The New York Giants are going to select an offensive tackle with one of their two first-round picks in the 2022 NFL draft. It’s perhaps the easiest pick to project for even the most novice mock draft creator.

The real question is, which of the top three will general manager Joe Schoen hone in on?

The Giants have worked diligently this offseason, scouting Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu and Charles Cross to excess. And the only distinguishable difference between the three, in terms of New York’s interest, are the repeated reports about how much the team “loves” Cross.

At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Cross remarked about the Giants specifically. That was followed by a report courtesy of Jon Sokoloff, a sports director who covers Mississippi State, stating Big Blue’s interest in Cross is “very, very real.”

On Friday, ESPN’s Matt Miller took it a step further, reporting that the Giants “love” Cross.

Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross has been making the rounds on pre-draft visits, and one team has shown a ton of interest, according to sources: the Giants. With pick Nos. 5 and 7 in the first round, they might miss out on top tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Evan Neal, which could put them in prime position to draft the former Bulldog tackle.

One source I spoke to noted the Giants “love” Cross at right tackle, where he has not started a game in college but has spent considerable time working out this offseason.

It will be interesting to see what route the Giants take if Neal, Ekwonu and Cross are all on the board when they come up at No. 5.

Follow the Giants Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts