The Giants.com crew discusses what to look for at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis:
John Schmeelk: Let's look for some level of separation with these groups of players. There's a really good chance that athletic testing won't tell the story, but it is possible. The interviews and medicals will offer the teams a better chance of sorting things out, but the media doesn't have access to those things.
This draft remains a bit of a jumble. It seems like there are less than a handful of "sprint to the podium" guys who might be available at Nos. 5 and 7, and none of those type may be left on the board. Will another player or two emerge as possible obvious early selections?
The talk in Indianapolis leaves you with a sense that teams have players from slots 15-50 without a lot of separation. Draft boards from team to team could look very different - with players separated by as much as a round. The draft class begs for some clarity and, hopefully, Indianapolis will provide some.
Dan Salomone: In his first interview since becoming assistant general manager, Brandon Brown talked about the importance of "marrying" the pro and college departments to get an accurate read on the marketplace. This is critical to the Giants as they head into March simultaneously holding salary that must be cleared and a large amount of draft capital. What they see from the draft prospects in Indianapolis will aid their decisions about what holes can or cannot be left open after the first waves of free agency.
Of course, the NFL Scouting Combine is nether the beginning nor the end of the evaluation process. It largely confirms or denies what teams have already gathered. And what really matters isn't televised by NFL Network. The biggest reasons for this week every year are the medical checks and in-person interviews.
Lance Medow: It's fair to say from the Giants' perspective, the most notable event to watch at this year's NFL Scouting Combine will be Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll's press conferences as it will be the first time the pair will provide their takes on this year's draft class since joining the organization. They'll also likely field questions pertaining to free agency, which they'll have to tackle well before the draft process wraps up. Although you can only take so much away from what's said at their media sessions, it's always interesting to get the incoming perspectives.
Considering the Giants have a pair of Top 10 picks, they could go in a variety of directions to address the roster, but offensive linemen and pass rushers are worth observing considering there could be a run at those positions early in the draft. The Jaguars, Lions, Texans and Jets make the top four selections before the Giants will be on the clock and it's not a stretch to say all four of those teams need help in the trenches. Players' stocks will rise and fall over the next few months for several reasons but, at the end of the day, the combine is just one facet of a lengthy journey. When it comes to measurements, it's not so much whether players' numbers jump off the page but rather it their results are in the ballpark of successful NFL veterans at their position – this may be the most beneficial barometer in determining a prospect's potential.
