2022 NFL mock draft: Desmond Ridder soaring in final predictions

7. New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

The New York Giants have done a ton of work on Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, enough to make me think they have effectively talked themselves into picking him with one of their two picks here in the top 10.

I’m sure the Giants would love to trade down from one of these picks, but what for?

How often does the opportunity to make two picks in the top seven overall come along?

Kayvon Thibodeaux has been rumored as a top 3 pick and he’s been rumored to slide into the teens. I think landing in the middle on an EDGE-needy team like the Giants sounds about right.

A haul of Ikem Ekwonu and Kayvon Thibodeaux would be a great start to this draft for new GM Joe Schoen.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

For the longest time, I’ve been floating between quarterback and wide receiver here for the Atlanta Falcons.

Ultimately, this roster is so depleted I don’t know how they can justify taking anything but the best player available.

In this case, the best player available is Sauce Gardner, who has been projected to go as high as third overall to the Texans.

In case it hasn’t been stated enough, Sauce never allowed a touchdown as a member of Cincinnati’s defense. With Atlanta, he would join one of the best corners in the game right now, AJ Terrell, as well as free agent pickup Casey Hayward, to give the Falcons an excellent group of corners and legitimate long-term roster strength.