One player Giants would steal from Cardinals
The New York Giants (0-1) will visit the Arizona Cardinals (0-1) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday in their second game of the 2023 regular season.
That, of course, provides those of us here at Giants Wire the opportunity to hypothetically steal from the Cardinals’ roster in search of depth and/or talent upgrades for Big Blue.
In looking over Arizona’s roster, there’s not much that leaps off the page. They’re a rebuilding franchise with a gutted roster and precious few staple building blocks — especially at areas of need for the Giants.
But that’s not to say there aren’t a few.
There is Azeez Ojulari’s younger brother, linebacker BJ Ojulari, as well as safety Budda Baker and punter Matt Prater. But the Giants’ most glaring need — as usual — comes along the offensive line.
For that reason, we’re going to steal 22-year-old right tackle Paris Johnson Jr.
Johnson was the first offensive tackle taken in the 2023 NFL draft, going sixth overall, after a standout college career at Ohio State. He was First-Team All-Big Ten and a Consensus All-American as a senior in 2022 and Second-team All-Big Ten in 2021.
The Giants obviously have Andrew Thomas locked in at left tackle but right tackle is becoming more of a concern. Evan Neal struggled as a rookie and played poorly in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. The team’s swing tackle, Matt Peart, underwhelmed during the preseason and, like Thomas, was injured last Sunday.
Johnson is obviously very young and there’s no telling how his NFL career will develop, but out of everyone on the Cardinals’ 53-man roster, he seems like the best potential option for the Giants in this exercise.
What are your thoughts, Giants fans? Would you pick Paris Johnson Jr. or would you steal an entirely different player from the Arizona Cardinals?