Giants Should Have 2 Cornerstone Players from First Round of Draft

Giants Should Have 2 Cornerstone Players from First Round of Draft
Fact Checked by Pat McLoone

The Giants were one of several teams to have multiple first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft.

However, no other team had two selections in the top seven. The Giants selected arguably the best pass rusher in the class and the best (and most versatile) offensive lineman in the draft. 

Their two first-round picks were Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon) and Evan Neal (Alabama) at No. 5 and No. 7, respectively. At different points throughout the draft process, both players were considered potential selections at No. 1. Grabbing them at No. 5 and 7 is a fantastic way for the Giants to rebuild their trenches and win at the line of scrimmage.

Giants fans and sports betting New York players expect Thibodeaux and Neal to start from Day 1.

We also looked at the Giants and free agency a while back.

But how much did this draft class change their futures odds for the 2022 NFL season? First, let's take a look at the draft history for the New York Giants and then their odds for the upcoming season:

Giants History with Defensive Ends in First Round

The Giants have been really good at drafting pass rushers in their history. That has been the case in Round 1 and throughout the entire draft. Their most recent first-round defensive end selection was Jason Pierre-Paul (2010), who helped them win a Super Bowl following the 2011 season. Thibodeaux is the seventh defensive end to be selected in Round 1 by the Giants and he ties Cedric Jones (1996) and Gary Jester (1997) as the highest selection at defensive end in franchise history.

NameYearPick No.Pro Bowls
Jason Pierre-Paul2010153
Mathias Kiwanuka2006320
Cedric Jones199650
Eric Dorsey1986190
Gary Jeter197750
Fred Dryer1969131

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Giants History with Offensive Tackles in First Round

As good as the Giants have been at selecting defensive ends in Round 1, they've been just as bad picking offensive tackles early. The Giants selected Evan Neal (Alabama) at No. 7, just two years after picking Andrew Thomas at No. 4 during the 2020 NFL Draft. The Giants have selected eight offensive tackles in Round 1 during their franchise's history, but only one of those players has even been named to a Pro Bowl (George Connor).  Neal is now the third-highest drafted offensive lineman ever by the New York Giants.

NameYearPick No.Pro Bowls
Andrew Thomas202040
Ereck Flowers201590
Justin Pugh2013190
Luke Petitgout1999190
Gordon King1978100
Francis Peay1966100
George Connor194654
Art Lewis193690

Who the Giants Took in the Draft

The Giants crushed their first two picks in the draft, but they weren't done after that. They made nine other picks on Day 2 and Day 3, filling needs at wide receiver, cornerback and linebacker. Here are all 11 of their draft selections from the 2022 NFL Draft:

  • Round 1 (5th overall): Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon DE DE)
  • Round 1 (7th overall): Evan Neal (Alabama OL)
  • Round 2 (43rd overall): Wan’Dale Robinson (Kentucky WR)
  • Round 3 (67th overall): Joshua Ezeudu (North Carolina OL)
  • Round 3 (81st overall): Cordale Flott (LSU CB)
  • Round 4 (112th overall): Daniel Bellinger (San Diego State TE)
  • Round 4 (114th overall): Dane Belton (Iowa DB)
  • Round 5 (146th overall): Micah McFadden (Indiana LB)
  • Round 5 (147th overall): D.J. Davidson (Arizona State DT)
  • Round 5 (173 overall): Marcus McKethan (North Carolina OL)
  • Round 6 (182nd overall): Darrian Beavers (Cincinnati LB)

New York Giants Not Among Super Bowl Favorites After Draft

Despite adding two of the best players in the NFL Draft, the Giants aren't considered contenders in the NFC this year. Their current odds to win the upcoming Super Bowl are at just +10000 on DraftKings Sportsbook New York. And their odds to win the NFC sit at +5000. 

Even in their division, they are +650 behind the Dallas Cowboys (-110) and the Philadelphia Eagles (+275) in NFL betting. The Giants are building their team the right way, but they are still a few years away from being viewed as a serious Super Bowl contender. 

Here is a look at the top 10 teams in odds to win the Super Bowl and the Giants:

TeamSuper Bowl oddsConf. title oddsDivision odds
Buffalo Bills+650 +330 -175
Tampa Bay Buccaneers+700 +350 - 280
Los Angeles Rams+1000 +450 +125
Green Bay Packers+1000 +500 -175
Kansas City Chiefs+1000 +550 +160
San Francisco 49ers+1400 +700 +205
Los Angeles Chargers+1600 +850 +250
Denver Broncos+1600 +850 +250
Dallas Cowboys+1700 +750 -110
Cleveland Browns+1700 +900 +175
T24 New York Giants+10000 +5000 +650
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Author

Marcus Mosher

Marcus Mosher covers the NFL, NFL Draft and NFL news for EmpireStakes.com. The managing editor of The Raiders Wire is also a contributor to The Athletic DFW, Pro Football Weekly and FanSided, and previously wrote for FanRag Sports. He hosts Locked On Cowboys Podcast.

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