2020 NFL Draft

New York Giants To Have Virtual Meeting With OT Prospect Andrew Thomas

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New York Giants, Andrew Thomas

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.

Andrew Thomas FaceTime Meeting

According to Jordan Reid of The Draft Network, first-round offensive tackle prospect Andrew Thomas has an upcoming meeting scheduled with the Giants this week. The offensive tackle out of Georgia has already met with over fifteen NFL teams. His impressive performance during his junior year in college has garnered plenty of interest from NFL teams ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Is He The Pick At Number Four?

Taking Andrew Thomas with the fourth overall pick would likely be a bit of a reach. Some mock drafts project the Georgia offensive tackle to be drafted well outside of the top-ten selections. Thomas is a talented tackle with a promising future in the NFL, but the consensus amongst draft analysts and NFL executives seems to be that Andrew Thomas is not the top tackle prospect in the draft class.

Additionally, the names that have been linked to the Giants at fourth overall include Isaiah Simmons, Tristan Wirfs, and Mekhi Becton. They are reportedly interested in going offensive tackle with the fourth pick, but it does not seem like that offensive tackle would be Andrew Thomas.

So Why The FaceTime Meeting?

Andrew Thomas is the ideal trade-down draft selection. New York has been clear: they are open for business. If an offer satisfies Dave Gettleman, he is willing to trade back in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. But he will need to be able to land a quality player if he moves down.

Andrew Thomas might be a reach at fourth overall. But at ninth or twelfth overall, he would be a home-run selection. That is likely the reason the Giants are spending time meeting with Thomas over FaceTime. They are aware that he would be an excellent selection for them if they trade down, and they want to ensure that his quality of character is as high as his quality of football talent.

New York Giants NFL Draft Profile: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

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New York Giants, Andrew Thomas

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 Andrew Thomas, a refined prospect out of Georgia.

This article is the third 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.

Granted, I am not an expert draft analyst. However, in this article, I will be breaking down Andrew Thomas 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 Andrew Thomas Scouting Profile video.

Top Strengths:

Polished Technique:

Unlike Mekhi Becton, Andrew Thomas’s technique is not his biggest weakness- it is his biggest strength. Thomas is a polished offensive line prospect with a refined technique that allows him to excel as both a run-blocker and a pass-blocker.

Georgia’s 2019 matchup versus LSU is an excellent game to watch when evaluating Andrew Thomas. Thomas starting at left tackle, was tasked with defending LSU’s first-round EDGE prospect K’Lavon Chaisson. Chaisson has game-breaking speed for his position and is a handful for any offensive tackle that he is matched up against. But Andrew Thomas rose to the challenge and put together an impressive performance shutting down Chaisson despite a lopsided loss to the LSU Tigers.

In this Tweet, below are some of the best clips from Andrew Thomas’s matchup against K’Lavon Chaisson. Note the incredible lateral quickness that Thomas possesses as he efficiently beats Chaisson to the spot each rep and easily redirects Chaisson to the turf while remaining balanced and technical:

Andrew Thomas has excellent balance. He has very active feet that give him the ability to be a secure pass-protector. Seeing Thomas handle a speedy pro-level edge rusher like Chaisson bodes well for his NFL future. But he is not perfect in this regard and does have some technical difficulties against speed rushers that sometimes get him into trouble.

Andrew’s advanced technique also shows up in his run-blocking performance. The Georgia tackle is known for being a proficient run-blocker, and his technique and high football IQ are a big reason why.

Run Blocking:

Andrew Thomas is an excellent run-blocking offensive tackle. He demonstrated time and time again that he has no problem moving defenders to open up holes for Georgia’s talented running backs. Thomas’s run-blocking talents were on full display in Georgia’s 2019 matchups against Notre Dame and Texas.

In the Tweet below are some of my favorite highlights of Andrew Thomas run-blocking. Thomas throws multiple key blocks in single plays. He has high football IQ and great spatial awareness, which allows him to do this.

Andrew Thomas does a great job with cut-off blocks. He seals off defenders away from the running lanes and gives them no chance to get in front of the running back.

Top Weaknesses:

Pass Protection Against Speed Rushers:

I previously presented some highlights from Andrew Thomas’s matchup with LSU speed rusher K’Lavon Chaisson. That was one of Thomas’s most impressive games as he handled the difficult matchup exceptionally well. Still, not every play from that game was a win for Thomas, and some flaws in Andrew’s game did show up against Chaisson (and other speed rushers in other games).

Andrew Thomas’s technique against speedy edge rushers can be inconsistent. His footwork against speed guys sometimes gets him into trouble as his lateral agility can be stunted by lousy technique and footwork. Speed rushers have opportunities to beat Thomas around the edge with pure burst and bend.

The footwork against speed rushers is Andrew Thomas’s main issue. Often his initial kick step does not place him back far enough, and when he tries to shuffle to the right spot, it is already too late. That first step is vital for offensive tackles, and when facing an edge rusher with an abundance of burst, that first step needs to be perfect.

Some issues arise with Andrew’s hands when defending speed rushers. Whether he is late to initiate contact or has his elbows too wide, this is somewhere that Andrew Thomas needs to be more consistent.

He can struggle to keep pace up the arc with speed off the edge so cleaning up his pass sets is necessary. -Joe Marino of The Draft Network

Recap:

Andrew Thomas is a refined offensive tackle prospect. His technique is polished. Thomas also possesses more than enough strength and athleticism to get the job done in the NFL.

Thomas’s strength is as a run-blocker, where he has excellent spatial awareness and high football IQ that allows him to make multiple key blocks in a single play. He does have some occasional whiffs, as all lineman do, but he is a remarkably consistent run-blocker that uses his refined technique to open up holes and drive defensive linemen backward.

Andrew Thomas does struggle at times when matching up against speedy edge rushers and will need to work on this in the NFL. Thomas will need to improve his footwork and lateral quickness/agility against speed rushers off the edge. His hand placement and initial contact can use some improvement, too. His hands are too wide sometimes and cause him to miss the defender. He also has some reps where he waits too long to initiate contact, and, when he does, there is sometimes not enough power behind the punch.

The New York Giants have many different options they can select at the fourth overall pick. If the Giants go offensive tackle in the first round, they need to give serious consideration to Andrew Thomas. Thomas’s proficient run-blocking will help Saquon Barkley flourish in Jason Garrett’s offense that, in Dallas, featured an elite left tackle in Tyron Smith for years.

Drafting Andrew Thomas would not only make Saquon Barkley better, but it would help Daniel Jones develop, too. Jones needs stability at the left tackle position, and while there might be some growing pains for Thomas early on in his career (especially when dealing with speed rushers), he has exhibited the potential to be a premier offensive tackle with a polished technique to succeed as a pass-blocker. This is not me saying that Andrew Thomas should definitely be the pick (I am still leaning towards Isaiah Simmons), but Andrew Thomas to the Giants is a draft pick I would not hate- especially if they land him in a trade-back scenario.

New York Giants: Gettleman’s “Computer Folk” Will Be Key In The 2020 NFL Draft

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New York Giants, Dave Gettleman

The 2020 NFL Draft is about three weeks away. The New York Giants hold the fourth overall pick. 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 pre-draft process has been hindered greatly for NFL teams this offseason. The world pandemic COVID-19 (coronavirus) has put a halt on the entire sports world. NFL teams have not been able to travel around the country to conduct pre-draft interviews, workouts, and medical exams.

To make matters even more challenging, NFL teams are not allowed to get their personnel together to discuss draft plans. Crowds of ten or more people have been outlawed by the White House in an effort to reduce community spread of the virus. This means that the 2020 NFL Draft will be conducted virtually.

The New Virtual Draft Format

The 2020 NFL Draft will be unlike any draft we have ever seen before. NFL teams will not all be gathering in one location this year. In fact, team personnel will not all be gathering in one location this year. The 2020 NFL Draft is going to be completely virtual with team front office members working from home and communicating via Zoom, Skype, or other technological communication formats.

This is where Dave Gettleman’s infamous “computer folk” come in to play. The Giants will need to set up a foolproof online drafting and communication method. If general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Joe Judge cannot even be in the same room for the NFL Draft, then they will need to have crispy clear communication methods to remain on the same page and draft the team’s most desired players.

Additionally, the computer folk will also be tasked with ensuring the Giants have no issues communicating with other NFL teams. The NFL Draft typically features an abundance of trades and the Giants are in prime position as a trade-down candidate. New York will need to make sure their communication across the league is feasible and puts them in a position to field the best trade offers and make the best trade offers possible.

Positions the New York Giants NEED to satisfy through the draft

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Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

This is one of the most important drafts for the New York Giants in recent franchise history. With multiple holes and positional needs to fill on both sides of the ball, they need to execute correctly in one of the deepest and most talented draft classes in the last decade.

New head coach Joe Judge and second-year QB Daniel Jones give fans of Big Blue some glimmer of hope for the future, but can GM Dave Gettleman put the right pieces together to form a contender? With widespread talent and high ceiling players, the players selected by the Giants could be immediate impact pieces that put this team in the right direction. So what are the G-Men’s biggest needs?

1. Linebacker/Pass Rusher

With the release of the disappointing Alec Ogletree along with Kareem Martin to free up cap space, perhaps the Giants biggest need is now currently vacant. The team has still, for whatever reason, not yet re-signed Markus Golden, their best defensive player in 2019 recording 10 sacks. And with Jadeveon Clowney’s asking price likely to be too high and Jacksonville asking for at least a first-round pick for star edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue, it looks like the draft is the best place to look for a pass rusher. Luckily, there are a lot of options. Many people, myself included, love Isaiah Simmons from Clemson, the defensive chess piece that can be one of the franchise’s cornerstone players along with Barkley and Jones. There are other options that could possibly fall to the Giants second-round pick at 36 such as Zach Baun, Terrell Lewis, K’Lavon Chaisson, Patrick Queen or Kenneth Murray. Whoever it is, the Giants desperately need someone who can put pressure on the quarterback.

2. Offensive Tackle/Center

The signing of former Cowboy Cameron Flemming in free agency was a possible indicator that the Giants will not choose an offensive lineman with their first-round pick. As pass rusher, this is a very deep offensive line class. With up to 5 projected to be taken in the first round, the options are all laid out in front of them. Two alone could be taken in the top 10, but there are plenty of options in the second round and beyond. Outside of the “big four” of Mekhi Becton from Louisville, Tristan Wirfs of Iowa, Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, there are still several players that could be considered. A couple of names in the mix could be USC’s Austin Jackson, Houston’s Josh Jones, LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry, Temple center Matt Hennessy and Michigan center Cesar Ruiz. Multiple analysts will give you their respective options about all of these prospects, but the New York Giants would be wise to come out of this draft with at least one of them.

3. Free Safety

Does anyone even remember the last time the New York Giants had a good free safety? Landon Collins was a pro bowl level strong safety and Jabrill Peppers has shown a lot of potentials to be their guy in filling those shoes, but the team needs to put someone a free safety position that can help their young defensive backs not get beat over the top. The young secondary will need time to develop, DeAndre Baker and Julian Love both have potential but adding another piece to the back end is vital to complete a defensive unit. Some top names that will likely be first-rounders are LSU’s Grant Delpit and Alabama’s Xavier McKinney. At 36, there are still some intriguing options. Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield Jr. is a name that should very much be on the Giant’s radar, Jeremy Chinn from Southern Illinois, Kyle Dugger from Lenoir-Rhyne and K’Von Wallace from Clemson are all guys that could be immediate impact players. It would be in the Giants’ best interest to snag one of them to bolster their young secondary.

New York Giants NFL Draft Profile: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

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New York Giants, Mekhi Becton

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 most hyped offensive tackle prospects in this year’s class is Mekhi Becton, a giant hog molly out of Louisville.

This is the second 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.

Granted, I am not an expert draft analyst. However, in this article, I will be breaking down Mekhi Becton 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. This article will also be accompanied by a YouTube video on our channel, Fireside Giants.

Top Strengths:

Size, Strength, and Athleticism:

The Mekhi Becton “Hype Train” started preparing to take off sometime in early February. But the train never really left the station until the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. At this year’s Combine, Becton was one of the most impressive prospects and saw his draft stock rise in a major way.

Becton’s measurables were insane. The Louisville prospect measured in at 6 feet 7 and 3/8 inches and weighed a tremendous 364 pounds paired with the fourth-longest arms (35 5/8 inches) and the sixth-biggest wingspan (83 1/4). He possesses rare size and strength, paired with incredible athleticism that can be seen demonstrated in his forty-yard dash:

The heaviest man at the Combine ran a 5.11s forty-yard-dash. According to NFL Network, “he also turned in unofficial 10-yard split times of 1.80 and 1.77 seconds, which would be considered average for an offensive lineman of average size, but not one as big as Becton.”

Here is a clip of Becton putting his size and strength to work, purely dominating a defender:

Here is another clip, this one of Mekhi Becton pushing an entire truck like its a sled:

Mekhi Becton’s size, strength, and athleticism give him the ability to make plays like this (or push trucks like this). However, he needs to learn to rely less on his physical traits and more on his technique.

Run Blocking:

When it comes down to run-blocking versus pass-blocking, Mekhi Becton’s strength is as a run-blocker. His strength makes it possible for him to open up big holes for running backs to sprint through. His power gives him the ability to pancake defenders three feet into the dirt.

One thing that jumps off the tape is Mekhi’s ability to get to the second level. After making one block, Becton’s athleticism and 10-yard-split show up as he quickly accelerates to the second level, identifies his target, and puts his power and weight into the targeted defender. This clip below can serve as a perfect example:

Though Becton’s run-blocking is a strength, he does still have some occasional whiffs and missed assignments. This stems from his lack of a refined technique, which is his biggest weakness.

Top Weaknesses:

Lack of Technique:

The biggest flaw in Mekhi Becton’s game is his lack of technique. He has all the physical tools and athletic ability necessary to be a stud offensive tackle. But he will not truly be successful until he improves his technique. This is why Becton has been sometimes labeled as a “boom-or-bust” prospect.

All of the flaws in Mekhi’s game stem from his lack of technique. His difficulties in pass-protection, his tendency to occasionally whiff on blocks in both facets of the game, and the times where he gets bull-rushed backward at 360+ pounds are all problems created by his lack of a refined technique. Mekhi Becton does not consistently step into the defender or keep his arms extended. Many of Becton’s whiffs come from plays where he has his hands down too long and/or waits for the defender to initiate contact.

Mekhi Becton is strong. He knows it, the defense knows it, everyone knows it. But he cannot rely purely on strength. Often times, Becton will try to just throw defenders to the ground in sort of a punching motion. When he succeeds, it looks awesome. But, when he fails, it usually results in a quarterback pressure or a sack.

Often times, Mekhi Becton is off balance. He shifts too much of his weight to the top of his body and falls forward while trying to shove a defender, rather than getting in front of the defender and blocking him with active and powerful hands. This is also something that Lance Zierlein of NFL.com noted, stating under “Weaknesses” that Becton “Throws himself off-balance when loading up punch.”

It is worth noting, though, that Mekhi is only 20-years-old. Draft prospects are never finished products. We should not expect a 20-year-old to have perfect technique before being coached by an NFL staff. But, if you are looking for an instant-impact offensive tackle in the 2020 NFL Draft, there are more polished prospects to choose form.

If Becton can learn proper technique he can become a “Gold-Jacket player.” He has true gifts in size, strength, and athleticism. But he has not learned how to play offensive tackle yet. Being involved with an NFL coaching staff will obviously fix this to some extent, but to what extent? That is where the question lies with Mekhi Becton.

Recap:

Mekhi Becton has all the tools and physical attributes he needs to be a quality offensive tackle. He possesses a rare body-build combined with the athletic ability that someone that size should not have. But Becton’s far from a perfect prospect. He has major flaws in his technique that weigh down his overall performance quality.

The potential is there for Becton to be an absolute stud in the NFL. It could be a tumultuous rookie season, but the greatest teacher, failure is (according to Yoda). In other words, Becton’s lack of technique might get in his way early in his career. But if he learns how to polish his technique and gets coached properly by an NFL staff he can be an elite offensive tackle. He is definitely a prospect for the Giants to consider taking in the first round, but I think they should only seriously considering drafting Mekhi Becton if they trade down.

In my opinion, he is definitely not the top offensive tackle in the class and taking him at fourth overall (over players like Isaiah Simmons, Andrew Thomas, etc.) would be a bit of a reach. Then again, we all thought Daniel Jones at six was a reach and he seems to have proven us all wrong so far. The NFL Draft truly is an anomaly.

Once again, if you have any feedback, critiques, or questions, you can reach me on Twitter: @Anthony_Rivardo. Also, be sure to check out the Mekhi Becton Draft Profile video on YouTube (Fireside Giants) where I go more in-depth and do some film breakdowns. Let me know via Twitter or the YouTube comments section which prospect you want me to break down next.

Should the Giants consider a receiver in the third round and beyond?

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New York Giants, Darius Slayton

It’s been just over a year since the New York Giants dealt their superstar WR Odell Beckham Jr. along with defensive end Olivier Vernon to the Cleveland Browns for a package deal including draft picks, right guard Kevin Zeitler and safety Jabrill Peppers. Despite his antics, Beckham was one of the most talented players the Giants have ever had at the receiver position.

When Saquon Barkley was selected with the second overall pick in 2018, Giants fans were tantalized by the idea of an offense that now consisted of Beckham, Barkley, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram. A few flashy plays here and there but the season ultimately fell short with a 5-11 record. After Beckham’s departure, we are left with a serviceable WR corps, littered with injury-prone players.

While Darius Slayton showed promise and looked to be one of the steals of the 2019 draft, the New York Giants could, and should, look to bolster their wide receiving squad starting in the third round. Luckily, this a very deep draft for several positions, including the receiver. Now, while the Jerry Jeudy’s and CeeDee Lamb’s of the world will both likely be gone in the first round along with others such as Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III and Clemson’s Tee Higgins, there are still. several interesting options in the later rounds.

1. Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State.

Aiyuk is definitely a considerable selection in the late rounds for the Giants. A beast in yards after the catch, Aiyuk is a big-play threat that can absolutely contribute to any offense.

2. Chase Claypool, Notre Dame.

Claypool has great size and strength to be a big body outside the receiver. With his large frame a body positioning, his performance in contested catches is where he finds the most success.

3. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan.

A great blend of size, hands, and ball skills, Peoples-Jones can prove to be a nice addition in the slot, as well as contribute on special teams as a returner. A tremendous athlete who can create leverage as a route runner could absolutely be useful.

4. Michael Pittman Jr, USC.

Pittman Jr. possesses a lot of good skills to bring to a wide receiving group. A very tough a physical receiver, he is an exceptional run-blocker, which would be perfect to maximize Saquon’s skillset.

5. K.J. Hamler, Penn State.

An exceptional route runner with terrific speed, Hamler is a receiver that the Giants would be lucky to fall to the third round. If he does, in fact, fall out of the first two rounds, Hamler should be a serious consideration.

New York Giants: Comparing The Recent Success Rate Of First-Round OTs and LBs

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New York Giants, Isaiah Simmons, Andrew Thomas

The New York Giants hold the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. With free agency just about over, the Giants spent a lot of money but did not fill every hole. New York did secure an inside linebacker, Blake Martinez, however, he still will not thrive in the pass-coverage role that the Giants desperately need to fill. This makes Isaiah Simmons still a suitable option at fourth overall.

But the Giants did not sign a bonafide-starter at the offensive tackle position either. Cameron Fleming was signed by New York with hopes of starting at right tackle opposite of Nate Solder, but that could change in next month’s draft, too.

The option for an offensive tackle or a linebacker (Isaiah Simmons) with the fourth overall pick is still there. Dave Gettleman and company will have a tough decision to make: take the best player available in Isaiah Simmons and change the face of your defense? Or address a major position of need with a stud offensive tackle prospect?

First-Round Offensive Tackle Draft Success

In the last three years, eight offensive tackles have been drafted in the first round:

  • Ryan Ramczyk- 2019 First-Team All-Pro.
  • Garrett Bolles- Has not missed a game, good PFF grade (75.9 overall).
  • Isaiah Wynn- Missed 24 out of 32 games with injuries.
  • Kolton Miller- Has not missed a game, average PFF grade (65.0 overall).
  • Mike McGlinchey- Played in 28 of 32 games, integral to San Francisco’s dominant offensive line.
  • Kaleb McGary- Has not missed a game, 13 sacks allowed, poor PFF grade (53.0 overall).
  • Tytus Howard- Missed 8 games in rookie season with an injury.
  • Andre Dillard- Played 4 games, sat behind Jason Peters. Expected to start in 2020.
  • Jonah Williams- Missed entire rookie season with an injury.

First-round offensive tackles are volatile. Many of them miss significant time with injuries or struggle to play at a high level early on in their careers. Drafting an offensive tackle is a long-term upgrade. But it does not necessarily improve your team right away. Drafting an inside linebacker in the first round, however, has proven to have an instant impact.

First-Round Inside Linebacker Draft Success

In the last three years, nine inside linebackers have been selected in the first round:

  • Reuben Foster- Career derailed by suspensions and injuries.
  • Jarrad Davis- Has played in 41 of 48 games, poor PFF grade (40.4 overall), and 15.3% and 13.7% missed tackle rates.
  • Haason Reddick- Started 20 of 48 games, poor PFF grade (40.1 overall), 12.1% and 12.6% missed tackle rates.
  • Rashaan Evans- Started 23 of 31 games played in, missed 1 game, recorded 11 combined tackles on 16 starts in 2019 with a 13.3% missed tackle rate and a poor PFF grade (49.8 overall).
  • Leighton Vander Esch- 2018 Second-Team All-Pro with 140 tackles and 6.7% missed tackle rate, missed 7 games with injury in 2019.
  • Tremaine Edmunds- Played 31 of 32 games, 115+ tackles both seasons, 9.4% missed tackle rate in 2019.
  • Roquan Smith- Missed 4 games in 2019 with injury, still managed 101 tackles with a 3.8% missed tackle rate.
  • Devin Bush- Started 15 games as a rookie, 109 combined tackles with 11.4% missed tackle rate, and average PFF grade (62.9 overall).
  • Devin White- Played in and started 13 games as a rookie, 91 combined tackles with 11.7% missed tackle rate poor, PFF grade (50.6 overall), and led the NFL in fumble return yards and touchdowns (121 yards, 2 touchdowns on 3 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries).

Despite mostly poor Pro Football Focus grades at the position, the inside linebackers have been impactful in their first seasons. Many of them totaled over 100 tackles in more than one season and many played in the majority of their team’s games as starters on the defense.

If the Giants do decide to draft Isaiah Simmons, they will be getting the best and most versatile inside linebacker prospect of the last four years. He will have an instant impact on the team and significantly boost the defense’s talent level. However, drafting an offensive tackle is a long-term selection with an impact that might be more valuable but take longer to arrive.

Shoutout to @BigBlueUnited on Twitter for inspiring this article.

Why The New York Giants Should Not Draft Derrick Brown

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New York Giants, Derrick Brown

The New York Giants are preparing for a crucial 2020 NFL Draft. With the draft set to take place in under a month, rumors and mock drafts are abundant. The Giants have reportedly been interested in a few big-name prospects: Tristan Wirfs and Isaiah Simmons being two prime examples. But one name has come up as a potential target for New York, causing some to raise an eyebrow. 

Dave Gettleman and the New York Giants are reportedly interested in using their first-round pick on interior defensive lineman Derrick Brown. The Auburn product totaled 11.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and 54 total tackles in his junior season. He is the top defensive line prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft class.

Derrick Brown is an extraordinary talent. He will be a home-run selection for one of the league’s thirty-two teams next month. But that team should not be the New York Giants.

Continual Investment

The Giants have invested a humungous amount of draft assets into their defensive line. In 2017, New York’s general manager at the time, Jerry Reese, spent a second-round pick on Dalvin Tomlinson. The following year, Dave Gettleman came to town.

Dave Gettleman has long been criticized for his positional prioritization. He puts a heavy emphasis on running the ball and stopping the run in what is a passing-league. When Gettleman came to town in 2018, he had a track record for stacking up an abundance of defensive lineman during his time as general manager of the Carolina Panthers. With the Panthers, Dave Gettleman spent four first and second-round picks on defensive linemen in five years.

So when Gettleman came to the Giants, they had Dalvin Tomlinson in place with potential for a talented young defensive line in the works. But it did need additional assets. Gettleman delivered, hitting on his third-round pick, BJ Hill, a defensive lineman that impressively racked up 5.5 sacks as a rookie. RJ McIntosh was also the Giants’ seventh-round selection that year. He did not see the field much, but when he did, his performance was also impressive.

Unfortunately for Hill and McIntosh, they have both been shoved to the bottom of the depth chart. In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Giants selected Dexter Lawrence II with the seventeenth overall pick. Another exciting player added to the defensive line that now looked to be one of the best young defensive fronts in the NFL. Dexter Lawrence, Dalvin Tomlinson, and BJ Hill seemed to be a force for years to come, with McIntosh as a solid rotational piece.

The Arrival of Leonard Williams

That was until Hill’s replacement switched locker rooms. The Giants acquired Leonard Williams in a trade with the New York Jets. Williams is an excellent player, but the Giants had no chance of making the playoffs when the deal was made and gave up a 2020 third-round pick and a 2021 fifth-round pick to acquire the impending free-agent lineman.

This trade stunted BJ Hill’s development. But the Giants did gain a talented former first-round pick in Leonard Williams. Unfortunately, Williams became a free agent only months later. Leonard and the Giants have not been able to reach a long-term agreement, which is what led the Giants to place the costly franchise tag on their new defensive lineman.

List of Assets Invested:

With all this taken into account, here is what Dave Gettleman has invested into the Giants’ defensive line since 2018: 2018 third-round pick, 2018 seventh-round pick, 2019 first-round pick, 2019 seventh-round pick, 2020 third-round pick, 2021 fifth-round pick, $16.1 million franchise tag.

This is a positional group that has only three starters. With so much already invested into the New York Giants’ defensive line, would it really make sense for the Giants to spend their 2020 first-round pick on Derrick Brown? New York’s defensive line is already the strongest position group on the team. It is time to start investing in other positions of actual need.

Fennelly’s Four Round Giants’ Mock Draft

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New York Giants, Mekhi Becton

It’s my turn to try my hand at a mock draft for the New York Giants. Using The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Simulator, I limited my scope to the first four rounds. Keep in mind, the simulator does not predict or account for trades, so you are regulated to staying in your spot and taking the best player as possible for your team.

Here’s what I ended up with:

RD1, P4: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Tristan Wirfs of Iowa was actually of the board at No. 2 to Washington with Chase Young going to Detroit third overall. Many would like to see Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons here but it is about time they did something to fix this offensive line. With a young quarterback and a running game that needs a road grader, Becton is the perfect pick here. He can move Nate Solder either to right tackle or the bench which is what this team needs.

RD2, P36: Terrell Lewis, EDGE, Alabama

After a slow start to his college career, the 6’5″, 262 pound Lewis came on strong in his final year for the Tide. He was a named a second-team All-SEC selection recording 31 tackles (11.5 for loss) with six sacks and two passes defensed in 11 games. He is seen as a ascending player with a ton of upside but the injury history has kept him out of the first round.

RD3, P99: Terrell Burgess, S, Utah

Ran a 4.46 40 with 20 benches at the NFL Combine. Conducts himself like a pro and takes his preparation seriously. NFL.com compares Burgess to Demarious Randall. The Giants would hav preferred a veteran safety to replace Antoine Bethea but Burgess could be mature and talented enough to be the answer.

RD4, P110: K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State

Stayed in school the extra year and became the Buckeyes’ all-time receptions leader. Is a solid route runner with dependable hands who will give the Giants another reliable option in the passing game.

New York Giants: How To Address The Remaining Positions Of Need

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New York Giants, John Mara, Dave Gettleman

The New York Giants seem to be done spending money in free agency. New York saw its large sum of cap space quickly dwindle down in a few short days. The Giants spent big at the cornerback and linebacker position, while also adding some quality depth pieces on affordable contracts.

The Giants spent millions of dollars but they did not fill every position of need. With this 4-12 roster, that would have been a near-impossible task. Of course, free agency is no the only way to add new players to an NFL roster. The NFL Draft will take place in April (though in a new format) and the Giants hold the fourth overall pick. New York has ten draft picks to spend in 2020, and they will need to make them count in order to turn this team around.

But still, it is unlikely the Giants fill all positions of need in the NFL Draft. The Giants have a long list of needs, some in critical positions, too.

The Giants’ Biggest Positions Of Need:

The New York Giants’ biggest positions of need come at the crucial offensive tackle spot and edge rusher positions. Day by day, it seems more and more likely that Markus Golden will not be returning to the Giants. This will leave the Giants, once again, lacking an impact pass-rusher.

On the opposite side of the ball, the Giants’ current offensive tackles are Nate Solder and Cameron Fleming. It is highly possible that, after the draft, the Giants will have a rookie starting opposite of Nate Solder.

How To Address EDGE and OT:

Edge Rushers and Pass-Rush:

The Giants have a variety of ways that they can address the edge rusher position defensive pass-rush as a whole. Obviously, if Chase Young somehow falls to the fourth overall pick, the Giants should have the pick handed in within ten seconds. But that is an unlikely scenario.

There is still time for the Gmen to re-sign Markus Golden. It seems unlikely at this point, but the longer the twenty-nine-year-old sits on the open market, the more his price will come down. Hopefully, the two parties can reach an affordable agreement that also satisfies Golden. But, if they cannot, the Giants will likely not have money to spend on any other edge rushers. So, to address the position, the Giants will have to get creative.

The 2020 New York Giants will need to create pressure through their defensive scheme. New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will have to dig deep into his bag of tricks and scheme up the pressure in his multiple defensive scheme. Recently signed pass-rusher Kyler Fackrell will be thrown into the mix along with young pass-rushers Oshane Ximines and Lorenzo Carter. The three of them will need to be assigned to play to their strengths and find ways to get easy lanes to the quarterback without relying too much on pure talent.

Offensive Tackle:

The Giants need to draft an offensive tackle early in the 2020 NFL Draft. If not with a first-round pick, the Giants have to draft an offensive tackle by the second round. It is a rich draft class filled with talented offensive tackles, including four first-round prospects. Andrew Thomas, Jedrick Wills, Mekhi Becton, and Tristan Wirfs will all be options for the Giants at fourth overall.

In 2018, the Giants had holes all over their offensive line. They did not address that huge position of need in the first round, opting to select superstar running back Saquon Barkley second overall instead. Fortunately, the 2018 draft class was loaded with offensive line talent and a first-round prospect slipped into the second round. The Giants drafted Will Hernandez in the second round and he has efficiently been the team’s starting left guard ever since. Hopefully, New York can find a gem of a hog molly in round two once again if they decide to address the defense in round one.