EASTERN RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – The New York Giants drew two of the most talented players in the NFL draft when they selected the Oregon Ducks champion Cayvon Thibodeau and the Alabama offensive Crimson Tease fight, respectively, with Evan Thursday night.
Thibodeaux was a surprising No. 5 selection, but the board performed perfectly with all three of the best draft attacks still available, allowing the Giants to grab Neil with a seventh pick after the Carolina Panthers took an offensive game at NC State Ikem Ekwonu on № 6
Thibodeaux was one of the biggest names in the draft and the most talked about players. Some have questioned his efforts and work ethic and focus on his brand.
But the giants did not believe this was a problem after conducting an in-depth study of Thibodeaux, which has the first electrical step. New general manager Joe Schoen travels to Eugene, Oregon, for Thibodeaux’s professional day just days after the NFL’s annual meetings in Florida. The Giants also slipped into a meeting at Zoom with the talented pass-rocher during the draft week.
One of the best prospects entering last season, Thibodeau had seven sacks, although he played with an ankle injury in 2021. His pressure rate of 17.8% was the third best in FBS.
New York was the only team in the NFL last season to rank in the bottom five in the percentage of pass wins and quick wins, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Neil, 21, was the second team of the AP All-American last season and a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Prize. He allowed a dismissal of his youth season, which came in the match for the national title against Georgia Bulldogs.
Neil saw a steady improvement in Alabama. His allowable pressure rate dropped from 2.5% as a freshman (when he played guard) to 1.3% last season as a left-handed player.
Neil also brings great flexibility to the Giants, playing one season as a guard, right and left. This gives the Giants opportunities with a fourth overall pick for 2020, Andrew Thomas, who showed a significant improvement last season in a left-handed game. Neil probably started his career at the Giants with the right grip.
This will give New York two potentially young fights to protect quarterback Daniel Jones. The Giants are the third team in the overall draft era to pick two offensive games in the top 10 in three years.
The Giants wanted to take an offensive match at the start of this draft to help strengthen an offensive line that has been problematic for nearly a decade. They also signed Mark Glovinski as a free agent to start as a right-wing guard and John Feliciano to be their center.
The idea is that the renewed and improved offensive line will give them a chance to get a real rating of Jones this season. The Giants refused to choose the fifth-year option in Jones’ contract earlier Thursday, sources told ESPN.
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