UNC Football: Marcus McKethan drafted by the New York Giants

For the second straight day, the New York Giants have used a draft pick on an offensive lineman from the UNC football program.

This year’s NFL Draft is serving as a UNC football reunion in the pros.

First, it was the reunion of quarterback Sam Howell and Dyami Brown in Washington. Now, two former Tar Heel linemen will be suiting up for the same team in New Jersey.

After selecting Joshua Ezeudu with their third-round pick, the New York Giants followed it by taking Marcus McKethan with their fifth-round selection (173 overall).

With a new regime in town, the Giants are obviously focused on improving their offensive line depth. As first-year head coach Brian Daboll looks to install his ideal offense, the Tar Heels duo, along with first-round pick Evan Neal, will be called upon to help pave the way for the team’s offensive attack.

Similar to Ezeudu, McKethan is a better run blocker than he is a pass protector. However, he certainly has the size (6-foot-6, 340 pounds) to develop into a capable starting lineman at the NFL level.

As a Tar Heel, McKethan was a three-year starter who earned honorable mention All-ACC honors over the past two seasons. Primarily used as a right guard, if he can continue to develop his skill set, he could be a player that the Giants organization tries to use in multiple roles as a backup lineman.

The Giants will tell you, it doesn’t hurt to have too much offensive line depth. The organization is now hopeful that their duo of Tar Heels will be able to make an impact for them in the foreseeable future.

Best of luck to Marcus McKethan as he begins his NFL career with the New York Giants!

Follow us @KeepingItHeel on Twitter and like our fan page on Facebook for continued coverage of UNC football news, views, and recruiting updates.