The New York Giants might have selected the draft class that could turn the team’s fortunes around.
Unfortunately, they’ve fallen on hard times after winning Super Bowl XLVI in 2011.
They’ve had one playoff appearance since but lost to the Green Bay Packers.
The Giants also had just two winning seasons from 2012 to 2021.
The team hopes to reverse the disappointing trend by hiring general manager Joe Schoen from the Buffalo Bills.
So far, Schoen has been impressive in his first draft with the Giants.
He helped draft offensive tackle Evan Neal and defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The former Oregon standout was the third edge rusher selected, behind first overall selection Travon Walker and number two pick Aidan Hutchinson.
The Giants hope that Thibodeaux will be able to replicate in the NFL the successes he had in collegiate football.
To ramp up the excitement from Giants fans, here is the team’s official account sharing the defensive lineman’s jersey number.
5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣
5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣
5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣
5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣
5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣5️⃣ pic.twitter.com/QtLcRgeSez— New York Giants (@Giants) May 9, 2022
The video started with someone completing Thibodeaux’s name plate.
Eventually, they revealed that the rookie will wear jersey number five.
It’s the same number he wore when he was still in Oregon.
An Asset On The Defensive Line
Last season, Thibodeaux was First-Team All-Pac-12 and a unanimous All-American.
In three seasons with the Ducks, he had 126 total tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, and seven passes defended.
In 2021, he had 49 combined tackles and seven sacks.
The Giants hope that he will become a disruptive force who can get past offensive linemen.
They need him after generating only 34 sacks last season.
He can help improve a team that gave up 129 rushing yards per game in 2021.
That will only happen if he lives up to the hype and takes the league by storm.
NEXT: Giants Insider Reveals How Players Feel About James Bradberry