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5 players Giants should draft in the first round

By Mike Phillips

Giants Co-owner, Steve Tisch, Giants General Manager, Joe Schoen Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll, and Giants Co-owner, John Mara, pose for a photograph, in East Rutherford, NJ. Monday, January 31, 2022
Giants Co-owner, Steve Tisch, Giants General Manager, Joe Schoen Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll, and Giants Co-owner, John Mara, pose for a photograph, in East Rutherford, NJ. Monday, January 31, 2022 /
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LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 26: Offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum #65 of the Iowa Hawkeyes prepares to snap the ball against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Memorial Stadium on November 26, 2021, in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 26: Offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum #65 of the Iowa Hawkeyes prepares to snap the ball against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Memorial Stadium on November 26, 2021, in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

3. Players the New York Giants should draft in Round 1 – Tyler Linderbaum

There is a glaring neon sign above the Giants’ offensive line screaming “Help Wanted” and it is up to Schoen to fill as many of those holes as possible. While left tackle Andrew Thomas appears to be a keeper, that means there are still four positions open along the New York O-line.

One of those holes is at center and this year’s draft class contains the rare center with a high first-round grade in Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum. Centers often don’t go high because the position isn’t valued as much as tackle or guard but Linderbaum is a legitimate Top-15 prospect thanks to his ability to excel in both run blocking and pass protection.

The Giants thought they had their center for the next few years in Nick Gates but he suffered a devastating broken leg that could keep him from playing football again. Adding a guy like Linderbaum would ensure that New York has a potential 10-year starter in the middle of their offensive line, which would be a huge step towards fixing a years-long problem.

The question that Schoen will have to decide on is whether to take Linderbaum inside the Top 10, which seems like a reach for a center in general. Linderbaum is that good, however, and the Giants could also consider trading back a few picks to add more capital to Schoen’s war chest while grabbing Linderbaum as an added bonus.

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