The New York Giants and Carolina Panthers each entered the 2022 NFL Draft with glaring needs at offensive tackle and top 10 picks (two for the Giants!). The Panthers had the sixth pick in the draft, sandwiched between the Giants picks at five and seven.
The Giants selected Oregon edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux with the fifth selection, leaving the Panthers with their choice of the top three tackles in the draft - Alabama’s Evan Neal, North Carolina State’s Ikem Ekwonu and Mississippi State’s Charles Cross.
Carolina chose Ekwonu - a physically gifted run blocker with some question marks in pass protection.