2022 NFL Draft: Exploring first-round trades Giants could make to gain extra draft capital

The Giants are starting a new era with coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen, and with the regime change comes unpredictability as to how the G-Men will operate in the draft. They appear to be ready to ride with quarterback Daniel Jones for at least one more season. We don’t know much else. 

Owner of the No. 5 and No. 7 overall picks, Schoen walks into a luxurious draft-capital situation. However, could the Giants actually be looking to trade down from one of those top-10 selections? 

In his most recent Football Morning In America column NBC Sports’ Peter King wrote the following on the Giants:

“The Giants, picking fifth and seventh overall, are likely to look to move one of them to try for multiple first-rounders next year.”

Let’s examine four possible trades the Giants could make on the evening of April 28th.

Possible trade No. 1

Bills get: No. 7 overall
To pick: Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner

Buffalo’s trade-up rationale: After reportedly signing Jamison Crowder on Monday night, the Bills are positioning themselves to go best player available in Round 1. If there is one clear hole on the roster, it’s at cornerback No. 2 opposite Tre’Davious White, who’s coming off a torn ACL suffered on Thanksgiving. Buffalo likes 2020 seventh-rounder Dane Jackson, but he’s a former seventh rounder. 

During his time in Carolina, Bills GM Brandon Beane was part of a front office that prioritized size and length at the cornerback position. Gardner is the most physically intimidating cornerback in the draft. And Giants GM Schoen is Beane’s buddy after working as Buffalo’s assistant GM from 2017 to 2021. 

Giants get: Buffalo’s 2022 first-round pick (No. 25 overall), 2023 first-round pick, 2023 third-round pick

Possible trade No. 2

Seahawks get: No. 5 overall 
To pick: Liberty QB Malik Willis

Seattle’s trade-up rationale: The best way to ease the pain of Seahawks fans after the trade of Russell Wilson is to trade up for a quarterback with similar skills to … Russell Wilson. OK, Willis isn’t quite as NFL-ready as Wilson was after three seasons at NC State and a super-efficient senior season at Wisconsin. 

But the arm, the improvisational mastery generated from his athletic prowess — there’s stylistic closeness between the two. Trust me.

And the thought for Seattle feeling compelled to do this is two-fold — the Panthers, one of the teams that lost the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, draft at No. 6; and the Falcons (No. 8) just traded Matt Ryan and very well could be looking for a developmental type to redshirt for a season behind the newly signed Marcus Mariota. 

Giants get: Seattle’s 2022 first-round pick (No. 9 overall), 2023 second-round pick

Possible trade No. 3

Chargers get: No. 7 overall, 2023 sixth-round pick
To pick: Whichever top offensive tackle is available

Los Angeles’ trade-up rationale: Adding Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson to the defense makes for a fine offseason for the Chargers. And the front office has done work adding cheaper, complementary pieces like Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson to the defensive line. Not to mention, wideout Mike Williams was re-signed before free agency opened. 

The right tackle spot, the position that hampered the Chargers the most throughout Justin Herbert’s second season, was not addressed. And, sure, Los Angeles could wait patiently at No. 17 and pick the best available tackle and be done with it. 

However, there’s not really a prospect at tackle worth picking in that range, unless they want to roll the dice with Trevor Penning from Northern Iowa or 24-year-old Bernhard Raimann from Central Michigan. Both good prospects, but there’s reason to believe both of them will take ample time to acclimate to the pro level.

Therefore, to stay aligned with the most collectively aggressive offseason in NFL history, GM Tom Telesco could swing for the fences with one of the perceived “Big Three” at the tackle spot if one of Alabama’s Evan Neal, NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu, or Mississippi State’s Charles Cross is available when the Giants pick at No. 7 overall. The slight problem with this scenario — the Giants are probably going to be in the market for one of the elite offensive tackle prospects in this class, too. 

Giants get: Los Angeles’ 2022 first-round pick (No. 17 overall), 2023 first-round pick, 2023 fifth-round pick

Possible trade No. 4

Steelers get: No. 7 overall
To pick: Liberty QB Malik Willis

Pittsburgh’s trade-up rationale: This doesn’t feel like something the Steelers would do. Then again, they did trade up for linebacker Devin Bush in the 2019 draft, a decision they probably regret today. And this is expected to be long-time GM Kevin Colbert’s last draft, which could add more incentive for him to leave his team with a quarterback of the future. No disrespect, Mitchell Trubisky. 

Willis wouldn’t be forced into the starting lineup immediately, which seems to be how every team will want to approach his developmental process. In theory, Willis would eventually elevate the Steelers into today’s era of hyper-athletic, strong-armed quarterbacks. If he’s that type of franchise quarterback, the two first-round picks needed to draft him would unquestionably be worth it for Pittsburgh. 

Giants get: Pittsburgh’s 2022 first-round pick (No. 20 overall), 2023 first-round pick