New York Giants Hosting Top 2022 NFL Draft Prospects
With just a couple weeks until the 2022 NFL Draft, the New York Giants are hosting some of the top prospects for visits.
As we weave our way through the final parts of the pre-draft process, there’s some big news near the Big Apple, as the New York Giants are hosting some of the top prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft for visits ahead of the big weekend. Per FanSided’s Matt Lombardo, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Ahmad Gardner, and Evan Neal will all be in to visit with the Giants ahead of draft night.
The #Giants are hosting some of the top prospects on their top-30 visit, per sources. #Oregon EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, #Cincinnati CB Sauce Gardner, and #Alabama OT Evan Neal are in town.
— Matt Lombardo 🏈 (@MattLombardoNFL) April 12, 2022
The “top 30 visits”, as they’re often called, are used for a variety of reasons. Some teams bring in late round guys to check on character, recent injuries, or get an idea of some guys they’d like to target late or in undrafted free agency. Some guys generate heavy interest who weren’t at the top all-star games, so a visit wasn’t possible early. Some teams, like the New York Giants here, are inviting the top guys in for final checks in front of the team brass.
There’s a chance that the Giants could be on the clock in the 2022 NFL Draft with all three of Thibodeaux, Neal, and Gardner on the board, depending on if quarterbacks go earlier than expected, or other edge rushers come off before Thibodeaux.
What once looked like a near-impossibility, the Giants are now the one of the favorites to select Neal with that fifth pick. He’d (likely) slide in at right tackle, where he has experience, while Andrew Thomas stays on the left side.
As for Gardner, he’s the favorite to be the top selected corner. The Texans and Jets could surprise and take him earlier, but with the lingering James Bradberry trade, the Giants look like they’re all in with getting a corner early in this draft. Edge may not be the biggest need for this team, but getting a talented player in Thibodeaux to rush opposite Azeez Ojulari would be a huge deal for a defense that’s becoming a well-rounded unit.
It will not be shocking at all if the New York Giants end up with two of the three prospects listed on the first night of the 2022 NFL Draft, and those two will cement what many hope to be a turnaround with Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll running the show.