Possible EDGE and WR draft fits for Giants
Mock draft season is heating up with this year's festivities in Las Vegas right around the corner.
While many draft analysts are updating their first round predictions with April 28 inching closer, NFL Network's Cynthia Frelund switched it up a bit.
Frelund looked at the top five edge rushers in this year's draft class and came up with the best pro comparisons for each one, along with the best analytical team fit for each prospect.
The five edge rushers discussed are Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson, Georgia's Travon Walker, Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux, Florida State's Jermaine Johnson II, and Purdue's George Karlaftis.
In the article, Frelund states that the Giants would be the best team fit for Walker.
"With a relatively low number of snaps played at Georgia and a pass-rush skill set that's still developing, Walker's game will be maximized by a team with a great teacher and enough pieces to make use of his run-stopping ability while his true pass-rushing chops are cultivated," writes Frelund. "Don "Wink" Martindale is perfect for the mentoring role. And playing with former Georgia teammate Azeez Ojulari creates even more favorable conditions. And the Giants boast a pair of top-10 picks (Nos. 5 and 7)."
As for Walker's pro comparison, Frelund likened Walker to Green Bay Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary, who registered 9.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games last season.
"Walker's 34 QB pressures in 2021 were tied for 13th-most in the SEC, per PFF, which is not the blaring stat line usually associated with a likely top-10 selection," says Frelund. "However, it's the rare blend of traits that is driving his value. Like Gary, Walker's physical testing was exceptional, especially for their height (6-5). Computer Vision reveals that Walker had far more consistent results against the run in his college career, while he is still developing as a pass rusher. Aidan Hutchinson has the safest floor in this class, but Walker's potential ceiling is higher than the other edge defenders. I base that assessment on Computer Vision showing that he was improving over the course of last season in a pattern that resembles similarly athletic edges who made big jumps in the NFL."
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
Frelund was not the only analyst to pick the best team fits for the top prospects at a specific position.
ESPN's Matt Bowen looked at the top 15 wide receivers in this year's draft class and found the best team fit for each player.
Bowen chose the Giants as the best fit for Penn State WR Jahan Dotson, who he believes could be the target for Big Blue on Day 2 at No. 36.
Dotson played in 12 games for the Nittany Lions last season, totaling 91 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns. He earned an 87.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
"Dotson could come off the board late in Round 1 to Green Bay or Kansas City, but I have him going to the Giants here at the top of Day 2 as a versatile receiver with low 4.4 40 speed and big-play upside," writes Bowen. "Dotson doesn't have the physical profile to consistently work the dirty areas of the field, but he is a refined route runner who can set up and shake coverage within the stem. He's slippery after the catch, too, as he can create in space. And we know he will shift gears to get free on the deep ball; eight of his 12 touchdowns last season came on vertical or post routes...
"Quarterback Daniel Jones could get a target here who can separate against man coverage, and new coach Brian Daboll could scheme to give him free access of the ball as an explosive, three-level target on catch-and-run throws and vertical opportunities. The Giants have two top-seven picks to address other needs, so Dotson would be the ideal second-round fit for them."
Giants Huddle | PFF's Austin Gayle on Giants draft fits
John Schmeelk is joined by the host of PFF's Tailgate podcast Austin Gayle to talk NFL Draft.
2:48 Edge Rushers at the top of the draft
9:18 Offensive tackle class
14:53 Value of CB and WR
18:04 Second round options
21:24 Linebackers*
28:47 Kyle Hamilton
31:42 Wide receivers
35:52 Derek Stingley
38:04 PFF outliers*
42:39 Rapid fire on day two edge, TE's, interior OL
