NFL Network's Bucky Brooks releases top 5 prospect rankings by position
The 2022 Scouting Combine is inching closer and closer.
We are now about 10 days away from the start of the combine, and many analysts have been posting updated mock drafts ahead of the workouts in Indy.
NFL Network's Bucky Brooks is one of the top draft analysts in the game, and this week he released his list of top five draft prospects by position.
Brooks looks at the top five players at each of the 11 position groups (QB, RB, WR, TE, OT, IOL, EDGE, DT, LB, CB, S) with commentary on some of the prospects.
Offensive Tackles
- Evan Neal, Alabama
- Charles Cross, Mississippi State
- Ickey Ekwonu, N.C. State
- Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
- Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan
"This year's OT class is loaded with rock-solid prospects who should be able to step onto the field as starters from Day 1. Neal is a super-sized edge blocker (6-7, 350 pounds, per school measurements) with natural skills as a left tackle. He has the length to stymie pass rushers off the edge and the strength to blow defenders off the ball. The Alabama standout is a powerful run blocker but not quite as nasty as some of his counterparts on this list. Cross is a technical marvel with the athleticism, hand skills and anchor to dominate one-on-one matchups against premier pass rushers off the edge. The Mississippi State star flips the switch from technician to brawler in the run game to bully defenders at the line of scrimmage. Ekwonu is an explosive run blocker with a nasty temperament that sets the tone for the front line. He mauls defenders with his exceptional combination of strength and power, and finishes his blocks with relentless aggression. The N.C. State product is still a work in progress as a pass protector, but his size and physical tools could enable him to quickly blossom into an elite offensive tackle." -- Brooks
Interior Blockers
- Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
- Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
- Zion Johnson, Boston College
- Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
- Jamaree Salyer, Georgia
"The class of interior blockers includes technicians with enough power and pop to play bully ball at the line of scrimmage. Linderbaum is an athletic pivot with polished skills and a nasty finishing move. The Iowa product is a rare find as a scrappy player with a versatile game. Green is an athletic phone-booth controller with strength, power and explosiveness to blow defenders off the ball in the running game. The former Texas A&M standout excels in a pin-and-pull scheme, but displays enough athleticism to thrive in zone-based or man-blocking systems, as well. Johnson can play in any system. He climbs to the second level quickly with superb balance and body control while flashing enough knockback power to push defenders out of the hole." -- Brooks
Edge Defenders
- Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
- Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
- George Karlaftis, Purdue
- David Ojabo, Michigan
- Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State
"Teams in need of pass rushers will find plenty of intriguing options in this year's crop. Hutchinson offers A+ tools and technical skills. The 2021 Heisman Trophy runner-up combines his exceptional physical gifts and refined hand-to-hand combat ability with the relentless effort that overwhelms blockers over time. He comes with a track record of performance and production that makes him a high-floor prospect with outstanding potential. Thibodeaux is a boom-or-bust blue-chip player with a speed-rush maneuver that is very hard to stop. The Oregon product displays exceptional balance and body control turning the corner. With outstanding instincts and snap-count anticipation enhancing his speed-rush attempts, Thibodeaux could blossom into a destructive force as a pro. Ojabo is a twitchy pass rusher with the prototypical tools that routinely lead to outstanding production as a pro. While he has only one season of starting experience, his first-step quickness, closing burst and non-stop motor could make him a nightmare to face off the edges." -- Brooks
In his first mock draft published last month, Brooks projected the Giants to address the trenches on both sides of the ball with their picks at No. 5 and 7.
Pick for No. 5: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
Analysis: "Rebuilding the Giants' offensive line has to be a top priority for new general manager Joe Schoen. As a Day 1 starter, Cross could immediately help Big Blue re-establish a blue-collar mentality on offense."
Pick for No. 7: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
Analysis: "The Giants have always been at their best when a dominant defensive front can take over the game. The ultra-twitchy pass rusher from Michigan would add significant juice."
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his final edition of the top 50 prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft.
No. 50 Logan Hall, DT, Houston
No. 49 David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
No. 48 Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
No. 47 Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
No. 46 Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
No. 45 Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
No. 44 Nik Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma
No. 43 Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
No. 42 Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
No. 41 Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
No. 40 Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi
No. 39 Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
No. 38 Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
No. 37 Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut
No. 36 Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
No. 35 Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
No. 34 Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
No. 33 Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
No. 32 Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
No. 31 Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
No. 30 Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College
No. 29 Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
No. 28 Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
No. 27 Tyler Linderbaum, IOL, Iowa
No. 26 Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
No. 25 Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
No. 24 Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
No. 23 Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
No. 22 Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
No. 21 Dax Hill, S, Michigan
No. 20 Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
No. 19 Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
No. 18 George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
No. 17 Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
No. 16 Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
No. 15 Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
No. 14 Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
No. 13 Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
No. 12 Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
No. 11 Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
No. 10 Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
No. 9 Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State
No. 8 Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
No. 7 Drake London, WR, Southern California
No. 6 Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
No. 5 Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
No. 4 Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
No. 3 Ickey Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State
No. 2 Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
No. 1 Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
2022 NFL Free Agency Guide
The first game of the 2022 season won't kick off until September, but the new league year is less than a month away. Thus, free agency is also right around the corner.
Starting March 16 at 4 p.m. ET, hundreds of players around the NFL will hit the market and start signing with clubs. The Giants currently have 22 pending unrestricted free agents, three restricted free agents, and five exclusive rights free agents.
Below is a list of those players:
Unrestricted Free Agents (22)
- WR C.J. Board
- LB Lorenzo Carter
- CB Keion Crossen
- OT Korey Cunningham
- S Nate Ebner
- TE Evan Engram
- QB Mike Glennon
- G Will Hernandez
- DL Austin Johnson
- LS Casey Kreiter
- LB Benardrick McKinney
- FB Elijhaa Penny
- S Jabrill Peppers
- WR Dante Pettis
- OL Billy Price
- LB Reggie Ragland
- WR John Ross
- DL Danny Shelton
- OL Matt Skura
- LB Jaylon Smith
- OT Nate Solder
- TE Levine Toilolo
Restricted Free Agents (3)
- FB Cullen Gillaspia
- CB Joshua Kalu
- S Steven Parker
Exclusive Rights Free Agents (5)
- QB Jake Fromm
- OL Kyle Murphy
- DB J.R. Reed
- WR David Sills
- DB Jarren Williams
View the players set to become free agents when the new league year begins March 16.
No. 144 Dallis Flowers, CB, Pittsburgh State
WR C.J. Board (UFA) - UPDATE: Signed new contract with Giants
LB Lorenzo Carter (UFA)
DB Keion Crossen (UFA) - UPDATE: Crossen has agreed to a multi-year contract with the Miami Dolphins
OT Korey Cunningham (UFA)
DB Nate Ebner (UFA)
TE Evan Engram (UFA) - UPDATE: Engram has agreed to a contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars
QB Mike Glennon (UFA)
G Will Hernandez (UFA)
DL Austin Johnson (UFA) - UPDATE: Johnson has agreed to a multi-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers
LS Casey Kreiter (UFA) - UPDATE: Kreiter has reportedly signed a contract to return to the Giants
LB Benardrick McKinney (UFA)
FB Elijhaa Penny (UFA)
S Jabrill Peppers (UFA)
WR Dante Pettis (UFA)
OL Billy Price (UFA)
LB Reggie Ragland (UFA)
WR John Ross (UFA)
DL Danny Shelton (UFA)
OL Matt Skura (UFA)
LB Jaylon Smith (UFA)
OT Nate Solder (UFA)
TE Levine Toilolo (UFA)
FB Cullen Gillaspia (RFA)
DB Joshua Kalu (RFA)
DB Steven Parker (RFA)
QB Jake Fromm (ERFA)
OL Kyle Murphy (ERFA)
DB J.R. Reed (ERFA)
WR David Sills V (ERFA) - UPDATE: Signed new contact with Giants
DB Jarren Williams (ERFA) - UPDATE: Williams has re-signed with the Giants
Draft Season | Who are the top prospects on offense?
On this episode of Draft Season, John Schmeelk, Tony Pauline and Eric Crocker give their top fives on the offensive side of the ball heading into the NFL Combine.
