Tag: 9572

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — In a span of seven minutes on Friday evening, general manager Joe Schoen did something that should have made the New York Giants and their fans realize they finally have a chance. He traded back (twice!) before you could even blink in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft to add extra picks.

It might not sound like anything special, but it shows a level of competence the organization didn’t have as recently as the beginning of this year. In that seven minutes Schoen traded back as many times as Dave Gettleman did in nine years as general manager of the Carolina Panthers and Giants. And the two times Gettleman did trade back, sources say it was at the behest of former coach Joe Judge last year.

“We just thought it was what was best for us at this time. More picks would benefit us the most, we thought, based on who was on our board,” Schoen said Saturday. “We had deals in place before the draft started. So we were confident. We knew we could move back. That was part of the plan.”

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A plan that made sense. Again, the bar is low — perhaps below the basement — for a franchise that went 19-46 under Gettleman.

Schoen began the second round on Friday by sending Pick 36 to the New York Jets for Picks 38 and 146 (a fifth-rounder). Moments later, he moved back again, shipping No. 38 to Atlanta for No. 43 and a fourth-rounder (114). The two picks he netted by moving down seven spots became Iowa safety Dane Belton (No. 114) and Indiana linebacker Micah McFadden (No. 146).

This is how rebuilding teams are supposed to operate. Remember this in a couple of years if Belton or McFadden become starters or even consistent contributors.

We can argue about the merits of the player the Giants ended up selecting 43rd overall in the second round, Kentucky receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. Some analysts, including ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., say the diminutive wide receiver was selected too early. And the Giants might have missed out on a cornerback they liked by moving down. Auburn’s Roger McCreary went 35th to the Tennessee Titans, Washington’s Kyler Gordon went 39th to the Chicago Bears and Clemson’s Andrew Booth Jr. went 42nd to the Minnesota Vikings.

It doesn’t really matter. This Giants team, bereft of talent, got extra dart throws during the draft because of Schoen’s elasticity. Contrast that with Gettleman’s ill-fated decision during the 2019 draft to trade fourth- and fifth-round picks to move up seven spots to No. 30 for cornerback DeAndre Baker. At least two other teams told ESPN that spring that they had concerns about the Georgia prospect. Baker was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list in 2020 because of legal issues and released that September by the Giants.

Schoen’s draft résumé with the Giants is already off to a better start. He began by taking Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux fifth overall and Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal at No. 7. Those picks were pretty much universally lauded, even if the rest of the class of 11 players was met with some skepticism. It was New York’s largest draft class since 2003.

“I don’t love the Giants’ class after their first two picks, but Thibodeaux and Neal are good enough to keep this grade on stable ground,” Kiper wrote in his explanation for giving the Giants a B grade.

Like every team’s draft class, the newest group of Giants comes with some warts. Robinson lacks ideal size at 5-foot-8, 178 pounds. Third-round guard Joshua Ezeudu, selected 67th, was ranked 151st overall by Scouts Inc., which said he lacks polish and grades out as a versatile backup with a chance to develop into a starter. And during the pre-draft process, some scouts and coaches told ESPN they view Thibodeaux as “good, but not special” — a player who isn’t very big (6-foot-4, 254 pounds) for his position and doesn’t possess any counter moves as a pass-rusher.

The reality is nobody knows whether any of the 262 players drafted this weekend will be any good. That is analysis for another day down the road. What we can judge is Schoen’s logic.

What he did throughout his first offseason and draft at least makes sense. In Gettleman’s first draft as Giants GM (2018), he selected running back Saquon Barkley No. 2 overall following a 3-13 season, trying to prop up soon-to-be-38-year-old quarterback Eli Manning.

Schoen realized he couldn’t get it all done in one swoop and began what appears to be a methodical roster overhaul. He had a realistic goal for his first draft class.

“We wanted to add depth and competition to the roster, which I think we did,” Schoen said. “Again, not every guy is going to come as a starter. It takes time. Guys have to develop. … Over time, you have to have depth players and frontline players. I think the idea was to get the best we could.

“Defensively, the guys with versatility. And offensively, as you’re around [coach] Brian [Daboll], you’ll see, he’ll take the pieces and whatever we have and develop the offensive scheme around those pieces that we have, and [defensive coordinator] Wink [Martindale] kind of adheres to the same philosophy.”

For now at least, it all sounds good. The Giants’ roster might not be in great shape at this point — look at the thin secondary — but there is reason to feel good with how they’re operating and where they seem to be going. It seems coherent rather than slapped together.

Schoen deserves most of the credit for that.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Relative athletic scores: The Patriots’ 2022 draft class spoke volumes about how Bill Belichick & Co. view the team’s deficiencies — specifically with a focus on speed in a game that continues to be played more in space.

Director of player personnel Matt Groh also pointed out how the Patriots have always placed a high value on toughness.

Whether the Patriots identified the right players to inject those traits into their roster will be determined in time, but how they came to the conclusion that guard Cole Strange (first round, 29th), receiver Tyquan Thornton (second round, 50th), and cornerback Marcus Jones (third round, 85th) were ideal targets was notable.

In short, the Patriots’ Class of ’22 — criticized in some circles because of the perception the team reached on players — might turn out to be the litmus test for how much stock teams should place in analytics and testing numbers when valuing players.

Relative athletic score, which grades a player’s measurements on a 0-to-10 scale compared to their peer group, is becoming more mainstream in football reporting, and the picks of Strange and Thornton provide a springboard to highlight them.

Strange, in particular, is off the charts.

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Cole Strange was drafted with pick 29 of round 1 in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.95 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 7 out of 1298 OG from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/RRKLKRSIJK #RAS #Patriots pic.twitter.com/FxExB6k1sR

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 29, 2022

When his measurements and testing numbers are compared to others at guard since 1987, he ranks seventh out of 1,298 prospects.

“He’s almost 6-[foot]-5, 300 pounds and runs sub-5 seconds in the 40 [-yard dash]. Benched 225 [pounds] 31 times. There’s not a lot of humans out there that are doing that,” Groh said Friday night.

Meanwhile, Thornton’s 4.28 time in the 40-yard dash is the fourth fastest by a receiver at the NFL combine since 2006.

Thornton’s relative athletic score is also promising, ranking 405th out of 2,785 receivers from 1987 to 2022. The speed is elite.

The trend continued on Saturday in the fourth round when the Patriots selected South Dakota State running back Pierre Strong Jr., whose 4.37 time in the 40-yard dash at the combine was tied for the fastest among running backs. Strong also had a high relative athletic score, with elite speed.

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Tyquan Thornton was drafted with pick 50 of round 2 in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 8.55 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 405 out of 2785 WR from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/rVWTfUMA2a #RAS #Patriots pic.twitter.com/w79vj8MnBm

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 30, 2022

Of course, projecting traits has long been a part of scouting. Relative athletic scores don’t play football on Sundays, and Strange, Thornton & Co., wouldn’t be Patriots if they hadn’t already transferred some of their unique athletic gifts to the field as football players.

But their elite testing numbers, and how the Patriots now project those to the NFL relative to the other 31 teams when assessing value, was an obvious storyline of note.

2. Why not McDuffie? It is often said that a team’s draft is best assessed after at least three years have passed, and with the Patriots’ 2022 class, a top player to watch will be cornerback Trent McDuffie. Had the Patriots stayed at the 21st pick overall and taken McDuffie instead of trading down to 29, they’d likely be getting a lot of “attaboys” for their work in filling a top need with a player who wasn’t expected to be available.

So why didn’t they?

One NFL scout pointed to McDuffie’s shorter-than-ideal arm length (29 3/4) as a possible reason the Patriots didn’t race to turn in their card — especially since they have traditionally preferred to play press-man coverage on the outside (where some view arm length as critical). Weighing that against the value the Patriots received to trade down (getting a solid haul of third- and fourth-round picks), they took the trade, knowing there was a small handful of players (including Strange) they were comfortable selecting at 29.

3. Thornton’s speed: In selecting Thornton, the fastest wide receiver in the 2022 draft, the Patriots might have had this statistic on the mind — New England receivers ranked 25th in the NFL in separation on deep balls last year. They had only 1.6 yards of separation on throws 20-plus yards downfield, per ESPN metrics powered by NFL Next Gen Stats.

At the same time, one point Groh made is that the team views Thornton as more than just a burner running down the field. “This isn’t just a linear guy. You see him really be able to get off the line,” he said. “And for as fast as he is, to be able to see him get in the red zone and do some things, it’s not just speed, it’s 6-2, ability to get up and really pluck the ball out of the air.”

Longtime NFL tape analyst Greg Cosell, of ESPN’s NFL Matchup Show, had highlighted Thornton as a receiver worthy of more attention before the draft.

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Here’s @gregcosell on new #Patriots WR Tyquan Thornton. “He may be along w/Jameson Williams the most vertically explosive player in the class. Speed consistently showed up on tape..refinement to his game when beating press..reminds me a lot of Chris Olave but tougher.” #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/frmnDGLPOO

— Nik Athans (@NewEnglandNik) April 30, 2022

4. Early returns: The Patriots naturally hope Thornton and Jones develop into front-line options at receiver and cornerback, respectively, but not to be overlooked is their more immediate opportunity of helping the team in the return game. Thornton’s blazing speed could be a factor as a kickoff returner (he only returned eight kickoffs in college), and Jones is a top candidate to fill the void left by top punt returner Gunner Olszewski‘s departure. Over the past two seasons, Jones had 711 punt return yards and 12 punt returns of 12-plus yards — both the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision. In 2021, the Patriots ranked No. 18 in the NFL in kickoff return average (21.8 yards) and No. 6 in punt return average (11.3 yards).

5. Picks in 2023: A Friday night trade in which the Patriots gave up their late third-round pick (94) in exchange for Carolina’s late fourth-rounder (137) and a 2023 third-rounder showed how Belichick — with rock-solid job security — is often thinking ahead. The 2023 third-rounder essentially replaces what the Patriots previously traded for veteran receiver DeVante Parker. So when accounting for compensatory draft picks, and prior picks acquired from the Rams (Sony Michel) and Panthers (Stephon Gilmore), the Patriots have 2023 picks in the following rounds: 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 7.

6. Don’t forget McGrone: In what was viewed by many as a deep inside linebacker class, the Patriots stayed away from it entirely in the draft. While it’s always dangerous to say that’s a direct correlation to how the Patriots view the linebackers already on the roster, Groh highlighted second-year player Cameron McGrone (2021 fifth round) as “kind of an additional draft pick” after not playing his rookie 2021 season while recovering from a torn ACL suffered at Michigan. Add in trade acquisition Mack Wilson and the re-signing of Ja’Whaun Bentley, and Groh said there’s a level of internal excitement with the linebackers. Also, safety Jabrill Peppers projects to play more in the box in certain packages, and fellow safeties Adrian Phillips and Kyle Dugger can as well.

7. Mac elevating: Strange said he received a welcome text message from quarterback Mac Jones, who invited him to dinner at Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse on Friday. A native of Tennessee who was making his first trip to New England, Strange said the gesture made him feel like he was home.

Jones’ invitation reflects what some teammates relay has been evolving behind the scenes, with Jones showing increasing comfort stepping into a leadership role while also letting his own personality come out.

“He’s a great guy and just as funny,” center David Andrews told season-ticket members at the team’s annual draft party Thursday. “He also loves playing this game. He loves the grind of this game. The preparation. He’s such a smart guy. Being an undrafted guy, there’s not a lot of pressure on you. Being a first-round quarterback, I can’t imagine the pressure. And I can’t say enough about how he handled it.”

8. White not cleared: When the Patriots take the field for voluntary offseason workouts this month, veteran running back James White (hip) likely won’t be participating. White said at the draft party: “I still have a little while to go [after] a pretty rough injury.” If third-year running back J.J. Taylor wants to make a decisive move to show he’s ready for the role, he has a golden opportunity this spring.

9. Brooks covers Texas: Groh, the Patriots’ director of player personnel whose fire and passion percolated late Friday night in his media Q&A, classily highlighted the work of area scout Alex Brooks after the Patriots selected players from Texas-based schools in Thornton (Baylor) and Marcus Jones (Houston). Brooks, entering his fifth season with the Patriots, covers Texas as part of his broader Southwest responsibilities. He played football himself at West Virginia (2013-16), and spent the spring of 2018 coaching at John Carroll University before joining the Patriots’ personnel department.

10. Did you know? Strange, whose full name is Devin Cole Strange, is the first player from UT-Chattanooga to be drafted since offensive lineman Corey Levin went in the sixth round in 2017. Strange tops Terrell Owens (89th in 1996) as the highest-ever Moc drafted into the NFL, and is the second UT-Chattanooga player drafted by the Patriots. Running back Marrio Grier (sixth round 1996) was the other.

MIAMI — The 2022 NFL draft is being held through Saturday and every Miami Dolphins draft pick will be analyzed here.

The draft will be held in Las Vegas on the strip in the area adjacent to Caesars Forum two years after it was initially scheduled. The 2020 NFL draft was turned into a virtual event because of COVID-19.

Here’s a pick-by-pick look at how each player Miami has selected will fit.

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Round 3, No. 102 overall: Channing Tindall, ILB, Georgia

My take: The Dolphins brought their entire corps of inside linebackers back this offseason, but it’s still a thin group overall that could use a sideline-to-sideline defender. Enter: Tindall. The former Bulldog is one of the fastest linebackers in this draft and should contribute quickly. Especially in a division that features one of the most dynamic players in the NFL in Bills QB Josh Allen, it was critical for the Dolphins to add as much speed as possible to the middle of their defense.

What’s next: The wait for the Dolphins’ second pick of this year’s draft won’t take as long as the first — they pick again at No. 125 overall. From there, they only have two remaining picks, both in the seventh round (Nos. 224 and 227). Miami doesn’t have any glaring needs, but could stand to add depth to its interior offensive and defensive lines. But considering the state of its roster, Miami is in a position to take the best player available.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The 2022 NFL draft is being held Thursday through Saturday and every New England Patriots draft pick will be analyzed here.

The draft will be held in Las Vegas on the Strip in the area adjacent to Caesars Forum two years after it was initially scheduled. The 2020 NFL draft was turned into a virtual event because of COVID-19.

Here’s a pick-by-pick look at how each player New England has selected will fit.

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Round 1, No. 29 overall: Cole Strange, OG, Chattanooga

My take: Strange projects to start at left guard, and if he follows in the footsteps of 2005 first-rounder Logan Mankins (32nd) or 2016 third-rounder Joe Thuney (78th), this will be a solid pick that addresses one of the team’s obvious needs (albeit one created by trading veteran guard Shaq Mason). Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy, a former New England scout, had identified Strange before the draft as an ideal Patriots fit. One question: Did the Patriots overdraft him? Strange was viewed by some draft analysts as a second- or third-round pick … which was actually what was said about Mankins back in 2005.

Starting O-line: The Patriots’ top offensive line projects as left tackle Isaiah Wynn, Strange at left guard, center David Andrews, right guard Mike Onwenu and right tackle Trent Brown. That assumes, of course, that Strange quickly adapts to the system.

Cornerback regrets? After starting cornerback J.C. Jackson departed in free agency, the Patriots had a chance to draft his replacement at No. 21 overall — Washington’s Trent McDuffie — who wasn’t projected to be available at that point by many draft analysts. But they instead followed through on a trade, moving back to No. 29 and picking up third-round (94) and fourth-round picks (121). The Chiefs took McDuffie at No. 21 with the pick acquired from the Patriots. If he goes on to become a shutdown corner, that could hurt from a New England perspective.

What’s next: The Patriots have 10 more picks in the draft, headlined by a second-rounder (54th), two third-rounders (85, 94) and two fourth-rounders (121, 127). Bill Belichick has now made an NFL-high 84 draft-day trades in his Patriots tenure, and that number figures to increase over the next two days. Belichick said at the team’s season-ticket member draft party that this is a deep draft, all the way into the later rounds.

MIAMI — While most NFL teams will spend Thursday night figuring out which elite prospect they want to take a chance on in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft in Las Vegas (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN app), the Miami Dolphins and general manager Chris Grier will probably be watching highlights of receiver Tyreek Hill somewhere inside the Baptist Health Traning Complex.

At least, that’s what Grier laughingly said he’d be doing after trading Miami’s picks in the first round, second round, and fourth round for Hill back in March. The Dolphins now have the least draft capital in the league with just four picks: No. 102 (third round), No. 125 (fourth), No. 224 (seventh) and No. 247 (seventh).

Despite owning so few selections, Grier said he and his staff haven’t altered anything about their preparation.

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“You never know when opportunities arise to do something,” he said. “If you haven’t done your work just because you don’t pick until 102, it could end up hurting you when you don’t have all the information if those opportunities arise. So for us, we had guys who were out at all pro days. Coaches were out. Coaches were doing private workouts.

“So for us, it’s been full steam ahead. The personnel staff has done a tremendous job and the coaching staff — Mike (McDaniel) and the coaching staff — these guys enjoyed getting out and getting to meet players, bringing them in, so the private workout stuff has been exciting.”

Miami has completely revamped its offense this offseason, adding Hill and tackle Terron Armstead to address its two biggest holes. The Dolphins also added receiver Cedrick Wilson, offensive lineman Connor Williams, and running backs Raheem Mostert and Chase Edmonds to further supplement the system McDaniel wants to run in his first year.

After strengthening their roster with some big additions this offseason, they are in the enviable position of being able to take the best player available this weekend. Still, the Dolphins have areas in which they can improve — namely inside linebacker and interior offensive line.

ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid said the decision to trade their first two picks for Hill was a no-brainer — especially since there should be opportunities to address those remaining needs on Day 3 of the draft (Rounds 4-7).

“I [would] look to target a center [at No. 102],” Reid said. “I think just getting some competition [for] Michael Deiter … would be really, really wise for them. Because I’m not sure if Deiter is going to be the athlete that they need at that center spot.”

Reid specifically listed Dylan Parham from Memphis and Cole Strange from Chattanooga as potential options for the Dolphins at No. 102.

Parham is a converted tight end who started all four years for Memphis at tackle and guard and fits McDaniel’s zone-blocking scheme.

“He’s one that fits really, really well as far as what they want to do from a zone scheme or wide-zone scheme perspective,” Reid said. “He’s a really athletic type … also very powerful, too.”

Strange is projected as more of a fourth-round pick, although he wouldn’t be a stretch at No. 102, Reid said. He’s a guard who is a projected center in the NFL and caught Reid’s attention at the Senior Bowl this year.

Regardless, it’s likely Miami goes offensive line with at least one of its four picks considering how Grier feels about this year’s class.

“I think there’s some talent all the way through from the tackles, the guards, centers, all the way in through the [middle] rounds,” he said. “I think you can find some good, quality players. Everyone is always looking for the pass-rushers. I think there are some high-level rushers in this draft, and then at the end of the day, then it’ll be some projection. Guys that have some upside to work with.

“So I would say … offensive line to me, I think is the one really strong position in this draft.”

Reid mentioned linebackers Brandon Smith (Penn State) and Brian Asamoah (Oklahoma) as potential options in the fourth round.

Smith has great size (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) and ability but needs to improve his processing skills. It’s what Reid said is keeping him from being picked in the first or second round.

Asamoah is a strong tackler and athlete who Reid called a “wrecking ball” but is somewhat undersized (6-0, 226 pounds) for the position.

Beyond those positions of need, Reid said he would not be surprised if the Dolphins add a physical running back to complement their group of speedsters, such as Georgia’s Zamir White or Alabama’s Brian Robinson Jr.

RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks‘ annual pre-draft press conference revealed little about who they plan to take but plenty about the vibe inside the Virginia Mason Athletic Center heading into Thursday’s first round of the NFL draft (8 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN, ESPN app).

“I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s a certain energy in this building right now,” general manager John Schneider, seated next to coach Pete Carroll, told reporters last week. “There’s a certain refreshness and juice … It’s just very hard to describe.”

That feeling makes sense given the recent changes to the roster and coaching staff as well as the opportunity that lies ahead in this draft.

The Russell Wilson trade left the Seahawks with a major long-term question at quarterback but has also ended years of tension that hung over the organization, Schneider in particular. And it puts them in prime position to expedite their post-Wilson rebuild.

After making a franchise-low three selections last year, the Seahawks are as stocked with draft capital as they’ve been in a while. Four of their eight picks are in the top 72, including the No. 9 overall pick that was acquired from the Denver Broncos in the Wilson trade.

The very first pick of the Schneider/Carroll era — left tackle Russell Okung at No. 6 overall in 2010 — marks the only time they’ve picked inside the top 10. According to ESPN Stats & Information, only one other team (the New England Patriots) has not picked inside the top 10 at least once since then.

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That makes this a rare opportunity for the Seahawks to draft top-end talent they could land only in their dreams — or via a trade for two first-rounders — when they were selecting in the 20s as a perennial playoff team.

“There’s definitely an excitement about this because there’s only so many things that can happen,” Carroll said. “When you’re picking 25th and 28th and down there, there’s a million scenarios. This is not like that. It’s a little different.”

Still, there are plenty of scenarios that could play out, thanks to the mystery of how many quarterbacks — if any — will go before the Seahawks’ pick. And there are enough needs on a team that finished 7-10 last season to bring several positions into play.

Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II was the pick for Seattle in NFL Nation’s mock draft, though LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross were strong considerations. Quarterback was not, as all indications suggest that the Seahawks are high enough on Drew Lock‘s potential and not sold enough on anyone in this year’s crop of QBs to take one at No. 9.

And while trades weren’t allowed in NFL Nation’s mock draft, they will very much be in play on Thursday. According to Schneider, the final few days of draft prep include talking with other teams about possible trades.

“People know that we’re very open to moving around,” he said. “We’re pliable.”

The Seahawks’ 21 draft-day trades since 2016 are third most in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. In that span, they’ve entered the draft with six first-round picks and have stayed put only twice, moving back four other times.

Then again, that trend was largely a function of the drop-off in talent that usually occurs in the second half of the first round.

“You get down to … that lower part of the round, if you get to like 18 or 20, right in there, depending on the year, you’re basically drafting in the second round,” Schneider said at the owners’ meetings. “That’s why you guys have seen us go back, because from, call it, 20 to 45, you’re basically getting the same quality player.”

The dynamic is much different this year, with the Seahawks in the unfamiliar position of landing one of the draft’s top-rated prospects.

And with that comes an opportunity to clean up a spotty track record with recent first-round picks.

Right tackle Germain Ifedi (31st overall in 2016) was not as bad as his harshest critics suggested but didn’t play well enough to get a second contract from Seattle. That selection was heavily influenced by then-offensive line coach Tom Cable, who had more say in personnel decisions than an average position coach.

Running back Rashaad Penny (27th, 2018) just got a second contract from Seattle after finishing last year on a tear, but Nick Chubb, who was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round, has vastly outperformed him over four seasons. Much of the organization favored Chubb in 2018. Perhaps the loudest dissenting voice was then-offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who coached Chubb for one season at Georgia and had reservations about him as a pass-catcher.

Defensive end L.J. Collier (29th, 2019) has produced sparingly in three seasons and was a healthy scratch for much of 2021. The Seahawks settled on Collier after missing out on defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and tight end Noah Fant (whom they acquired in the Wilson trade). They felt they badly needed an edge rusher and saw a steep drop-off, so they took Collier above where they had him rated.

Linebacker Jordyn Brooks (27th, 2020) has been their best first-rounder in at least a decade. He looks like a cornerstone player with Pro Bowls in his future.

The common thread with the three misses before him were their selection near the end of the first round. The Seahawks have hit on all three of their earlier first-rounders since 2010 (Okung and Earl Thomas in 2010, and Bruce Irvin in 2012). In the case of Thomas — a potential Hall of Fame safety they took at No. 14 — they hit big. Okung made a Pro Bowl and later became the NFL’s highest-paid left tackle. Irvin, who was picked No. 15, has had a nice career, with 52 sacks in 10 seasons.

So no wonder the Seahawks are excited to be back inside the top 10, at least for now.

“There’s a different level of excitement about the opportunity,” Carroll said. “And then, as John said, we’ll be interested to see how other people see it, and are they willing to come chasing that spot too. Just everything about it is more challenging, more exciting, and we’re looking forward to it.”

Snoop Dogg will perform.

Coach Brandon Staley, quarterback Justin Herbert, receiver Keenan Allen, safety Derwin James Jr. and two newcomers — cornerback J.C. Jackson and tight end Gerald Everett — will be in attendance.

But the identity of the main attraction at the Los Angeles Chargers‘ NFL draft party at SoFi Stadium on Thursday has yet to be determined, as general manager Tom Telesco and the Bolts are scheduled to make the 17th overall pick when the first round of the draft (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN, ESPN app) gets underway.

“I feel good about where we are,” Telesco told reporters Monday about the Chargers’ draft position. “With the amount of players that we have in that area, we should be in pretty good shape.”

Following a 9-8 season and third-place finish in the AFC West in Staley’s first year as coach, the Bolts must continue to bolster a defense that ranked No. 26 in efficiency, solidify protection for Herbert on the right side of the offensive line, plus add a speedy weapon for the third-year quarterback to target.

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Picking at No. 17, the Chargers could be in position to select among a talented group of offensive tackles — with players such as Mississippi State’s Charles Cross, Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning or Tulsa’s Tyler Smith potentially available at that spot — to fill a vacancy at right tackle and provide the final piece to a line that already is anchored on the left side by Pro Bowler Rashawn Slater, their first-round pick in 2021.

“We’ll just kind of see how it plays out,” Telesco said, when asked if there was a need to select an offensive lineman. “You never know how it’s going to go. A little bit like free agency, you can only bring in what’s going to be available — same thing with the draft, you can only draft what’s available. We certainly aren’t going to force anything.”

If the Chargers don’t select a lineman, there are plenty of playmakers who could immediately fill a roster need.

USC receiver Drake London is unlikely to be available midway through the first round, but Ohio State wideout Chris Olave could be a needed speedy option to stretch the field for Herbert.

And if the Bolts look to fill a defensive need with their first selection, they could do so with Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie or Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis.

The Chargers own 10 picks total, including a third, fourth, fifth, two sixth and four seventh-round selections.

Their current haul of selections is the most they’ve owned since having 11 in 2004 and could afford them the opportunity to round out a roster that’s already undergone the significant upgrades necessary to compete in an ever-improving division that now includes Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson joining the Denver Broncos and All-Pro receiver Davante Adams moving to the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Bolts traded their second-round pick, along with a 2023 sixth-round selection, to the Chicago Bears in exchange for All-Pro outside linebacker Khalil Mack. They signed Jackson, a free-agent Pro Bowl cornerback with the New England Patriots, to a five-year, $82.5 million contract, then added former New York Giants defensive tackle Austin Johnson on a two-year, $14 million deal and defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day on a three-year, $24 million deal to leave the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.

On offense, Everett — a five-year veteran who played last season with the Seattle Seahawks — signed a two-year, $12-million contract.

“We’re just trying to use every avenue we can use right now to get there, whether through trades, free agency, the draft, or post-draft,” Telesco said about building a complete roster. “How close are we? I don’t know.”

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — General manager Joe Schoen has stressed the New York Giants‘ multitude of needs every time he’s spoken publicly over the past month. He has insisted that will allow New York, which holds the No. 5 and No. 7 overall picks in the 2022 NFL draft, to take the best player available on Thursday in Las Vegas (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN app).

Usually, those kinds of comments can be brushed off as typical GM speak, specifically during the pre-draft process. However, in this instance it really does seem to apply.

“I think where we are in our roster, there’s several needs,” Schoen said last week. “To put a finger on what exactly the biggest need is would be difficult. If you can find two really good football players at [Nos.] 5 and 7, that’s how we stacked the board. Let’s just throw need, whatever [the] perceived need is, out. Who are the best football players in this draft?”

That is only possible because the Giants have enough needs — at premium positions, no less — to fill their entire draft board. Offensive line, edge rusher and cornerback all could use an influx of talent. We can also add safety, tight end, running back and most likely, quarterback, to the list.

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Luckily for the Giants, the top of the draft is filled with players at most of those premium positions (sans quarterback). The top 10 could include two offensive tackles (likely three), four edge rushers and two cornerbacks.

It’s perfect for Schoen and coach Brian Daboll. It gives them options, even if multiple sources within the organization and around the league have insisted they want to land an offensive tackle at pick No. 5.

Wanting, however, doesn’t mean it needs to happen at all costs. In this case, it could depend on Alabama tackle Evan Neal. Discussions with sources over the past few months indicate he is the top offensive lineman on their board, ahead of Mississippi State’s Charles Cross.

Which brings us to what has become an annual exercise: providing a list of prospects who make sense for the Giants with an informed projection of the most likely to be selected by New York in the first round.

This process has produced pretty respectable results — in five of the past eight drafts the Giants’ scheduled first-round picks have appeared on this list. Twice they have been the projected pick — offensive lineman Ereck Flowers in 2015 and running back Saquon Barkley in 2018. The big whiffs came with New York’s picks in 2016 (cornerback Eli Apple at No. 10) and 2017 (tight end Evan Engram at No. 23). Last year was an outlier because the Giants traded back from No. 11 to No. 20.

So let’s take another crack at it. Here are the prospects most likely to be selected by the Giants at No. 5 and No. 7 overall on Thursday:

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Pick No. 5

OT Evan Neal (Alabama): It feels like a coin flip between Neal and Cross here, but Neal has a higher grade and fewer flaws to nitpick. The biggest question seems to be whether Neal or Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner will be selected at No. 3 by the Houston Texans. That is the pick to watch. But Neal makes a ton of sense for the Giants. You can plug him in at right tackle, where he played a season for Alabama. He’s strong, good in the run game, and moves well for his size (6-foot-7, 337 pounds).

2. CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner (Cincinnati): Another player whom sources have said the Giants are really high on. Gardner is widely considered the best and safest cornerback in the draft. Again, this marries need and evaluation. New York needs to add to its secondary, especially if top cornerback James Bradberry is traded this weekend, and Gardner is a strong option. He didn’t allow a single touchdown reception in three seasons for the Bearcats.

3. OT Charles Cross (Mississippi State): It’s too hard to ignore all the smoke connecting Cross to the Giants, especially considering sources have told ESPN there are people in the building who “love” him. There is also the seemingly ideal fit in Daboll’s offense thanks to his pass-blocking prowess. However, at one point this offseason there was a belief among some in the organization that he was more of a mid-first-round pick. To be selected at No. 5 seems like quite the jump, but the fit makes sense. “Athletically, he’s got everything you need,” a scout said. “Best pure pass-protector in the draft,” offensive line consultant Duke Manyweather added. The Giants need to keep quarterback Daniel Jones upright and Cross would certainly help.

4. Ikem Ekwonu (NC State): Here we are back at offensive tackle with a third option. Ekwonu is ranked the lowest of the three tackles here because he likely has the best chance of the tackles to be selected in the top four picks and isn’t an ideal fit. He’s more of an “elite run-blocker,” according to multiple evaluators. Still, several teams have Ekwonu rated as their top offensive lineman. It just doesn’t seem the Giants are one of them.

5. Travon Walker (Georgia): Had to include him on this list for pick No. 5 because he made it to the Giants in our annual NFL Nation mock draft. It’s hard to see that happening on Thursday though. Walker is considered the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick at the moment. There seems to be a really strong likelihood he goes in the top two selections. But a front-seven player with his ability, strength and versatility sure would fit well in defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale’s system.

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Pick No. 7

1. Gardner: The question with Gardner is whether he makes it this far. There has been some buzz about him going third overall to the Texans. If he makes it to No. 5, the Giants can likely wait to take him with their second pick because the Carolina Panthers will go in another direction after selecting cornerback Jaycee Horn at No. 8 overall last year. However, waiting to take Gardner at No. 7 could allow someone to trade up and snag him before the Giants. Risky? Sure, especially after the Philadelphia Eagles did it last year to get receiver DeVonta Smith one pick in front of New York. It’s the game of chicken that Schoen must ponder.

2. Edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II (Florida State): This is a name that has been gaining a lot of traction of late. He seems destined to be chosen in the top 10, so why not No. 7? The Giants have a massive need for a high-end edge rusher, and several evaluators believe his skills translate to the point that he will ultimately be the best pass-rusher in this draft.

3. Cross: Can the Giants wait until No. 7? Maybe. If at least two of the top three offensive tackles are available at five, Schoen can be patient and potentially still grab Cross at seven.

4. Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon): There has been a lot of talk about Thibodeaux’s motivation and his focus on his personal brand. That could create some hesitation to have him in New York, but the Giants have done a ton of work on him, and don’t appear turned off by that stuff. His perceived fall from the top five picks has more to do with potentially being a good (not great) player. Thibodeaux, however, does have the ideal first step and pass-rush production to make this a pick the Giants need to make. Schoen didn’t fly across the country to attend his pro day for no reason.

5. Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (LSU): He has all the skills, and some believe he will be the best cornerback in the draft. There is just a little too much risk for Stingley to be higher on this list. He hasn’t played at an elite level since his freshman year at LSU in 2019, and missed most of last season with a foot injury. But he’s a really good player with a high ceiling at a position of need whom the Giants like. Don’t completely count him out.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The joke about the New York Giants being in [checks notebook] Year 10 of their offensive line rebuild is no longer funny. It is downright scary.

The Giants have been trying for a decade to get their offensive line back in order after it disintegrated following their win in Super Bowl XLVI. In the 2013 draft they began trying to restock the unit with the selection of Syracuse offensive lineman Justin Pugh in the first round (19th overall).

It continues into next week’s 2022 NFL draft, with the Giants scheduled to select fifth and seventh overall (April 28-30 on ESPN, ABC and ESPN App). Coach Brian Daboll said last month during the NFL’s annual meeting that the Giants are “looking to add” to the position, and it has been widely speculated that if the Giants keep both first-round selections, one will be an offensive tackle. That is what ESPN’s Todd McShay projects in his latest mock draft with Mel Kiper Jr.

“That’s an important spot,” Daboll added.

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There are strong tackle options near the top of the draft. If you want NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu (6-foot-4, 310 pounds), Alabama’s Evan Neal (6-8, 337), Mississippi State’s Charles Cross (6-5, 307) or Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning (6-7, 325), it will need to be within the top 12 to 15 picks, one source predicted.

It makes sense. Offensive tackle is a premium position, and there are a lot of line-needy teams.

As of right now, the Giants have Andrew Thomas, the No. 4 overall pick in 2020, entrenched at left tackle. The unproven Matt Peart, Matt Gono and Korey Cunningham are the top options on the right side. It seems a lock that a highly regarded rookie will be added to the mix with one of the Giants’ five picks in the top 81 selections.

A survey of 13 evaluators ranging from general managers to scouts to coaches to personnel executives to draft analysts saw a clear gap between the top tackles. Neal received seven first-place votes and Ekwonu had six. But Cross did sneak in four second-place votes, and one executive considered him the best left tackle in the draft.

Neal is considered the prospect with the least risk. He’s “athletic, strong” and can be plugged in immediately on the left or right side according to one offensive line evaluator. Perhaps the lone knock is that he’s doesn’t always keep his feet while attempting to climb to the second level of the defense, something that can be rectified with more experience.

Ekwonu is considered an “elite run-blocker,” according to multiple sources. He improved his pass blocking enough this past season that he’s believed to be in the running to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars. And almost half the evaluators thought enough of his pass blocking that they ranked him as the top tackle in a good tackle draft.

Some with the Giants are especially high on Cross, according to multiple sources. The question is how much input they will have in this year’s draft. Giants GM Joe Schoen was hired in January in the middle of the evaluation season, and like most new GMs who inherit an entire scouting department he’s expected to make changes to his staff after the draft.

Cross is the “best pure pass-protector in the draft,” according to longtime O-line scouting and development consultant Duke Manyweather. Cross trains with Manyweather, but it’s a statement that was backed by several scouts who studied the first-team All-SEC tackle.

In a way, Cross makes the most sense for the Giants.

“Athletically, he’s got everything you need,” one scout said.

Manyweather insists Cross can play on the left or right side, even though he played exclusively at left tackle for Mississippi State. This is important for the Giants with Thomas on their roster. He had a strong 2021 season at left tackle, and it would make more sense for any newcomer to plug in on the right side.

Schoen has said the Giants are willing to trade back, likely with their eyes on adding some 2023 draft capital. The Carolina Panthers at No. 6 and the New Orleans Saints at Nos. 16 and 19 are tackle-needy teams the Giants must monitor closely in that scenario. The Saints in particular are said to have serious interest in Cross, according to a source.

With what the Giants are trying to do with their new offense, Cross and Neal seem like ideal fits.

“The job of an offensive lineman, particularly for our tackles, is … to be able to keep the width of the pocket … inside out, and get movement at the line of scrimmage,” Daboll said. “Those are the two main things we look for in our offensive linemen. … Some guys are better at one than the other thing, but at the end of the day, they have to be able to do both to be an effective player for us.”

The Giants are prioritizing the ability of their offensive linemen to move in their new offense. All four of the top tackles in this year’s draft do that relatively well. Penning ran the fastest 40-yard dash of the top linemen (4.89 seconds) at the NFL scouting combine. Cross has good feet, and Neal carries his weight with amazing ease.

It gives the Giants some pretty good first-round options as they work to make their line a strength again, as it was for their last Super Bowl team.