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2022 NFL Draft: Packers get worst grade among all 32 first-round picks

By Sayre Bedinger

Apr 28, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and New York Giants fan Sam Prince after being selected as the fifth overall pick to the New York Giants during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft at the NFL Draft Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and New York Giants fan Sam Prince after being selected as the fifth overall pick to the New York Giants during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft at the NFL Draft Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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2022 NFL Draft
Apr 28, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux reacts after being selected as the fifth overall pick to the New York Giants during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft at the NFL Draft Theater. Mandatory Credit: Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

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

Pick Analysis. Oregon. 5. player. Scouting Report. EDGE. Kayvon Thibodeaux. 31

Grade: A

The New York Giants did as much homework on Kayvon Thibodeaux as anybody.

This scenario for them was sort of a perfect storm. All of the top offensive linemen fell to this selection, so instead of taking their top offensive lineman here and risking the Panthers trading out of six to someone jonesing for Thibodeaux, they ended up getting both guys they probably wanted in the first place.

Thibodeaux is an elite talent and although the consistency was not always there at Oregon, he’s going to be a stud in the NFL who can win off the edge with length, strength, and bend.

It’s hard not to love this pick unless you are turned off by Thibodeaux’s personality, and I’m not sure how you could be. This guy is as confident and electric as they come.

6. Carolina Panthers: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State

Pick Analysis. player. Scouting Report. OT. North Carolina State. Ikem Ekwonu. 6. 87

Grade: A

What do the Carolina Panthers have up their sleeve at the quarterback position?

After taking Ikem Ekwonu — an absolute home run of a pick in this draft — you would have to think that Scott Fitterer and Matt Rhule are scheming a deal for Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo in the near future.

They don’t have the 2022 NFL Draft capital to get a deal like that done, but they could tap into their 2023 NFL Draft picks to make it happen.

Getting Ikem Ekwonu as their new left tackle and eventually trading for Mayfield or Garoppolo would be an outstanding rebound of an offseason for Carolina after the Sam Darnold debacle.

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