Charles Cross expected Giants to select him during 2022 NFL draft

The 2022 NFL draft was the first one for New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen. He went in with the fifth and the seventh overall selections in his pocket and came away with what he thought would be two franchise staples for years to come.

But these are the Giants, and things haven't quite worked out as planned the past 15 years. Schoen selected Oregon outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux at No. 5 and then took Alabama's massive offensive tackle, Evan Neal , with the seventh pick.

Four seasons have now passed, and we all know how this panned out. Thibodeaux has shown flashes, but injuries have stunted his development. Neal turned out to be a classic bust.

Of course, Giant fans have re-drafted the 2022 draft in their heads, and most have the Giants selecting different players with those picks.

One player that is mentioned often is Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross , who was taken with the ninth overall selection by the Seattle Seahawks , a club that hasn't made many mistakes personnel-wise in recent years.

Cross told reporters this week during the Super Bowl media sessions that he thought he would end up with the Giants since they had two picks.

"I thought they would take me," Cross said of the Giants, via the New York Post . "I had a lot of talks with them throughout my draft process. We talked a lot of football, them getting to know me. It's in the past, they made their decision, no regrets. It all worked out."

Not for the Giants. Neal was a disaster. He could not handle the speed rush on the outside and was clearly out of his depth as an NFL offensive tackle. The Giants had to dip into free agency and replace him. His contract is up, and he is expected to be a free agent next month.

Thibodeaux has been nicked up to the point where the Giants' decision to exercise his fifth-year option for 2026 is looking like another dubious decision by Schoen. Rumors have it that the Giants could trade him this offseason.

Cross is living the dream this week as the Seahawks prepare to take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX this Sunday night.

Looking back on the 2022 draft, Cross, who was the third offensive tackle taken that night behind North Carolina State's Ikem Ekwonu (selected by the Carolina Panthers at No. 6) and Neal, believes he was the best of the bunch. He has a point.

"I thought we were a great class," Cross said. "Ickey’s been playing really well for Carolina, I like his game a lot. Evan, I like his game a lot, too; he just had a lot of injuries throughout his career. I feel both of 'em are great players and have all the attributes they need to be successful."

We all know Cross is just being kind, calling Neal a "great player." Right now, he's on a high. The Giants are still in need of a right tackle. Jermaine Eluemunor filled the bill the last two seasons, but he's a free agent this offseason, and the Giants will have to buck up to keep him.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Charles Cross expected Giants to select him during 2022 NFL draft