New York Giants 2022 NFL Draft/UDFA signings recap
5 min read
Bellinger, a former San Diego State tight end, brings a new element to the Giants tight end room.
The Giants went into this year’s draft with a new general manager in Joe Schoen, new head coach in Brian Daboll and two new coordinators in Mike Kafka and Don “Wink” Martindale. Did the draft accomplish what the team needed to complete its offseason?
The Giants had a plan in this year’s draft and free agency. Improve the team’s running game and create more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. After signing OGs Max Garcia and Mark Glowinski in free agency, they sought out Alabama’s Evan Neal and UNC’s Joshua Ezeudu in the draft. To that point, adding Bellinger also serves as a possible precursor to more two tight end sets. We referenced below that QB Daniel Jones could be feeling much better. If so, then RB Saquon Barkley is executing backflips.
| New York Giants | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (5) | Kayvon Thibodeaux | DE-OLB/Oregon | 3/1st Round | For all of the talk about what Thibodeaux wants to do off the field, what about what he can do on it? His instant nature, combative hands and quick-footed approach present different pictures for OTs. He could become a problem if offenses decide to leave him one-on-one in Year 1. |
| 1 (7) | Evan Neal | OT/Alabama | 9/1st Round | Neal has the prototype build to man the tackle opposite incumbent LT Andrew Thomas. QB Daniel Jones has to be somewhere smiling. |
| 2 (43) | Wan'Dale Robinson | WR/Kentucky, Nebraska | 125/3rd Round | Is there a tougher receiver in the draft? Robinson made all of the plays down the field for Kentucky but also proved to be a jet sweep or swing pass option within the framework of the offense. |
| 3 (67) | Joshua Ezeudu | OG/North Caroina | 85/2nd Round | The selection of Ezeudu proves that the Giants are going to work to improve an anemic running game. He has made starts at RT, LT and LG. Played through a torn mensicus in 2020. |
| 3 (81) Acquired from Dolphins | Cordale Flott | CB-Nickel/LSU | 218/4th Round | Flott's cover skills and savvy in the slot have been apparent since he stepped on campus. Bulk is the biggest question mark. |
| 4 (112) Acquired from the Bears | Daniel Bellinger | TE/San Diego State | 114/3rd Round | Bellinger's postseason workouts should not have come as a surprise. He was a track star at the high school level and nearly went under 11 seconds in the 100-meter dash. On the field, he can execute any type of block with his hand in the dirt and provides a build-speed option up the rails of the defense. Can he win in the short areas as a route runner? |
| 4 (114) Acquired from Falcons | Dane Belton | S-Nickel/Iowa | 96/3rd Round | Belton has a feel for reading through route combinations and has experience covering the slot dating back to 2019, when he was the team's nickel. As his career went along, Belton improved his angles in coverage. The tackling needs to improve. |
| 5 (146) Acquired from Jets | Micah McFadden | LB/Indiana | 124/3rd Round | McFadden was one of the Big Ten's best coming forward as a blitz threat. In addition, there is enough speed to swallow up distance in space. Playing with slightly more knee bend could take his game to the next level. |
| 5 (147) | D.J. Davidson | DT/Arizona State | 307/4th Round | Davidson aligned primarily inside as the zero-or-one-technique DT, but did see time at the two-or-three-technique DT spots as well. Light on his feet at 325 pounds. |
| 5 (173) From the Chiefs through the Ravens | Marcus McKethan | OL/North Carolina | 317/4th Round | At nearly 6-foot-7, the 348-pound McKethan played OG as a 37-game starter in school. Could his 85-inch wingspan at least get him looks on the perimeter? Efficient on his skip-pull techniques at his size. Needs to block with more than just the upper body on a consistent basis. |
| 6 (182) | Darrian Beavers | LB/Cincinnati, UConn | 139/3rd Round | -Beavers started off as an athletic 235-pound LB at UConn before growing into a 260-pound force for the Bearcats. He projects as a 3-4 inside linebacker and fits what the defense will be doing moving forward. |
Here is a recap of the team’s 2022 UDFA signings:
| NY Giants Undrafted Free agent signings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DN Big Board Rank | Player | Positions | School | Grade | Round | Nasty’ Take |
| 239 | Zyon Gilbert | CB-Nickel | FAU | 5.52 | 4th Round | Gilbert’s incredible physical tools (11’6” BJ, 41” VJ) give him an opportunity to make the team in a special teams role. |
| 256 | Yusef Corker | S | Kentucky | 5.48 | 4th Round | Known as the team’s ‘Director of Communications’, Corker’s 4.4 speed often overcomes any rigidness. |
| 261 | Austin Allen | TE | Nebraska | 5.46 | 4th Round | Allen - the Big Ten’s TE of the Year- can stretch the seams but needs to get stronger and run more precise routes. His 6’8” height helps his cause. |
| 279 | Trenton Thompson | S | San Diego State | 5.41 | 4th Round | Thompson was a multi-purpose player who made a number of plays in coverage this past season. |
| 282 | Chris Hinton | DT | Michigan | 5.37 | 4th Round | Hinton uses his hands fairly well, but needs to develop consistent urgency in his play. |
| 339 | Jashaun Corbin | RB-KR (All-Purpose) | FSU, Texas A&M | 5.18 | 5th Round | Corbin ranked third in the country in kickoff returns during the 2018 campaign (30.1 yds/KR, TD). |
| 405 | Jeremiah Hall | FB/H-back | Oklahoma | 5.03 | 5th Round | Hall was a multi-purpose threat as a blocker on the move and receiver during his time at Oklahoma. Can heprove capable on special teams without short-area explosion? |
| 418 | Tomon Fox | OLB | North Carolina | 5 | 5th Round | Fox ran around a number of OTs in school to the tune of 44.5 career tackles for losses. |
| 452 | Antonio Valentino | DT-NG | Florida, Penn State | 4.86 | 5th Round | Valentino -former known as Antonio Shelton- contains extreme power as a run defender but needs to improve at staying centered as a pass rusher. |
| 636 | Brandon Easterling | S | Dayton | 4.13 | 7th Round | Easterling benefitted from a breakout 2019 campaign as an all-purpose defensive back. He has good foot speed on the field and plays with enough urgency to perhaps translate to the next level. |
| 678 | Baer Hunter | OC-OG | Appalachian State | 3.94 | 7th Round | No one hunts down the opposition like Hunter, who improved markedly over the course of his career. He wins with more than just a roughhouse approach. |
| 685 | Josh Rivas | OG | Kansas State | 3.87 | 7th Round | Rivas’ size (6’5 323) gives him a chance. As does his accuracy in terms of understanding assignments. Experienced veteran who should compete for a practice squad opportunity if he can hold up in pass protection. |
| 702 | Tyrone Truesdell | DT | Florida, Auburn | 3.662 | 7th Round | Truesdell took a step backwards after leaving Auburn, but it doesn’t take away from some of the early success he had in the SEC. |
| 712 | Matthew Allen | OC | Michigan State | 3.58 | 7th Round | Allen plays much quicker and more efficient than his postseason workout times suggest on the field. He could surprise if the size isn’t deficient. |
| Navaughn Donaldson | OT-OG | Miami (Fla.) | N/A | N/A | Donaldson started off as a tackle, has played guard and continued to contribute. The team’s entire OL took a major step back in 2021. | |
| Andre Miller | WR | Maine | N/A | N/A | The statistics didn’t often tell the story for Miller, whose body control impressed during his time at Maine. | |
| Jahcour Pearson | WR | Ole Miss | N/A | N/A | Although Pearson didn’t score in 2021, he did flash with 76 receptions at WKU back in 2019. | |
| Jabari Ellis | DT | South Carolina | N/A | N/A | Ellis, a productive defender for South Carolina, produced career-highs in tackles and tackles for loss in 2021. | |
| Darren Evans | CB | LSU | N/A | N/A | Evans is a long corner with enough mobility to potentially learn techniques from current Giant James Bradberry. | |
| Jaylin Bannermann | DE | Utah State | N/A | N/A | Bannerman’s length and overall movement give him an opportunity if he can continue to make positive weight gains. | |
| Daylin Baldwin | WR | Michigan, Jackson State | N/A | N/A | The former Tiger acquitted himself well for the Wolverines this past season. He averaged a little over 15 yards per catch on 17 receptions. |
About Author
