NFL Draft 2022 tracker: Live blog and pick-by-pick analysis
When the Giants have won Super Bowls, they’ve been powered by elite pass rushers. Joe Schoen’s first NFL Draft pick as general manager was a step toward restoring that lost piece of the franchise’s DNA. The Giants selected Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux with the fifth pick in the first round of the draft on Thursday.
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Big board ranking: Thibodeaux was No. 8 on Dane Brugler’s list of the top 300 prospects. The Giants chose Thibodeaux over all three of the top offensive tackles in the class knowing they’d get one of those players with their seventh pick, which they did when they landed Alabama’s Evan Neal.
Introduction: A five-star recruit from Los Angeles, Thibodeaux was built for the big stage. He made an immediate impact at Oregon, recording nine sacks and earning freshman All-America honors in 2019. The 6-foot-4, 254-pounder was once viewed as the top prospect in this class, but there were questions about his personality and effort during the pre-draft process.
“I answered all of the questions without them asking,” Thibodeaux said of the Giants. “I was able to lay it all out on the line and I think they respected my delivery.”
How he fits: Having an elite edge rusher isn’t a requirement for defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale’s system, which creates pressure through exotic blitzes. But it never hurts to have a top edge rusher, so Martindale will gladly line up Thibodeaux across from 2021 second-round pick Azeez Ojulari to bolster a pass rush that has been lackluster for too long.
Second guess? The way the board lined up, it’s hard to second-guess this pick. Schoen said the Giants had the three tackles graded similarly, so unless Ikem Ekwonu, who went No. 6 to Carolina, becomes significantly better than Neal, it will be hard to question the way the GM navigated the board.
The other potential for a second-guess is if any of the questions about Thibodeaux’s effort or off-field interests prevent him from realizing his potential. Schoen has said teams typically miss on the person more than the player in the draft. Thibodeaux’s talent is undeniable, so if he doesn’t reach his ceiling, it will likely be due to the pre-draft concerns being confirmed.
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Rookie impact: Coach Brian Daboll said Thibodeaux will have to earn his role, which is what coaches are supposed to say. But something will have gone very wrong if Thibodeaux isn’t starting at outside linebacker for the Giants in Week 1.
The Giants have Ojulari … and very little else on the edge. They need Thibodeaux to step in and be an impact player immediately. There will be an opportunity for a huge role for the rookie.
Depth chart impact: Schoen said he has a “vision box” when grading draft prospects, which he uses to illustrate how a prospect compares to a player on the roster. It shouldn’t take much imagination to envision where Thibodeaux lands on the depth chart. As the No. 5 pick, the expectation will be for Thibodeaux to quickly establish himself as the Giants’ top edge rusher.
Fast evaluation: The Giants have major needs throughout their roster. So using their top asset to fill a hole at a premium position is a wise approach.
The Giants spent more time with Thibodeaux than any prospect in this class — Schoen said they went out for Korean barbecue the night before Oregon’s pro day — so they clearly grew comfortable with how he’ll fit on and off the field.
Landing an edge rusher with impressive college production and a high ceiling is a big step in the right direction to getting the Giants’ pass rush back to the glory days.
(Photo: Jeff Speer / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
