With the 174th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the NY giants selected, Guard Marcus McKethan, out of North Carolina. Mckethan made 37 starts over the last 3 seasons for the Tar Heels. During this time he was an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2021 and 2020, playing a team-high 887 snaps.
He also blocked for an offense that averaged 35 points a game, which was 19th best in the NCAA. While Sam Howell and the Tar Heels’ offense did take a step back last year, McKethan played well for the majority of the season.
The first thing that jumps out on tape when you watch him is his sheer size. At 6’6 340 pounds, he is easily identifiable on a North Carolina offensive line that also showcased the Giant’s 3rd round pick, Joshua Ezeudu. On tape McKethan has knockback power in his hands; he’s able to stun Defensive Tackles with his hand usage, especially in the passing game. He has long arms that help combat counter moves from pass rushers, he doesn’t have the athleticism to recover well when he gets beat, something to note for the future, especially on twists and stunts.
Power & Strength:
McKethan is a pure mauler, with very good power. Can sometimes struggle with body control, which leads to him falling out of positions on both passing, and rushing downs. McKethan does not allow bullrushes to work, he has an amazing frame and knows how to sink his hips in his pass sets. He is a former tackle so he can be moved there in a pinch. McKethan is best suited for gap and power schemes but will struggle against moving fronts that force him to react quickly to action in his gaps. He has struggled in pass protection due to his lack of slide quickness and has trouble versus twists.
Making the Roster:
McKethan brings size, strength, power, and a tremendous IQ that the Giants’ coaching staff can utilize in a variety of ways. Something this Giants offensive line has struggled with for a long time is depth. Heading into training camp McKethan will have to battle it out with Ben Bredeson, and Jamil Douglas just to make the 53-man roster. This upcoming season will be different than years prior, especially in the trenches. The last time a Giants team had this much competition upfront, a Super Bowl Championship was not far behind.
As the Giants do their best to rebuild their offensive line, this is the kind of draft pick that can provide depth, competition, and maybe some starts in a pinch. Huge offensive linemen like McKethan are not easy to find. The Giants got themselves a quality big man here in Round 5.
All in all the positives far outweigh the negatives with McKethan. If he can sure up his pass blocking, he might be seeing the field a lot sooner than some of us think.