New York Giants 2022 Training Camp Preview
The New York Giants are going into the 2022 season with their new first-time Head Coach Brian Daboll, who was the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills for the past four years. The Giants had a disappointing season last year, finishing last in the NFC East with a 4-13 record. But, things are looking up after a successful NFL draft. They were able to get one of the top edge rushers in Kayvon Thibodeaux and arguably the best offensive lineman in Evan Neal. They did lose two key pieces on the defense in Safety Jabrill Peppers and cornerback James Bradberry, but they did add a lot of veteran depth to their interior offensive line. New York will have quarterback Daniel Jones for at least one more year, and they will get a healthy Saquon Barkley to start the season. The Giants have a lot of work to do, but they have begun to make some good moves with Daboll as their head coach and making solid draft selections. Here are things to watch as the New York Giants head into their 2022 training camp.
3 Positions Battles To Watch:
Tight End: Ricky Seals-Jones, Jordan Akins
These are two veterans with a lot to prove, as Ricky Seals-Jones is now playing for his fifth team in his six-year career and Jordan Akins is playing for his second team in his career after four years in Houston. These two tight ends have never started more than ten games in a season, but they have both been solid producers with average stats. This will be the year for one of them to take control of a starting job and possibly have the best year of their career. I think they both can be good tight ends in the NFL, but now it comes down to who will get the starting nod in training camp.
Left Guard: Shane Lemieux, Joshua Ezeudu
The New York Giants have drastically improved their offensive line compared to their line of the past four years. They have a solid piece in left tackle Andrew Thomas and a promising right tackle in rookie Evan Neal as the strong points of their offensive line. They added multiple veterans, including Jon Feliciano and Mark Glowinski, to the interior of their line, but the left guard position is still up for grabs. The Giants drafted guard Joshua Ezeudu out of North Carolina in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. However, the Giants have third-year guard Shane Lemieux who started nine games in his rookie year but only played one game last year due to injury. It will be interesting to see if Lemieux can immediately play at a high level after returning from injury, or if the rookie Ezeudu will demonstrate he is capable of starting week one.
Wide Receiver: Kadarius Toney, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson
The Giants wide receiving core does not have a lot of star power, but it does have depth. Kenny Golladay, who the Giants signed to a huge deal last offseason, and Sterling Shepard are the wide receivers one and two for the team. However, the Giants have a position battle for the third wide receiver spot, with second-year wide receiver Kadarius Toney leading the race, as he passed veteran Darius Slayton on the depth chart. Also, there is new Giants’ rookie wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson that can create an opportunity for himself to start. Ultimately, it is Toney’s job to lose, but there should be some healthy competition in camp for the spot with Slayton and Robinson fighting for the job.
Ready To Breakout: Adoree’ Jackson
Adoree’ Jackson was a first-round draft pick to the Titans back in the 2017 NFL Draft. He had a good first two seasons, but then his production went downhill due to a down year and an injury-filled season. Jackson played his first year with the Giants last year and had a quiet bounce-back year as his pass deflections and tackle numbers increased. He is an extremely athletic cornerback with great closing speed and an ability to stick to wide receivers like glue. He will never be a true high interception guy because quarterbacks do not throw at him enough due to his fantastic coverage. I think he will have a great year next year, and he will help improve the Giants’ defense.
Rookie To Watch: Kayvon Thibodeaux
Kayvon Thibodeaux was my favorite pass rusher in the 2022 NFL draft, and there are a lot of positives that can be seen in Thibodeaux’s 2022 NFL draft profile. He was the number one recruit in high school, he was the projected number one pick after the 2021 season. He finished with an overall great college career at Oregon. He has produced at every level throughout his career, and I don’t think the NFL will be any different. Thibodeaux has a big frame, a solid base, and effective hands that he uses to get past offensive tackles. Also, he is extremely quick and explosive to the point of contact. He has a great motor, and a plethora of elite traits that will make his talent translate to the NFL while he continues to grow the technical side of his game.
Fantasy Sleeper: Saquon Barkley
Saquon Barkley is a fantasy sleeper because a lot of people have given up on him, but I still believe in his talent. Barkley has the talent and skill to be one of the best running backs in the league, but he needs to show that on the field like he did in his rookie year. He is considered a middle second-round running back, and I think he can easily surpass his draft position. Two big differences this year is Barkley will be fully healthy coming into the season, and he will be running behind the best offensive line he has had in the past three years. I think if Barkley can maintain his same level of passing work and get back to finding the end zone, as he did in his first two years, then he can be a second-round running back that finishes as a running back one in fantasy.
