2020 NFL Draft

New York Giants: Dave Gettleman Says He Will Seriously Consider Trading Down

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New York Giants, Dave Gettleman

The 2020 NFL Draft is less than a week away. The New York Giants hold the fourth overall pick, their third straight season picking inside the top-ten. General Manager Dave Gettleman is heading into his third draft as GM of the Giants and needs to put together a strong class in order to keep his job.

Gettleman and company are ready for the virtual NFL draft. Working from home will be challenging, but Gettleman assured the press today that he is fully prepared to draft from home and communicate with his team via a virtual medium.

During his conference call with the New Jersey beat writers today, Dave Gettleman was asked about the possibility of trading down in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He made it clear that trading down is a real possibility this year.

Will The Giants Trade Down?

General manager Dave Gettleman has never traded down in his entire career as a GM. He is known as a “stick-and-pick” GM. But that could change this year. Gettleman has not ruled out the possibility of a trade down this year. He has actually made it pretty clear that trading down is something the Giants want to do.

“Something I will very seriously entertain.” – Dave Gettleman on trading down in the 2020 NFL Draft

The Giants are not going to wait for teams to call them, looking to move up to fourth overall. Instead, Dave Gettleman is going to hit the phones himself, stating, “I’m gonna make the calls.” Gettleman also stated that he hopes to have trade parameters of any potential deal for the fourth overall selection in place before the Giants are on the clock. So if the Giants do decide to trade down, expect to hear that news break in the coming days, rather than moments before the pick is in.

New York Giants: Two LSU Defensive Prospects That Make Sense In A Trade-Down Scenario

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The New York Giants hold the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. For now… And maybe forever. But the opportunity still exists for New York to trade back and grab extra draft capital. General manager Dave Gettleman stated in February that the Giants are “open for business.” He admitted that the team is open to trading down from fourth overall but he also indicated that they do not want to trade down too far.

Gettleman does not want to trade back and compromise the talent-level of his first selection in exchange for additional picks. He only wants to trade back if he can ensure himself a top-tier prospect. But there are two LSU defensive prospects available in the later parts of the first-round that could be home-run selections for the New York Giants if they do decide to trade down.

Patrick Queen, LB, LSU:

If the Giants do not take Isaiah Simmons at fourth overall, why not take the next best thing? Simmons is not the only linebacker in this class who excels in coverage- Patrick Queen out of LSU does, too. Benjamin Solak of The Draft Network described Queen as: “A highly adept zone cover defender who overlaps short zones with ease and makes high-quality plays accordingly.”

Patrick Queen is an athletic inside linebacker, considered by most to be the second-best in this class. He ran a 4.5s 40-yard-dash at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine to go along with his impressive 18 bench press reps. Queen might be a bit undersized at 6 feet tall and 229 pounds. But he more than makes up for his size with his intensity.

Patrick Queen has a high motor that never seems to turn off. He racked up 85 total tackles in 2019 including 3 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. He also added an interception against top-tier quarterback prospect Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama:

If New York selected Patrick Queen it would have to be after the first twenty-or-so picks. So they would have to be trading down pretty far to make Queen an option. There is a chance he slides into the second round but that is highly unlikely. A trade for Patrick Queen that makes sense: acquiring the ninth and twentieth overall selections from Jacksonville in exchange for fourth overall. The Giants would be moving back five spots, still able to draft an offensive tackle at ninth overall. Queen would then be a strong option at the twentieth overall selection.

K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU:

There is another Louisiana State product that could make sense if the Giants trade down. Dave Gettleman made it clear this week that the Giants are “not in position” to acquire a “25-sacks-a-year guys.” But he also pointed out that “we haven’t gone through the draft yet” and assured that the Giants “will just keep building it.”

Enter K’Lavon Chaisson: a 20-year-old athletic specimen out of LSU. He did not run the 40-yard-dash at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, but if he did he would have ranked amongst the fastest at his position. Chaisson made life difficult for opposing offensive tackles in the SEC with his explosive burst off the edge and quickness to get to the quarterback. He stands tall at 6 feet 3 inches and weighs in at 254 pounds with lanky 32 and 1/4 inch arms.

Most draft analysts regard K’Lavon as the second-best edge rusher in this draft class behind only Chase Young. The Giants desperately need a stud, primary pass-rusher off the edge and if they trade down, K’Lavon Chaisson could be that prospect. The LSU edge rusher put his athleticism to good use, dominating the competition for 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss en route to a National Championship.

K’Lavon Chaisson is projected to be a mid-first-round draft pick. He has been commonly mocked around the fifteenth or sixteenth overall selection so New York would have to trade back pretty far for Chaisson to become an option.

New York Giants NFL Draft Profile: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

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New York Giants, Tristan Wirfs

The New York Giants are picking fourth overall in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. This is their third straight season picking inside the top-ten. It is a crucial draft that general manager Dave Gettleman needs to get right in order to keep his job.

The Giants have many positions of need, but arguably their weakest position is offensive tackle. Luckily for New York, the 2020 NFL Draft class is rich in offensive line talent, especially in the first round. One of the top offensive tackle prospects in this year’s class is Tristan Wirfs, an uber-athletic tackle out of Iowa.

This article is the fourth installment of a new article series here on Empire Sports Media. This new series, the NFL Draft Profile series, will feature breakdowns of notable draft prospects to create a profile that summarizes and highlights the prospects’ top strengths and weaknesses. You can check out the first installment, the Isaiah Simmons NFL Draft Profile, here. The second installment, the Mekhi Becton NFL Draft profile, can be found here. The third installment, the Andrew Thomas NFL Draft profile, can be found here.

Granted, I am not an expert draft analyst. However, in this article, I will be breaking down Tristan Wirfs as a prospect after watching hours of his film and using credible draft analysis from various sites such as NFL.com, Pro Football Focus, and The Draft Network intertwined with my own analysis. I will use the expert analysis to cross-check and cross-reference. I will use it to confirm or deny what I have seen on film. A YouTube video will also accompany this article on our channel, Fireside Giants. Unlike the last two draft profiles, I did not make this video. Instead, our chief engineer behind the Fireside Giants YouTube channel, Mike Iarrapino, made our Tristan Wirfs Scouting Profile video.

Top Strengths:

Athleticism:

Tristan Wirfs has all the measurables to make NFL scouts fall in love with him. He is one of the most athletic offensive linemen to enter the league in recent memory. He lit up the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, finishing first among all offensive linemen in the 40-yard-dash, the vertical jump, and the broad jump.

Tristan Wirfs comes in at 6′, 5″, 320 pounds. He possesses 10 1/4″ hands and 34″ arms. He has the height and weight to be an NFL tackle, but some critics question Tristan’s arm length. 34 inches is considered to be a bit short, which is why some have suggested that Wirfs would make a better guard or interior offensive lineman at the next level. Tristan’s vertical pass sets are another reason some make that suggestion, but we will discuss his technique more later.

The speed and acceleration displayed at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine constantly showed up on the field. However, Wirfs’s weight room heroics do not show up on the field as often as you would like. Tristan often struggled to defend the bull-rush off the edge. Whether it be caused by a lack of strength or poor technique, there were too many instances where Wirfs was put on skates.

Mauler In The Run Game:

Tristan Wirfs is the ideal lead blocker. His speed and athleticism give him the ability to lead block for running backs twenty yards down the field. It is intriguing to see just how well Wirfs’s Combine measurements translate to his on-field performance.

Take this clip from Iowa’s 2019 matchup against USC for example:

As great as he is as a lead blocker, that is not all that is special about Tristan Wirfs. He is also a smart run-blocker that opens up huge holes with timely cut-off blocks. He has the power and quickness to drive defenders back coming out of his stance. Playing the right tackle position with that much speed allows Tristan to excel in the outside running-game.

Top Weaknesses:

Struggles To Defend Inside Pass-Rush Moves:

This is also something that Mike Iarappino discusses extensively in the Tristan Wirfs Scouting Profile video on Fireside Giants. More often than not, when Tristan Wirfs lets up a pressure, he gets beat on an inside move. The main reason for this is his footwork/kick steps and the angles he takes on his pass sets. Tristan’s pass sets are can be too vertical. This is when his body is perpendicular to the line of scrimmage. This will be discussed further in the next subheading.

Although he is cerebral enough to anticipate twists and games inside, his lateral agility won’t allow him to get into good positions with his body. He struggles to redirect when a defender has countered or made an inside move. – Drae Harris, Senior NFL Draft Analyst at The Draft Network

This flaw, though, is the reason that some analysts suggest that Tristan Wirfs should play guard in the NFL. It is much more difficult to get beat on an inside move at the guard position because there is not as much space between a center and a guard as there is between a right tackle and a guard. It is also much more difficult to get too vertical in pass sets as a guard because of the spacing.

Tristan has never played guard before and has made it pretty clear that he wants to play offensive tackle in the NFL. But these technical flaws might force a team to move him inside if he cannot figure them out.

Inconsistent Technique:

There are some reps where Tristan Wirfs does everything right. On some plays, Wirfs has a quick get-off, keeps his shoulders and feet aligned, keeps his head up, initiates solid contact, keeps a wide base, and finishes the play strong. Unfortunately, those reps of technical perfection do not happen often enough.

Wirfs has demonstrated that he understands what a pass-block rep with proper technique is supposed to look like. But he has not demonstrated that he understands how to consistently have pass-block reps with proper technique. NFL coaching will hopefully fix this and make Tristan more consistent.

There are times when Wirfs’s shoulders are turned nearly ninety degrees away from the line of scrimmage. This makes it nearly impossible for him to get beat around the edge but it also makes it really easy for a speed rusher to swim inside. If Wirfs can keep his shoulders more square to the line of scrimmage in his kick slide, he can keep the defender in front of him. Being too vertical also creates a “soft shoulder” which makes it extremely difficult to anchor down against a power rush. For a better understanding of this “soft shoulder” concept and how it impacts Tristan Wirfs’s pass protection, check out this video by Brett Kollman.

Another inconsistency in Tristan’s game has to do with his hand placement. There are times when Tristan’s hands get placed a little too far apart when blocking defensive linemen. Think of it this way: when bench pressing, is it easier to get the weight up with a wide grip or a grip about even with your nipples? Bench pressing human beings is essentially an offensive lineman’s job. Widening your arms compromises your power. Tristan needs to keep his elbows bent inwards. This technical issue could be one of the reasons why Wirfs occasionally gets put on skates in pass sets or gets no push on run blocks.

Earlier I discussed how much of a mauler Wirfs is as a run-blocker. But he is not perfect in that facet of the game either. Tristan does have a bad tendency to swing his arms back coming out of his stance. This is what offensive line coaches refer to as a “wasted motion.” Swinging your arms back to generate power in your punch just allows defensive lineman more time and a wide-open window to grab a hold of your chest and overpower you. Wirfs has the strength to neutralize that most of the time (at least at the collegiate level), but that might be different in the NFL. Lining up against the likes of Fletcher Cox and Demarcus Lawrence will cause Tristan Wirfs to quickly learn how to keep his thick, strong arms in front of his chest at all times. Once a defensive lineman grabs hold of a lineman’s chest, the rep is over and the defensive lineman won.

Recap:

I think the potential is there for Tristan Wirfs to be great. But I think he has a lot of work to do. Obviously his excellent run-blocking abilities and otherworldly athletic talent make him a first-round prospect. But there are some technical flaws that Tristan will need to clean up to be successful in the NFL.

There is a really strong chance that the Giants take Tristan Wirfs in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The rumor mill seems to indicate that Wirfs is one of the Giants’ top targets. Even if they do not take him at fourth overall, he would be a top target for them in a trade-down scenario. Tristan’s experience at right tackle makes him a potential day-one starter on the Giants. His dominance as a run blocker would also make him Saquon Barkley’s best friend.

But, of course, drafting an offensive lineman in the first round is about the quarterback’s progression. The game is much easier to play when the quarterback has time to read a defense. Daniel Jones did not have a lot of time in the pocket as a rookie but adding Tristan Wirfs to the offensive line could fix that. However, if finding a true pass-protecting offensive tackle is Dave Gettleman’s goal, Jedrick Wills is probably the more polished and the more pro-ready prospect.

The Giants can not go wrong with this offensive line class. Even if they decide to wait until the second or third round, there is a good chance New York snags a long-term starter at offensive tackle. Tristan Wirfs has all the tools and potential to be that long-term starter. Giants fans should be ecstatic if they hear Tristan Wirfs’s name called when the Giants are on the clock next Thursday.

NFL Draft: Top Three Trade Scenarios for the New York Giants

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New York Giants, Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills, Andrew Thomas, Mekhi Becton

As the 2020 NFL Draft approaches, the New York Giants still have a load of holes on their roster that need to be addressed. They only have three picks in the Top 100 (Nos. 4, 36 and 99) and many draft experts believe they would benefit by trading that No. 4 pick to a team seeking a quarterback and get themselves some extra selections.

There’s a couple of catches here, though. Dave Gettleman has never traded back in the draft in his career as a general manager, either with the Giants or during his time in Carolina.

Let’s say, he finally sees the light and makes a deal. What would that look like and who could be the possible suitors?

In examining the options with the help of Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator, here is what I found…

The most likely trade partner would be Miami, who holds the No. 5 pick. That is, if they can’t swing a deal with one of the three teams (Cincinnati, Washington or Detroit) in front of the Giants. They want Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa and could trade up one spot so the L.A. Chargers don’t leapfrog them from the No. 6 spot to grab him.

The Giants would sent the No. 4 pick to the Dolphins for Nos. 5, 56 and 153. At No. 5, the Giants would still land Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons. Why not make this deal? They can then address the offensive line with the next three picks.

In the Chargers’ scenario, the Giants would get pick Nos. 6, 71, 112 and 151 for the No. 4. They would miss out on Simmons but get Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs and land playmaking LSU LB Patrick Queen at No. 32 and their safety in Jeremy Chinn at 71.

In the Raiders’ scenario, the Giants would receive Nos. 12, 80, 81 and 91 for the No. 4. They get Alabama safety Xavier McKinney at 36 and USC WR Michael Pittman, Jr., perhaps this year’s Michael Thomas at 80. They get their center at No. 81 in Wisconsin’s Tyler Biadasz.

New York Giants: Dave Gettleman Ready For Virtual NFL Draft

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New York Giants, Dave Gettleman

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman sat down for a conference call today. Gettleman, accompanied by VP of Football Operations Kevin Abrams, recapped free agency with New Jersey’s best beat writers. But while recapping free agency, the Giants’ men in charge briefly touched on their preparations for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Working Remotely

The world pandemic coronavirus has put a halt on the entirety of the sports world- except for the NFL Draft. The draft will look a lot different this year, but it is still set to take place on April 23rd. The New York Giants are preparing for the 2020 NFL Draft like every other team during COVID-19, facetime interviews with prospects, and zoom meetings with team personnel. Dave Gettleman stated that the Giants have “had minimal issues” with their virtual draft meetings.

Gettleman can be seen working from home, prepping for the draft with his giant binder full of scouting profiles and his laptop in the Tweet below:

Prioritizing The Offensive Line

The Giants possess one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. The unit has seen minimal improvement in recent years. Many fans of the franchise want to see an offensive tackle drafted in the first round. While Gettleman did not guarantee that to happen, he did acknowledge that the offensive line will be addressed at some point in this draft.

When asked about his feelings on the offensive tackle position, Gettleman said that the Giants “felt with the depth of the tackle class in the draft.” This was the reason for the team not signing a big-name tackle in free agency. This could mean that the Giants are eyeing first-round offensive tackle prospects. But the key term “depth” could also indicate that Big Blue will prioritize the position in the later rounds of the draft.

Dave Gettleman also offered this insight for his plans with the center position:

Gettleman will conduct another conference call this Friday. This call will focus solely on the draft. Maybe Gettleman will give us a few more tidbits letting us know what his plan for the virtual 2020 NFL Draft will be.

Giants Mailbag: Waiting for the NFL Draft

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New York Giants, Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

The New York Giants are going through a lot of changes this offseason but with the Coronavirus pandemic ravaging the globe, especially the New York/New Jersey metro area. Like everything else in our world, those changes are currently on hold.

I’ve gotten quite a number of emails and messages on social media the past few weeks regarding all aspects of the Giants’ offseason, what they’ve done and what they might do. Here are the top four questions that have been hurled at me…

What will the Giants do with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft?

Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons is the favorite among Giant fans and he would likely be available when they are on the clock at No. 4. Dave Gettleman has got to take a hog mollie – or two – for the offensive line in this draft because the line is in need of tackles and a center. If he takes the bait and drafts Simmons (providing Chase Young doesn’t miraculously fall to them), he could make that up by taking Michigan center Carlos Ruiz in Round 2 or Temple’s Matt Hennessy or Nick Harris of Washington in Round 3. After the first round, there aren’t many quality tackles to be had, so he might just bite the bullet and grab either Tristan Wirfs of Iowa or Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Jr. at No. 4. If he does not take a tackle there, he could luck into one in the second or third rounds but it’s risky.

Are the Giants done signing free agents this year?

I would say so. They may have one more mid-level signing in them. Who that will be is unknown, maybe an offensive lineman or center if they can’t find one in the draft. One thing they probably won’t be doing is re-signing Markus Golden, who wants $8-10 million per annum. They currently have approximately $16 million in cap space but $12 million of that is earmarked for the incoming rookie class. They won’t use all $12 million and you can expect Gettleman to hang onto some cash just in case of an emergency, so they’ll go into the season with about $6-7 million in cap space for a rainy day.

What will Patrick Graham’s defense look like?

Based on what we saw what Graham did as DC with the Miami Dolphins last season, I believe he’d lean towards 3-4 base alignment. That would be a certainty if the Giants take Simmons in the draft.  In the 3-4, I see the Giants going with Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence and Dalvin Tomlinson up front with Lorenzo Carter and Kyler Fackrell as the OLBs flanking Blake Martinez and David Mayo/Ryan Connelly on the inside. The secondary will start James Bradberry and DeAndre Baker at corner with Jabrill Peppers and Julian Love at safety. Simmons would likely replace Mayo and/or Connelly on the inside if drafted and Love would be challenged by any rookie safety the team brings in. The Giants could switch to 4-3 when needed. They signed Austin Johnson in free agency and still have B.J. Hill and R.J. McIntosh on the roster.

Do you think Joe Judge was the right choice for head coach?

Fennelly: Yes. I think Judge is a fresh face that brings a classic approach to coaching. He has a lot of Bill Belichick in him but has a more vocal, convincing presence about him. We won’t know what his affect on the team will be until the Giants take the field. I think he has the right approach when it comes to preparation and discipline. I feel the players will take to him. His game strategy will vary from week-to-week – which it should – and he will lean on the very diverse and talented staff he and Gettleman put together. The question of any coach should be how well they adjust in-game. His old boss is the best at that and Giant fans are hoping that trait has rubbed off on Judge.

Giants Select Tristan Wirfs in Fennelly’s Next-to-Last Mock Draft

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New York Giants, Tristan Wirfs

The NFL Draft is a little less than two weeks away and New York Giants fans are getting antsy. There’s a lot of uncertainty and the team has a ton of options in the draft.

One of those options is a trade back, but I don’t see anyone who would be willing to trade up to No. 4, or even No. 3 for that matter. The only teams willing to do that would be the teams seeking a quarterback, and they may not have to trade up to get their man.

Miami and the L.A. Chargers, who hold the fifth and sixth picks in this draft, could probably stay at those spots and come away with the quarterbacks they want, so no trade for the Giants here. If the Dolphins or Chargers do make a deal, it would likely be with Detroit for the third overall pick as they are open for business as well.

Using Fanspeak.com’s mock draft simulator, here is how I would handle the first six rounds for the Giants (the seventh round is a crapshoot that most teams breeze through, so I won’t even attempt to make those four picks).

Round 1, Pick 4: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

The first three picks off the board were LSU QB Joe Burrow (Bengals), Ohio State EDGE rusher Chase Young (Redskins) and Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons (Lions). That left Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah, Auburn DT Derrick Brown and two of the four top OTs in the draft in Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Jr. and Wirfs. I chose Wirfs because of his athleticism, versatility and football acumen. The choice was an easy one since Simmons was off the board and the Giants probably won’t take Okudah or Brown. Wirfs will likely start at right tackle first and then be slid over to the left side when the Giants finally realize Nate Solder is finished.

Round 2, Pick 36: Grant Delpit, S, LSU

The Giants need a safety and Delpit can be that presence in the box they’ve been missing. At 6’2″, 213 he is a hitter who will compliment Jabrill Peppers perfectly. Delpit is a first round talent who is falling in the draft after posting a disappointing 2019 season but many aren’t taking into account that he played through a high ankle sprain. We all know about those, no? I took Delpit over Michigan center Carlos Ruiz and USC WR Michael Pittman, Jr. and let me say it wasn’t easy…

Round 3, Pick 99: Matt Hennessy, C, Temple

I am restraining myself from making picks that fans will love and making ones that aren’t so sexy. Offensive lineman aren’t sexy but no one ever complains when you draft them. Such is this particular selection. Hennessy is a big, tough kid who has room to grow and Giants really need to upgrade at center. Really like his prospects.

Round 4, Pick 110: Willie Gay, Jr., LB, Mississippi State

Missing out on Simmons doesn’t mean the Giants won’t take a linebacker. Gay is an ascending talent who at 6’2″ and 240 pounds runs a 4.46 40. He will add to the Giants’ growing linebacker unit and possibly be used in a multitude of roles, including special teams. Gay may not make it this far in the draft, however. Many have been reviewing his tape and have bumped him up in the order.

Round 5, Pick 150: Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee

Jennings isn’t fast but is 6’3″ an has an innate ability to break tackles. Has good hands and will make the contested catches in the red zone. He can also block in the run game, something the other Giants receivers are not particularly built for.

Round 6, Pick 183: Michael Warren II, RB, Cincinnati

A pure sleeper but a tough inside runner the Giants could use in short yardage situations and on early downs to soften up defenses. We saw Saquon Barkley get hurt last year and forcing him to run inside could wear on him. Warren could absorb – and dish out – some of that punishment to the tune of 5-6 carries per game. They signed Dion Lewis as change-up back so Warren would play the battering ram role for the unit.

New York Giants Set To Have Virtual Meeting With Stud LSU Linebacker Prospect

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New York Giants, Patrick Queen

The New York Giants are preparing for the 2020 NFL Draft like every other team during COVID-19, facetime interviews with prospects, and zoom meetings with team personnel. The world pandemic coronavirus has put a halt on the entirety of the sports world- except for the NFL Draft. The draft will look a lot different this year, but it is still set to take place on April 23rd.

Every NFL team and draft prospect has been put at a disadvantage this offseason due to the virus outbreak. Prospects have not been able to hold Pro Days for NFL teams to scout and meet them, and NFL teams have not been able to travel to meet prospects. This will make it especially challenging for teams to sort their draft boards out within the next couple of weeks.

Regardless, the show must go on. Teams need to familiarize themselves with these prospects somehow. Of course, they will watch hours upon hours of game film as they do every year. But since these teams cannot meet with these prospects in-person, they will have to settle for virtual meetings to get to know the character behind every prospect.

Patrick Queen Virtual Meeting

According to Jordan Reid of The Draft Network, first-round linebacker prospect Patrick Queen has an upcoming meeting scheduled with the Giants in the coming days. The linebacker out of LSU has already met with the Packers, Eagles, and Ravens. His ability to command a defense, demonstrated in LSU’s National Championship-winning 2019 season, has garnered plenty of interest from NFL teams ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.

It is highly unlikely that Patrick Queen slips into the second round. But if he does, it would be a home run selection for the Giants. If the Giants were to draft Queen, it is more likely that it would be in a trade-down scenario later in the first round.

Patrick Queen is an excellent coverage linebacker with top-notch instincts in zone coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, Queen never allowed a reception longer than 20 yards on 488 career coverage snaps. Check out this remarkable interception that Patrick Queen made versus Alabama below:

One other thing to note here for the Giants is that they are still interested in drafting a top-tier linebacker despite signing Blake Martinez in free agency. New York recognizes that Martinez is not a coverage linebacker (allowing a completion percentage of 83.8% when targeted). Still, in dire need of a linebacker who can guard tight ends, the Giants are doing their due diligence on the draft’s top prospects. This indicates that fan-favorite prospect Isaiah Simmons is still on the Giants’ draft board. Signing Blake Martinez will not discourage New York from drafting a linebacker early in 2020.

The New York Giants Need To Address The Center Position In The Draft

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New York Giants, Cesar Ruiz

The New York Giants spent much money this free agency upgrading their defense. However, the team did not invest a whole lot into their offensive line- a positional unit that has not performed well in years. Nevertheless, the 2020 NFL Draft is two weeks away, and the Giants are going to have to spend some picks on offensive linemen.

There is plenty of debate about whether or not the Giants should select an offensive tackle fourth overall in this year’s draft. But there is no debate to be had over whether or not the Giants should draft a center this year- they absolutely have to. No, not with the fourth overall selection, but the Giants need to address the center position early in the draft. Reportedly, this is New York’s plan.

The Weakest Link

The Giants’ offensive line is the weakest positional group on the team. But there is no single position weaker than the center. Offensive tackle is the other position that can be debated here, but that is only because it is a more valuable position. The Giants have two starting-caliber players playing tackle. They are not high-end starters and are not long-term solutions.

But the Giants do not have a legitimate starter at center right now. If the season started tomorrow, Spencer Pulley would be starting at center for the Giants. Pulley played in four games and started only one game in 2019. He is a high-quality backup and not someone the Giants should feel confident in starting when the 2020 NFL season kicks off.

Some Center Options Early On

There are multiple centers for the Giants to target in the 2020 NFL Draft. A few prospects could be worthy of the Giants’ thirty-sixth overall selection. If Cesar Ruiz slips out of the first round, he would be a home-run selection for the Giants in the second round. New York has held a virtual meeting with the stud Michigan center prospect (according to Jordan Reid of TDN).

If the Giants decide to wait a little later to find their center, they could snag Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz in the third or fourth round. Biadasz started 41 collegiate games in Wisconsin and is one of the best interior offensive linemen in the draft class. He might not be day-one ready like Ruiz, but he definitely has potential as a long-term solution for the center position.

NFL plans to host ‘Draft-a-Thon’ for COVID-19 relief

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The NFL announced yesterday that this year’s draft will also be functioning as a three-day fundraiser to assist those helping to slow down the spread of the coronavirus. The league’s foundation selected six charities that the benefits will go towards. The six charities are:

All of the charities are nonprofits and have been assisting during this time in many ways. Their services range from the American Red Cross making sure that there is a sufficient blood supply to the United Way’s foundation helping first responders get any resources they may need.

“As we face this global health crisis together, we are filled with gratitude for the extraordinary work of first responders, healthcare workers and many others who are helping those in need,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, as reported on NFL.com. “The Draft-a-Thon will deliver much-need funding to many who are suffering as well as those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The league has already donated roughly $40 million to assist national relief efforts. Fans can help add to this number by donating throughout the three days of the draft. The draft is scheduled for April 23-25 and will be televised on ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes and NFL Network.

More news regarding the Draft specifics should come out in the coming days.