ESPN's first impressions of 2022 rookie class
With two picks in the top seven, it's been clear since the end of last season that the 2022 NFL Draft would have a big impact on the Giants.
Kayvon Thibodeaux was taken with the No. 5 overall pick, while Evan Neal was selected No. 7. The former is known for getting after the quarterback, while the latter has made a name for himself by protecting the QB.
ESPN recently looked at all 32 first-round picks from this year's draft and asked the network's NFL Nation reporters to discuss first impressions from each player. For the Giants, both Thibodeaux and Neal seemed to impress Jordan Raanan when on the field.
"He spent most of the spring in a red jersey working with a trainer on the side at practice because of an undisclosed injury," Raanan says about the young pass rusher. "Thibodeaux got twisted up on a rep late in practice during the second week of OTAs. It kept him out the rest of the spring. But in the limited time he was on the field it was obvious the Giants are going to use him often and everywhere. That first step is special. Thibodeaux was working with the first-team defense on the first day of OTAs."
Thibodeaux appears set to start on the edge for the Giants, opposite second-year standout Azeez Ojulari.
"Neal, who was drafted out of Alabama, was the Giants' starting right tackle from the first day of OTAs," writes the ESPN reporter. "That much was obvious throughout the spring. So was the fact Neal fits right in. 'Just dominant,' is how veteran right guard Mark Glowinski described him. Neal's size, speed and readiness to contribute immediately were on full display in the spring."
Neal is projected to be the team's starting right tackle. Starting opposite him on the left side will be Andrew Thomas, who enjoyed a very strong second-year jump in 2021.
View photos of the the Giants' 2022 draft class on the practice field during spring workouts.
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants offensive lineman Evan Neal (70) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
G Joshua Ezeudu (75)
DB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
S Dane Belton (36)
LB Micah McFadden (43)
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
Marcus McKethan during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
LB Darrian Beavers (41)
Steve Smith, WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
G Joshua Ezeudu (75)
S Dane Belton (36)
New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden (43) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
OT Evan Neal (70)
DB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
OL Marcus McKethan (60)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
LB Darrian Beavers (41)
LB Micah McFadden (43)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
S Dane Belton (36)
DB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
OT Evan Neal (70)
OL Marcus McKethan (60)
DB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
G Joshua Ezeudu (75)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)2
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
DB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
DB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
OL Marcus McKethan (60)
LB Darrian Beavers (41)
LB Micah McFadden (43)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
LB Micah McFadden (43)
LB Micah McFadden (43)
S Dane Belton (36)
LB Micah McFadden (43)
S Dane Belton (36)
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
LB Micah McFadden (43)
LB Micah McFadden (43)
LB Micah McFadden (43)
LB Darrin Beavers (41)
LB Darrin Beavers (41)
S Dane Belton (36)
S Dane Belton (36)
S Dane Belton (36)
New York Giants offensive lineman Evan Neal (70) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
S Dane Belton (36)
DL D.J. Davidson (98) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
S Dane Belton (36)
New York Giants offensive lineman Marcus McKethan (60) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
OL Marcus McKethan
OL Marcus McKethan
OL Evan Neal (70)
LB Micah McFadden (43)
New York Giants offensive lineman Evan Neal (70) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
DB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
OL Evan Neal (70)
New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (45) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)
New York Giants offensive lineman Evan Neal (70) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (45) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 17, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (45) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 24, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 23, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Dane Belton during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) huddles with teammates during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 19, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
DL D.J. Davidson (98) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants corner back Cor'Dale Flott (28) during Minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday June 7, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 23, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
DL D.J. Davidson (98) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during Minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday June 7, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 19, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
S Dane Belton (36) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
S Dane Belton (36) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
DB Cor'Dale Flott (28) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
DB Cor'Dale Flott (28) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants offensive lineman Evan Neal (70) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 17, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
DB Cor'Dale Flott (28) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants offensive line coach Bobby Johnson talks with offensive lineman Evan Neal (70) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 17, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
TE Daniel Bellinger (45) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 17, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
TE Daniel Bellinger (45) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants offensive lineman Evan Neal (70) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 17, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 17, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
DB Cor'Dale Flott (28) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Cor'Dale Flott during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
DB Cor'Dale Flott (28) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday May 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Cor'Dale Flott during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 17, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kayvon Thibodeaux during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Dane Belton during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kayvon Thibodeaux during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Joshua Ezeudu during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kayvon Thibodeaux during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Evan Neal during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kayvon Thibodeaux during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kayvon Thibodeaux during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Daniel Bellinger during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kayvon Thibodeaux during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kayvon Thibodeaux during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Darrian Beavers during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kayvon Thibodeaux during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Daniel Bellinger during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Joshua Ezeudu during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Daniel Bellinger during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Joshua Ezeudu during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kayvon Thibodeaux during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Micah McFadden during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Micah McFadden during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Cor'Dale Flott during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kayvon Thibodeaux during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Evan Neal during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Marcus McKethan during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday June 3, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
D.J. Davidson during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Darrian Beavers (41) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday June 3, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Darrian Beavers (41) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday June 3, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Wan'Dale Robinson during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden (43) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday June 3, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kayvon Thibodeaux during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Daniel Bellinger during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Darrian Beavers during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Daniel Bellinger during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kayvon Thibodeaux during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Darrian Beavers (41) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday June 3, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Cor'Dale Flott during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Darrian Beavers during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Wan'Dale Robinson (17) talks with running backs coach Deandre Smith during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Evan Neal (70) during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Darrian Beavers during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive lineman D.J. Davidson (98) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday June 1, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Evan Neal (70) during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Darrian Beavers during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Wan'Dale Robinson during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants corner back Cor'Dale Flott (28) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday June 2, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants safety Dane Belton (36) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants corner back Cor'Dale Flott (28) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants safety Dane Belton (36) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (45) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (45) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday June 1, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (45) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday June 1, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive lineman D.J. Davidson (98) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday June 1, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (45) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday June 2, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Giants Huddle | Herm Edwards and Brady Hoke
On this two-part episode, Lance Medow chats with Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards about DJ Davidson and why his skill set fits in well with the Giants defense. Lance Medow is also joined by San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke to talk about Daniel Bellinger's versatility at TE and physical ability.
:36 - Davidson's development at ASU
9:55 - Learning the NFL game
14:21 - Brady Hoke on Daniel Bellinger
19:21 - Bellinger's contested catch ability
