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Sports
The restructured Giants must hit on impact players in the NFL Draft
By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor
It would be a puzzling development if the Giants did not select an offensive lineman with one of their two first round picks in tonight’s NFL Draft, taking place at Caesars Forum in Paradise, Nevada, situated within the Las Vegas metropolitan area. North Carolina State’s Ikem Ekwonu, Alabama’s Evan Neal and Mississippi State’s Charles Cross are the three tackles who are expected to go within the top 10 picks. The Giants hold the No. 5 and No. 7 spots in the draft and are set up to address a glaring and persistent weakness.
Following a 4-13 campaign, the Giants underwent a restructuring. They have a new general manager and head coach, both hired from the Buffalo Bills. The 42-year-old Joe Schoen was named the franchise’s GM in January after serving as the Bills assistant general manager from 2017-2021. Schoen, in conjunction with Giants owners John Mara and Steve Tisch, then decided on 47-year-old Brian Daboll to replace the fired Joe Judge as head coach. Daboll was the Bills’ offensive coordinator from 2018-2021. The duo is ostensibly going all in on Daniel Jones next season, who has had an uninspiring three-year run as the Giants starting quarterback after being selected No. 6 overall in the 2019 draft. In 37 games as a starter, Jones has thrown for 8,398 yards with a 62.8% completion rate. He has 45 touchdowns, 29 interceptions and 36 fumbles, 20 of which were lost for turnovers, the most by any player in the league over the past three seasons.
“I don’t make excuses with everybody, starting with me,” said Daboll early this month regarding Jones’ penchant for giving away the ball, “and I think you’ve got to really go back and dive into the cause of the turnovers.” Jones’ adversity in part can be attributed to the Giants’ offensive line being one of the worst in football during his tenure. Schoen and Daboll will soon make a consequential decision to either pick up Jones’ fifth-year option for 2023 at $21.3 million or weigh beginning anew at the position with someone else after next season. Therefore, surrounding Jones with the talent necessary for them to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of his abiliNorth Carolina State’s offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu would help strengthen a Giants ties is a priority for Schoen and Daboll. offensive line that has struggled in recent seasons (North Carolina State Athletics photo) An edge rusher and cornerback should also be high on the Giants’ list of positions of needs. Oregon pass rush specialist Kayvon Thibodeaux, Florida State’s defensive lineman Jermaine Johnson II and LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. are prospects the Giants are likely strongly considering taking with the seventh pick.
AMNEWS 04/07/22
The Jets can fill several holes with high draft picks
By VINCENT DAVIS Special to the AmNews
The NFL Draft kicks off tonight from Caesars Forum in Paradise, Nevada, a city in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The three-day event will see teams systematically choose the best eligible college players.
Last season, the Jets, with the No. 2 overall pick, selected Zach Wilson with the belief the BYU product would become their long-term franchise quarterback. Only 21 when he was drafted, Wilson, who turned 22 during training camp last August, struggled in his rookie season, playing in 13 games—he missed four due to injury— Wilson was 3-10, completed just 55.6% of his pass attempts for 2,334 yards, had 11 interceptions to only 9 touchdowns. The Jets finished 4-13.
As a result, their consolation will be a total of nine picks overall, four in the top 40. In addition to the 4th and 10th picks in the first round, they have the 35th and 38th picks in the second round. Despite Wilson’s tough year, Jets general manager Joe Douglas still has faith in his developing QB and will look to strengthen other areas of need.
“It’s about adding as many difference makers as you can to the roster, and making sure they fit within the culture and the scheme,” said Douglas earlier this week. Douglas also has picks 69, 111 and 117. Unless they make a trade, the Jets will end their draft in the fifth round with the 146th and 163rd picks. Reports have the Jets possibly being one of the teams interested in San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who has demanded a trade and is seeking a lucrative deal similar to some of the contracts signed by other top wide receivers this off-season.
“We’ve been consistent since we’ve
been here in that we listen on just about anyone. That’s something we’ll always do,” said 49ers GM John Lynch on Monday. “You think of 2019,” added AMNEWS Lynch, “the 36th pick, to come up with someone like Deebo who, to me, has just 04/14/22 been a game-changing player for our franchise.” It would take at least the Jets’ No. 10 pick and other assets to acquire the 26-year-old University of South Carolina product who was First-team All-Pro last season after catching 77 passes for 1,405 yards and rushing for 365. If the Jets AMNEWS retain both of their first round picks, Cincinnati cornerback Sauce Gardner, North 04/21/22 Carolina State tackle Ickey Ekwonu, Alabama tackle Evan Neal may be the Jets’ selection with the No. 4 overall pick to help protect Georgia edge rusher Travon Walker and quarterback Zach Wilson (University of Alabama Athletics photo) Alabama tackle Evan Neal are names that may be called when the team makes their first round selections.
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