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On one hand, it’s the identical. On the opposite, it’s very totally different.
Identical to in 2020, the 2022 draft class consists of 4 offensive tackles prone to be chosen within the prime half of the primary spherical. Identical to in 2020, the Jets and Giants are in place to strike. Identical to in 2020, each New York groups are attempting to determine the right way to defend younger quarterbacks.
“The place it’s totally different is that yr nobody knew who the highest sort out was. There was an argument for all 4,” ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller mentioned. “This yr there’s extra of a clear-cut image of, we all know who the top-two tackles are. A giant a part of it’s, what do you want on the place?”
Desire a mauling run-blocker? How in regards to the versatility to play sort out or guard? Look no additional than North Carolina State’s Ikem Ekwonu.
Desire a sound pass-blocker? How about higher physique management and short-area quickness? Alabama’s Evan Neal is the goal.
The scouting group is break up on whether or not Ekwonu (6-foot-4, 310 kilos) or Neal (6-7, 337) must be OT1 on draft boards, however the consensus is that these two belong forward of Mississippi State’s Charles Cross (6-5, 307) and Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning (6-7, 325).
Given six superlatives by The Publish to assign to any of the 4 gamers, Miller selected Ekwonu for 3 (finest run-blocker, most versatile, finest finisher) and Neal for 3 (finest pass-blocker, quickest affect, highest ceiling).
So, it will be a shock to see a repeat of when Tristan Wirfs slipped to the Buccaneers at No. 13 — after Andrew Thomas to the Giants at No. 4, Jedrick Wills to the Browns at No. 10 and Mekhi Becton to the Jets at No. 11 — however turned the primary (and solely, up to now) to be named a First-Workforce All-Professional.
“I desire Neal, nevertheless it’s actually shut between the highest two,” mentioned Miller, who publishes thedraftscout.com. “Neal is well-rounded and extra athletic. It’s such an enormous distinction within the cross sport — and a few of that’s due to his size and being 6-foot-7 versus 6-foot-4. However Ekwonu is so highly effective within the run sport that he does remind you of Tristan Wirfs the place it’s like, ‘This dude is a nasty–s.’ ”
There are totally different conceivable methods for the highest 4 picks to interrupt that might depart the Giants at No. 5 with a selection between Ekwonu and Neal, with one or the opposite obtainable, or with neither obtainable. The Jets’ intentions at No. 4 are the important thing variable, however their strikes in free company and public dedication to Becton after a misplaced yr recommend trying elsewhere.
The Giants even have finished a “ton of labor” on Cross, one league supply mentioned. Maybe that’s preparation for the No. 7 decide, after filling a unique want at No. 5. Penning impressed scouts as a finisher with “tree trunks for legs” on the Senior Bowl, when he was on a mission to show he might stand as much as the next degree of competitors than the FCS presents.
“If you’re in search of the perfect pure left tackles, it’s Neal and Cross to the core,” a scouting supply mentioned. “They will all play proper sort out, however Ekwonu is an elite-level guard. It’s not that he can’t play left sort out, it’s simply that you will lose some stuff. If you happen to take him earlier than the opposite two, you fell in love along with his A-plus character.”
Some groups will rule out drafting a guard that top based mostly on positional worth, however the Colts guess on Quenton Nelson’s expertise and character mixture with the No. 6 decide in 2018. Regrets? Nelson is a three-time First-Workforce All-Professional anchoring the NFL’s No. 2-ranked dashing assault.
Run-blocking is the query with Cross, who comes out of coach Mike Leach’s distinctive Air-Raid offense, during which he allowed simply 16 pressures on 719 pass-blocking snaps as a “huge, athletic freak” in 2021. Leach’s final first-round offensive sort out (the Eagles’ Andre Dillard in 2019) appears to be like like a bust.
“Cross doesn’t even appear to be an offensive lineman in individual,” Miller mentioned after watching Cross, Neal and Penning prepare in-person. “They had been doing shuttle runs, and he was outrunning tight ends. I used to be like, ‘This is among the crazier issues that I’ve seen.’ His 10-yard explosiveness is so freaking good. Get this man round a superb offensive line coach and he’s going to take off.”
Perhaps the 2020 class can have some competitors on the prime in spite of everything.
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