The first round is always a mystery with the Giants. In the last few seasons, they have selected players that nobody expected with their first pick. But this year things finally seemed to change. With their #5 overall pick, the Giants selected Kayvon Thibodeaux. Aside from Aidan Hutchinson, I saw Thibodeaux as the best defensive player in this draft. And there was a time when he was seen as the consensus #1 overall pick. I think he slipped a little for two reasons injury and character. On September 4th, he suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for 3 weeks before he returned only to be injured again in that game. After he finally got back onto the field, he quickly looked like himself again and had multiple 2 sack games. People believe that the game missed gave time for Hutchinson to take the lead as the best defensive player and he never looked back. Another issue scouts had with Thibodeaux was his character. There were multiple games last year, the PAC-12 championship specifically, that he was caught being lazy on a few plays. He would take a play off or not put in the effort to make a tackle. Is this true, perhaps, but that can be fixed with proper coaching and is something that will not fly in a fast-paced league like the NFL. In addition to that, NFL scouts also said that Thib had too many off-the-field things he was focusing on. This is because he created his own cryptocurrency last fall called "$JREAM" and has spent time trying to build it up. I personally, do not see this as a huge red flag, he is a young man and nothing is guaranteed right away in the NFL, trying to make some money off the field and stay in the loop with digital currency shouldn't affect how he plays on the field. Nonetheless, I was ecstatic with this pick, 6'5" 260-pound is a monster edge rusher who is the perfect combination of speed and strength. I truly believe he can be an immediate game breaker and is a steal even at 5.
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| (AP Photo/John Locher) |
As for the second of their 1st round selections, the Giants took Evan Neal from Alabama. Finally, we addressed the offensive line! The G-Men have needed O-line help for the past 8 seasons and within just 3 months GM Joe Schoen has done a great job in making a weakness into a strength. He signed a few key free agents on the interior and drafted the best tackle in the draft to put on the right side of the line. Similar to Thibodeaux, Neal too was seen as an option to go 1st overall in the draft. Neal was a stud for the Crimson Tide and played both guard and tackle. He allowed 2 sacks while starting at left tackle, 2 sacks while starting at right tackle, and just 1 sack while starting at guard in his freshman year. A man that let up 5 career sacks on the Giant's offensive line? Sign me up.
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| Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images |
Ultimately, I could not be happier about this draft. This was an absolute win for the G-Men and an A+ in my eyes. We drafted a cornerstone on both sides of the ball, who can both be dominant for the next 10-15. I cannot wait to see these boys in blue and see them turn this franchise around. I think these are the type of guys that can do just that and it all starts now. Wow, it finally feels good to be a Giants fan!
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| (via @nygiants Instagram) |
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