Thibodeux, Neal are the foundation of Giants rebuild
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Getting picked in the first round of the NFL draft by the New York Giants isn't the first time Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal have been paired.
When the two went to football camps as high school players, coaches constantly lined them up against each other.
Thibodeaux was the best edge rusher. Neal was the top lineman. So they went at it.
The two will probably compete at practice under new coach Brian Daboll, but it's clear they are the foundation general manager Joe Schoen has selected to start rebuilding the Giants after a 4-13 season. It was their fifth straight losing campaign.
Handling his first draft as a GM, Schoen made a couple of trades to increase his picks from nine to 11 and then over the past three days selected players who met needs and, in some cases, made positions more competitive.
Thibodeaux and Neal are expected to become starters. Neal is penciled in at right tackle and Thibodeaux will play anywhere defensive coordinator Wink Martindale wants to create mismatches.
“I believe it's going to push us tremendously,” Neal said of facing Thibodeaux. “I believe in iron sharpens iron, so what better place to get better than the New York Giants? So I'm just excited to go out there and compete my hardest. Hopefully we make each other better.”
Thibodeaux recalls those camp matchups vividly.
“Every time we came to a camp, we knew it was like, OK, this is how it's going to set up,” Thibodeaux said. “He's the best. I'm the best. Now let's get better. Let's prove to ourselves on why we got this far.”
The Giants tried to add help on both sides of the ball. On Friday, they took Kentucky wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson in the second round and added North Carolina offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu and LSU safety Cordale Flott in the third.
There were six picks Saturday with New York taking tight end Daniel Bellinger of San Diego State and Iowa safety Dane Belton in the fourth round; linebacker Micah McFadden of Indiana and defensive tackle D.J. Davidson of Arizona State in the fifth and offensive lineman Marcus McKethan of North Carolina — Ezeudu's teammate — and linebacker Darrian Beavers of Cincinnati in the sixth round.