

7. Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State

The Giants can get their tackle at No. 5 and then focus on their defense, which allowed 4.7 yards per play last season (31st in the NFL). Johnson had 12 sacks last season and was one of the most impressive prospects at the Senior Bowl in January. He already has a few veteran pass-rush moves and can be an instant starter. He also played a lot of outside linebacker for the Seminoles, so he has some versatility in Wink Martindale's defense. And if you're keeping track, this makes four edge rushers in the top seven picks.

The Draft Network - Keith Sanchez (4/13)

5. Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State

Ikem Ekwonu's stock has been on the rise since the start of the 2021 season and peaked at the NFL Scouting Combine. At the combine, Ekwonu put on a show and showed that he has true athleticism as an offensive lineman.

The Giants have shown that they want to commit to Daniel Jones for at least one more year in hopes that he can develop and I believe that the addition of a player like Ekwonu can only help this cause.

7. Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

The Giants took an offensive lineman with their first pick and now they address the defensive line by selecting Travon Walker. Walker is a versatile defensive lineman that can align in multiple positions along the defensive line. Selecting a defensive lineman with this type of versatility will be the beginning of a rebuild and hopefully get the Giants back to the NFC prominence they had with guys like Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, and Jason Pierre-Paul.

NFL.com - Lance Zierlein (4/12)

5. Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

The Giants need more pass rush, and they'll hope to find just that with this two-way defender who boasts untapped rush potential.

7. Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State

Ekwonu is a guard/tackle prospect with a healthy mean streak and exciting upside, if he can learn to play with more consistency in pass protection.

CBS Sports - Will Brinson (4/12)

5. Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State

The Giants are in a great spot at five knowing their needs match up with the top players in this draft class. There's a lot of chatter about Joe Schoen wanting to trade down and get future draft picks and it might require moving from this pick if people want to get ahead of Carolina for a QB or OL. Moving off seven would obviously be their preference.

7. Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State

It's possible Johnson is gone before this -- the Jets have been rumored to be talking with him -- but either way a pass rusher with the Giants' second pick would have New York fans fired up about this draft.

PFF - Anthony Treash (4/11)

5. Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

Gardner allowed just 131 yards across 14 games and 482 coverage snaps in 2021, a performance that will forever be known as one of the best ever seasons by a college defensive back.

Impressively, the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder did that while playing mainly on an island in press-man coverage. He closed out his three-year college career without allowing a single touchdown despite playing over 1,100 coverage snaps. New defensive coordinator Wink Martindale will be able to trust him to win on an island sooner rather than later.

7. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

With the Giants welcoming in Wink Martindale as the new DC, this Giants defense will be aggressive and could look to add more pressure. Creative pressure packages are key to Martindale's defensive success, and Dean comes from a system with the same philosophy. The Georgia off-ball linebacker was one of the best blitzers in college football last season.

Not only was Dean the highest-graded off-ball linebacker of 2021, but he's the only linebacker in the PFF College era to earn a 90.0-plus PFF grade in coverage and as a pass-rusher.

The Georgia product racked up 31 pressures and 15 passing stops in 2021, both of which ranked top-10 among Power Five linebackers. He also ranked sixth in the Power Five in pass-rush win rate (22.3%), allowed a first down at the lowest rate among linebackers (13.5%) and didn't surrender a single touchdown.

Ignore the size concerns with the 5-foot-11, 231-pounder. Dean is the real deal.

ESPN - Jordan Reid (4/11)

5. Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State

The Giants could have four new starters along the offensive line in 2022. Ekwonu could play right tackle and pair with Andrew Thomas as bookends to build around. He brings physicality and nastiness to a front that sorely lacks that type of attitude, and he's a consistent player.

7. Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

Walker, a hot name in draft circles, is a massive end with unique physical traits. Teams in the top 10 could bank on his upside and potential and take him early, even if he had only 9.5 career sacks.

General manager Joe Schoen, who came from Buffalo, was in a regime that wasn't afraid of taking risky, high-ceiling prospects, as he played a part in the selections of Josh Allen and Greg Rousseau.

CBS Sports - Ryan Wilson (4/11)

5. Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

Thibodeaux has game-changing talents and, frankly, he's been all over the board in our mock drafts, mostly because teams have differing opinions on him. They're no denying he's just about unstoppable when he's locked in and the Giants desperately need to upgrade their pass rushers.

7. Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

Gardner is a long, physical corner who can run with any WR he goes up against. He didn't give up a single TD during his career and in '21 he was as close to shutdown as you're going to see in this class. The Giants have James Bradberry and Adoree Jackson as their top corners but there's not much experience behind them.

MORE TEAMS: All NFL Team Mock Draft Roundups

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