You’re fed up with mock drafts. We know. However, discussing them is the name of the game right now while we wait for the 2022 NFL draft next week. That’s especially true when ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Todd McShay complete three laps together, which they’ve now accomplished.
Let’s see how this works out for the New York Giants as the ESPN duo alternate picks and take no trades.
Round 1 (No.5) – Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
Chosen by Kiper who says:
Andrew Thomas looked better in 2021, but the Giants still need a tackle on him — and best-in-class is still here at No. 5. New GM Joe Schoen would sprint to submit the pick card if the board was like that falls away.
Valentine’s Day View: All three tackles — Ekwonu, Alabama’s Evan Neal, Mississippi’s Charles Cross — were available. Kiper chose Ekwonu. I will not argue with any of them at this point.
Round 1 (No. 7) – Jermaine Johnson II, Edge, Florida State
Selected by McShay who says:
Hutchinson, Walker and Thibodeaux went 1-2-3, but Johnson is also worthy of a top-10 pick and the Giants have a glaring edge rusher problem. This would be a great start to the draft for the Giants, who would be checking a few boxes with their first two picks.
Valentine’s Day View: This choice would not be my favorite. With Sauce Gardner off the board to the New York Jets at No. 4, offensive tackle already done, and both Kayvon Thibodeaux and Travon Walker already selected, this is where I would look for a trading partner.
Johnson is a nice player, but there are too many questions about whether or not he can be an effective pass rusher in the NFL. I’m just wondering if he’ll have a career worthy of that choice. If push comes to shove, I’ll pick Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton here, even if it contradicts the position value argument.
Round 2 (#36) – Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
Chosen by Kiper who says:
Valentine’s Day View: Again, not my favorite option. It’s a popular pick in multi-round mock drafts, and Pitre might even go earlier. I’m just concerned about Pitre’s fit and versatility because while he’s listed as a safety, he was only a slot cornerback at Baylor.
There are several people on the board here that I would rather vote for than Pitre. This includes:
Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M; Quay Walker, LB, Georgia; Travis Jones, DT, UConn; Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida; Skyy Moore, Wr, West Michigan; George Pickens, WR, Georgia
Round 3 (No. 67) – Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
Selected by McShay who says:
Since Blake Martinez has a cruciate ligament rupture, why not get insurance with Inside Linebacker? Muma took the FBS lead in tackles (125) last season.
Valentine’s Day View: Muma, Wisconsin’s Leo Chenal, and Montana State’s Troy Anderson all have their fans. McShay makes Muma the first of the inside linebacker trio to come off the board. Anderson (74th, Atlanta Falcons) is my favorite, but I won’t dispute that. For Chenal fans, he went to the Denver Broncos as the 75th.
Round 3 (No. 81) – Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
Selected by McShay who says:
I love this guy’s qualities. Woolen is a former receiver still learning the cornerback position, but he ran a 4.26 in the 40-yard dash at the combine at 6-foot-4. Add to the explosion demonstrated by a 42-inch vertical jump and an incredible 33⅝-inch length, and you have someone who could become a star over time.
Valentine’s Day View: Woolen is a guy I haven’t studied very much, but I love the swing of a player who has the potential to outperform their draft slot here. As defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has indicated, the more good cornerbacks he can collect, the better. I know this draft has yet to address tight end or running back, but I think there is enough depth in those spots to find useful players on day 3.
