Eli Manning nominated for Sports Emmy

Eli Manning might need to make room in his trophy case; there could be an Emmy coming his way.

The two-time Super Bowl MVP, whose post-playing career includes the hit ManningCast on Monday Night Football, has been nominated for Sports Emmy for Emerging On-Air Talent for his role on the alternate MNF broadcast.

A few months ago, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced that ESPN extended its contract with Eli and Peyton Manning, meaning the ESPN2 alternative MNF broadcast, 'Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli', will continue through the 2024 NFL season.

In addition to the extension to their current deal, it was announced that Peyton's Omaha Productions will also produce alternative presentations for UFC, college football and golf in collaboration with ESPN.

The other nominees for the Sports Emmy include Malika Andrews (ESPN), Julian Edelman (Paramount+), Greg Olsen (Fox / NFL Network) and Taylor Rooks (Bleacher Report / TNT/ Twitter).

The winners of the Sports Emmys will be announced on May 24.

Peter Schrager releases first mock draft

We are inching closer and closer to the start of the 2022 NFL Draft.

This year's festivities officially begin in less than three weeks in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Many of the most notable draft experts have released updated first round predictions recently as we near the start of Round 1 on April 28.

The latest analyst to publish a projection of the first round is NFL Network's Peter Schrager, who is just now coming out with his first mock draft of the year.

In his mock draft, Schrager has the Giants addressing the trenches on both sides of the ball with their two picks, selecting two players that have been projected to Big Blue in many mock drafts.

Here are Schrager's picks for the Giants at Nos. 5 and 7.

Pick for No. 5: Ickey Ekwonu, OT, N.C. State

Analysis: "The Giants are starting a new era in East Rutherford, and if Ickey falls to No. 5, there'd be a lot of happiness in Big Blue land. The 6-4, 310-pound road paver came to N.C. State as the lesser-recruited Ekwonu brother (his twin went to Notre Dame, where he currently plays) and has emerged as a potential top-five pick."

Ekwonu allowed just three sacks and 10 hurries on 500 pass block snaps last season. Pro Football Focus awarded him a 91.6 overall grade this past season, which included 93.8 run block and 78.3 pass block grades. In his first two seasons at N.C. State, the young tackle had overall grades of 80.6 (2020) and 80.5 (2019). Ekwonu earned numerous awards and honors this past year, and surrendered just eight QB hits on 1,332 pass block snaps over the last three seasons at N.C. State. His accolades include Unanimous All-American (2021), ACC Jacobs Blocking Award (2021), First-Team All-ACC (2021), and Third-Team All-ACC (2020).

Ekwonu has been compared to Kelechi Osemele by Lance Zierlein.

Pick for No. 7: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

Analysis: "Walker could very well go first overall in this draft, as no prospect has seen his stock rise as fast as this Georgia product's has over the last few months. His combine performance was legendary. And yet, there's this notion that, for all his athletic ability and great football IQ (he apparently has been wonderful in the room during meetings with teams), the production simply doesn't show up on tape. The Giants have gone to the UGA well before in recent years, with Andrew Thomas (No. 4 overall, 2020) and Azeez Ojulari (No. 50, 2021). I can see them going right back to it if Walker falls to No. 7, as he does here."

Walker started all 15 games for Georgia this past season, totaling 37 tackles, six sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 36 QB hurries on his way to becoming a CFP National Champion. He earned a 71.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, including a 73.7 run defense grade. At 6-foot-5, 275-pounds, Walker has been compared to Chris Wormley by Lance Zierlein and Rashan Gary by PFF. He racked up a career-high seven pressures during the National Championship game vs. Alabama.

Giants support growth of girls high school football

Association (NYSPHSAA) to support the inaugural girls flag football leagues in Section 1 and Section 4.

The funds were split evenly between each section and helped cover the costs associated with starting the sport. In addition to the contribution, the Giants planned on finding ways to connect with the participating athletes and coaches throughout the year, including a clinic and other engagements during the season.

One of the events occurred this past week, as quarterback Daniel Jones and linebacker Blake Martinez helped run a football clinic for around 200 high school girls from Section 1 schools at Somers High School. The event was a celebration of the arrival of flag football at the high school level in New York State, with the season set to begin on April 19.

"We had a lot of fun today, taking the girls through drills and just helping out. A lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm…" Jones said. "It's been tough with COVID the past couple of years. We haven't been able to get out in person as much and actually be in the community. But being back out here today, back on the field playing football, teaching and coaching and spending time with these high school football players has been a lot of fun."

Nike, a partner of the Giants and NFL, continued their commitment to growing girls flag football with a $100,000 product grant for uniforms to NYSPHSAA that was split evenly among the six sections that launched girls high school flag football programs this spring.

Click here to read more about the Giants' support of girls high school football