The Giants selected Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux with the fifth overall pick and Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal with the seventh overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
General Manager Joe Schoen and Head Coach Brian Daboll met with the media to discuss the two first-round picks.
Here is what you need to know:
GM Joe Schoen: We're ecstatic with the two players we got.
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
GM Joe Schoen said they will start off with Evan Neal at right tackle.
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
Schoen said this was a scenario they went over. If they had two OTs available, they would go edge rusher at No. 5.
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
Daboll said Kayvon Thibodeaux is quick off the ball but he can also set the edge. They envision him doing a lot of different things in Wink's defense.
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
Daboll has a lot of people he trusts at Alabama, and they thought highly of Evan Neal.
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
Schoen said they had around three teams calling up to move to No. 7. He said the Giants had six players they coveted. If all were gone, they would have moved back.
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
Daboll said Wink gave him a fist pound after drafting Thibodeaux.
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
Schoen said they had been through the scenario that played out about 15 times. Schoen said he was at ease in his first draft as GM. He talked with Daboll about it. "It's like calling a game."
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
Daboll said there wasn't much talking in Schoen's draft room. "It was calm. It was composed. You can be that way when you're prepared."
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
Why is New York perfect for Kayvon Thibodeaux? "Because I'm hungry."
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
Kayvon Thibodeaux said Michael Strahan is one of his mentors. He's shown him the ropes on and off the field.
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
Kayvon Thibodeaux, sitting next to Evan Neal right now, said it will be a blessing to compete against him in practice. Who's going to win 1-on-1 reps? "It's going to be 50-50."
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
Kayvon Thibodeaux, sitting next to Evan Neal right now, said it will be a blessing to compete against him in practice. Who's going to win 1-on-1 reps? "It's going to be 50-50."
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
Evan Neal said Kayvon is a funny guy. He's looking forward to getting to know him more and competing with him. "I'm going to talk with my shoulder pads."
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) April 29, 2022
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