jedrick wills

New York Giants: Who is the ideal offensive lineman to select at 4th overall?

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

The New York Giants are heading toward the 2020 NFL Draft with heads of steam after addressing the defense significantly this offseason. Signing James Bradberry and Blake Martinez represent upgrades at the cornerback and linebacker positions, but the offensive tackle position is still lacking talent on both sides.

The Giants, however, could spend the 4th overall pick on a tackle if they elect to forgo the opportunity to land Isaiah Simmons to plug in a playmaker at the second linebacker spot. It will be incredibly difficult to pass on a player like Simmons, who represents one of the best players in the draft and a defensive staple for years to come.

An offensive tackle makes the most sense for the Giants, as they let Mike Remmers walk in free agency and re-signed Cameron Fleming to provide competition at right tackle along with Nick Gates.

Who’s the ideal tackle at 4th overall for the New York Giants?

Reports during the NFL Combine suggested that GM Dave Gettleman highly regarded Tristan Wirfs, and he posted incredible numbers, including a 40-yard dash of 4.85.

His elite body type with incredible athleticism makes him one of the best prospects in the draft. His ability to stand his ground and utilize core strength has been apparent during his time in Iowa, but make no mistake, he’s as smooth of a mover as they come. He won’t be the explosive blocker you see in players like Quenton Nelson, but he will use finesse to get the job done. There’s room for development, but he has the skill-set to be a long-term tackle for the Giants.

Jedrick Wills represents another fantastic option for the Giants early on in the first round. Wills is a bit below the ideal size for a tackle (6-4, 312lbs), but he’s quick and fundamentally sound. His athleticism has allowed him to compensate for lack of size, contributing great agility and body control in the trenches. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein believes he’s ready for the next level: “His game is tailor-made for the NFL, and his range of success is good starter to All-Pro.”

Watching Wills in his pass protection sets, he is by far the most refined in that category. His vision and ability to handle stunts are far beyond the skills of Wirfs, who takes poor angle sets at times with questionable footwork.

One great video to learn about the two:

I believe these are the two best options for the Giants if they spend the 4th overall pick on a tackle. Of course, Mekhi Becton and Andrew Thomas remain reliable options, but Wirfs and Wills represent the most upside of the four.

Extra review:

Becton is incredibly quick for a player of his size (6-7, 364lbs). He fits perfectly into running schemes with his size and power — would benefit Saquon Barkley when running outside the tackles. Pass pro is where he will struggle in the NFL, as he can lack balance at times, but his set-up is better in pass pro than expected for a man of his size. Zierlein believes his size usually would hinder a player, but all of his issues are fixable with better coaching.

Andrew Thomas is the final player, who’s very much in the conversation for the Giants. The former five-star prospect was stellar for the Georgia Bulldogs when he initially joined the offensive front in his rookie season. Since moving to left tackle, he has earned plenty of accolades to promote his quality. Aside from displaying consistency in the healing department, he had a great 2019 season, earning first-team Associated Press All-American and first-team all-health awards.

Thomas is a player who you can count on week in and week out, making him another great player to consider with the Giants’ pick. Personally, I’m going with Jedrick Wills if I’m Dave Gettleman, as he offers the most NFL-ready abilities out of all four. His size is a tad concerning but his fundamentals are sharp.

New York Giants: Offensive Tackle Still the Right Move in Round 1

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New York Giants, Nate Solder, Jon Halapio, Mike Remmers

For the third year in a row, the New York Giants are in an incredibly polarizing position for April’s Draft.  In 2018, it was the great debate of taking a possible franchise quarterback or a generational talent at running back.  Last year they passed on defensive talent for a quarterback we labeled a bust before he even took a snap.

For years, Giants fans have been clamoring for an adequate offensive line and for a linebacker that can finally replace the void left by Antonio Pierce.  These two areas of the roster seem to have been neglected for years.  In 2020, the New York Giants are in a great position to finally address one, if not both, areas of need.  The question that remains is which way should they go in the first round?

Isaiah Simmons

We knew to head into the NFL Combine that Clemson “unicorn” Isaiah Simmons was an athletic freak.  In Indianapolis, he garnered otherworldly comparisons.  After his performance was complete, his measurements compared him to wide receiver Julio Jones.  A linebacker or safety being compared to one of the best wide receivers the league has ever seen is explanation enough.  The man is truly out of this world at his position.

It is without question that the Giants would primarily play him at linebacker.  He can do just about everything.  We have seen him run toe to toe with his Clemson teammate, running back Travis Etienne. So, covering running backs, tight ends and even receivers shouldn’t be an issue.  We know he can tackle and has elite range to cover the field.

If there is one aspect of the “do it all” label I feel any semblance of concern about, it is as a consistent pass rusher.  The majority of his sacks and pressures came on pure speed, his arm length and being schemed to pressure.  That is extreme nitpicking, folks.  If he is drafted by the Giants, he won’t be asked to be a true edge rusher.

Offensive Tackle

Take your pick.  This is labeled a deep offensive tackle class, and for good reason.  There are roughly four names that consistently get ranked in the top 20 to 30 prospects.  Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas all have garnered attention for the Giants in the first round.  There is then another tier of tackles that could be had later in the 1st round, or the top of the 2nd round.  Houston’s Josh Jones, TCU’s Lucas Niang, and USC’s Austin Jackson.

All of these players have their unique skillset.  Jedrick Wills is primarily a right tackle and some believe he’d be better suited to move to guard. Mekhi Becton has incredible mobility for a big man.  Andrew Thomas is a power run game’s dream.  So for the Giants, it is a matter of picking the best scheme fit for the offense.

Most pundits will tell you that the Giants can find a franchise offensive tackle in the 2nd round.  They very well could. However, with how valuable the offensive tackle position is and how difficult it is to find in the NFL, is the risk worth it?

Verdict

I will be the first to tell you that this is a very difficult decision.  Trading back is ideal.  Isaiah Simmons is ideal.  The offensive line is ideal.  There is a way the Giants can do all three, however very unlikely.  Isaiah Simmons combine may have secured him as a top 5 selection.  He could even go top 3 and make the decision easy for Big Blue.  Yet, as badly as I covet a game-changing linebacker, offensive tackle is still the biggest need.

Daniel Jones is the future of this franchise.  Protecting your franchise quarterback is important enough.  Protecting your franchise quarterback that has an issue fumbling the football is amplified.  Two years ago, they drafted Saquon Barkley, “a running back”, with the 2nd overall pick.  This was in a draft class that was labeled as one of the best quarterback classes to date.  For Saquon, finding a running room has been the biggest challenge of his young career.

Again reflecting on that 2018 NFL Draft, many wanted the Giants to do the “smart” thing and draft a quarterback over an athletic freak.  This year, the majority have the complete opposite outlook.  Take the athletic freak at linebacker, over the more important offensive tackle position.  Of course, running back is not on the same level as linebacker or quarterback.  I get that.  However, the debate isn’t all that different.  Albeit a bit more complex.  A linebacker can help this defense win football games.

Yes, the Giants could get an offensive tackle at the top of the 2nd round or by trading up.  Is that the smart play?  With so many holes, do we want to give up more assets to trade up?  Likewise, do we want to sit at the 36th overall and pick from what is left at offensive tackle?  The position is so incredibly important, that there will be a run on offensive line talent in the first round.  Do the Giants pick whoever they want?  Or do they settle with whoever is left?

Looking at September 2020 and beyond, where do the Giants go?  Can they make a deep playoff run? Sure. Is it likely? Probably not.  Am I throwing in the towel in 2020? Not.  Let’s be realistic, though.  An offensive tackle can help the long term goals of this team while protecting your franchise quarterback from injury.  A linebacker will help as well, but you still play with fire with your quarterback.  Is this a reach argument? Yep.

In Conclusion

When all is said and done, what happens between now and the draft in free agency will determine a lot.  If the New York Giants do draft Isaiah Simmons, I will be one of the first in line for a new Giants jersey.  However, if the Giants’ offensive line woes continue and the fan base screams for Gettleman’s head for not addressing the offensive line the same way they did to Jerry Reese… well, I hope I don’t have to say “I told you so”.

New York Giants: The top 3 tackles available in the 2020 NFL Draft

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New York Jets, Mekhi Becton

The 2020 NFL Draft offers far more than just Isaiah Simmons, Chase Young, and Joe Burrow. It presents one of the best offensive tackles classes in recent memory, and the New York Giants are in dire need of support at the position.

With the 4th overall pick, Big Blue has the opportunity to grab a top talent at the position on a rookie deal, helping to protect young quarterback Daniel Jones for the foreseeable future.

Here are three of the best options the New York Giants should consider:

1.) Andrew Thomas – Georgia

At 6-5, 320-pounds, Andrew Thomas is one of the best tackle options in the draft. He’s a top-three tackle and has some of the best fundamentals out of the crop. A three-year starter for Georgia, Thomas is a front-runner to win the Joe Moore Award. Playing both left and right tackle during his tenure, Thomas has the potential to slide in at right tackle where Mike Remmers formerly sat for the Giants.

Thomas is a gritty player with the ability to recover nicely in pass-protection and get the job done in the run game. He’s a day one starter who will slot in with whichever team is lucky enough to draft him. While his build isn’t ideal for the NFL, he has a tough mentality and athleticism to compensate.

2.) Jedrick Wills

Wills is also 6-5, 320-pounds, but his abilities are a bit different than Thomas’s. He has some of the best punches in the game and a varied approach towards preventing pass-rushers from finding a rhythm. His mobility and hip-control allow him to follow pass-rushers in pass-protection, but having the agility and nimbleness to move freely enables him to jump to the second-level in the run-game.

While Wills is speedy and mobile, he tends to jump the gun at times, giving too much leverage to opposing defenders, allowing them to catch him off-balance and overly committed. As one of the most impressive prospects in the draft, the Giants could slot him in at right tackle with ease.

3.) Mekhi Becton

As one of the biggest tackles in the draft, Becton would be a behemoth addition to the Giants’ offensive line. At 6-7, 369-pounds, Becton would be a great right tackle with great mobility for his size.

While Mekhi played primarily at left tackle last season (11 games), he has the ability to move to the right side where the Giants would need him. His seven-foot wingspan gives him the length to stop opposing pass-rushers but also reset if need be. His upper body is strong, and his kick-out gives him the agility to react upon the snap of the ball. One of the more underrated aspects of Becton is his ability to jump to the second-level and block against the run. Being his size doesn’t make that easy, which only adds to his value in the first round.

However, size can be a bad thing at the NFL level, and without ample discipline, he could be exposed against faster pass-rushers. He can throw himself off balance at times when winding up to punch, which is a notable negative to consider. Overall, he’s a fantastic prospect with arguably the highest ceiling of any tackle in the draft.

The Real Question for the New York Giants at 4

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New York Giants, DeAndre Baker

The New York Giants have a very real dilemma if they do not trade back in the 2020 NFL Draft this April.  Of course, any Giant fan will hold on to the dream of Chase Young falling to New York, but the roads to get there are nearly impassable.  

It would take a team willing to outbid the Miami Dolphins, who hold five picks in the first two rounds this year, for Washington’s pick.  Which would also mean the Redskins would be willing to move outside the Top 5.

Possible? Sure. So is me winning a lottery jackpot upwards of one billion dollars?

What options do the Giants realistically have at 4?

Fans of the New York Giants should stick to three options assuming they stay at number 4.  Those options are offensive tackle, a versatile defensive unicorn, and another young cornerback.

Offensive Tackle

Fortunately for the Giants, the offensive tackle class has some very good talent.  There are four options right now that the Giants could consider at the 4th overall. Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, and Mekhi Becton out of Louisville.  

Jedrick Wills seems to be separating himself a bit from the rest, but Mekhi Becton has been gaining quite a bit of steam heading into the pre-draft process.  I wrote in my most recent mock draft that I believe Andrew Thomas would be the best fit for the Giants run game, but Becton Wills and Wirfs all have their arguments as well.  Admittedly, I’m beginning to lean more towards Wills, while not being able to deny the lateral movement of Becton. Regardless, if Dave Gettleman wants to add a hog molly with the 4th pick, there are plenty of options.

The Unicorn

All I really need to say here is the name “Isaiah Simmons” and end this paragraph.  Everyone knows his name and what he can do. He’s versatile, he’s talented and he has very few, if any, weaknesses to his game.  Simmons can play a variety of positions, which is what makes him attractive for the Giants here. He wouldn’t fix all of the defenses issues, but wherever he plays best would be an upgrade for New York.

His best fit for the Giants would likely be linebacker.  Either as an interior LB or as the WILL in a 4-3 front. Regardless, he can cover running backs, tight ends and even wide receivers, as well as be an impact blitzer.  If you’ve been a fan of the Giants for awhile, you likely desire a talented sideline-to-sideline linebacker that can defend the pass against running backs and tightends as much as I have.  Simmons is that answer.

Cornerback

Albeit the least likely of the three options, one can not rule out the Giants potential attraction to Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah.  Okudah’s man coverage skills and athletic ability may result in him evolving into one of, if not the best cornerback in the NFL during his time.  He is physical and can stay on a receivers hip through any route. Okudah’s ball skills are tremendous. He may need to work on his zone presence a little, but the value he adds in the pass game outweighs that.

The Dilemma

To me, the real debate for the Giants if they choose to stay at four is simple.  Linebacker or offensive tackle. Of course, Simmons can play more than just linebacker, but he is best suited for the middle of the defense.  He’s not a true EDGE rusher and putting him at safety takes him away from being a consistent impact on every rep. If the Giants draft Simmons, it is to play him at linebacker.  

As much as I covet a game-changing linebacker for this team, is a linebacker more valuable and more of a dire need for the New York Giants?  It certainly is something they need to address, but let’s not ignore the issues at offensive line.

The problems along the offensive line have been rampant for the Giants for years.  Nate Solder was given a big contract but has not lived up to it. The right tackle has been a carousel of players with no clear answer.  Misfortune and durability have crippled the starting center role. Trying to patch the line up can no longer be an answer.  

OL Nick Gates showed promise last season.  He stepped in when Mike Remmers was injured and looked good.  Whether or not he can be a consistent starter quality talent for New York is still a question.  Free-agent Jack Conklin has been a name linked to the Giants for some time now, but his signing with Big Blue is no certainty either.  Even with the addition of Conklin, do either him or Gates have what it takes to play left tackle? Can Nate Solder drastically improve?  

Finding a talented offensive line is not just a problem that plagues the Giants.  Every team in the NFL values talent on their line every off-season. There are plenty of teams with good lines, but having depth is another thing.  Jack Conklin could command big money in free agency, which the Giants have, but are they willing and able to outbid other suitors? Time will tell. 

The 2020 offensive tackle class this year is pretty talented.  As noted earlier, there are four options for the Giants with the 4th pick.  Usually, if a position of need is deep, I am all for waiting to select a player.  However, is this really something worth risking to wait until taking with the 2nd pick?  Would players like Josh Jones, Lucas Niang and Austin Jackson have the same impact and longevity? They might, but why let another team dictate who you can pick if you have the fortune of being able to choose whoever you want?

Isaiah Simmons is a fantastic athlete and I will not be disappointed to hear his name called to the Giants in April.  I will be the first in line to buy his jersey.  However, when it comes down to it, offensive tackle is a much more important need than a linebacker. The Giants have taken risks in the last two drafts.  A running back with the 2nd overall pick, and then a controversial QB selection in 2019. It is imperative for the success of the team to give both of those players help.  Even if that means sacrificing a unicorn in the process.

Debate: Should the New York Giants take a WR at 4?

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New York Giants, DeAndre Baker

As the NFL season comes to a close, fans of the New York Giants have already begun speculating moves that their beloved team should do this offseason.  Something that has become all too familiar over the last few seasons.

One position of intrigue and debate is wide receiver.  After trading away Odell Beckham Jr. and being thin at the position, many wonders if the Giants will take an elite receiver at the top of this April’s NFL Draft.  Others, on the other hand, believe this would be a mistake. Which side are you on?

Making the case for a WR in Round 1

With the 4th overall pick in hand and considering the needs of Washington and Detroit in front of them, the New York Giants very likely could miss out on a premier defensive talent yet again.  Chase Young seems bound for Washington. Isaiah Simmons’ performance has made him a strong candidate to go 3rd overall. So, what does that mean for the Giants?

Popular options include trading back to a quarterback hungry team, taking a young offensive tackle or grabbing another cornerback.  However, many others think the New York Giants should be taking a wide receiver. 

Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy and Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb have been considered by some to be ideal selections for the Giants.  Jeudy has been compared to the Cowboys’ Amari Cooper and can be the outside receiver New York covets. His speed and agility make him a threat at all levels.  

Then there is CeeDee Lamb.  Lamb has incredible ball skills and control of his 6’2” frame.  Many compare Lamb to Houston’s Deandre Hopkins or even 6-time Pro Bowler, Reggie Wayne.  How could the New York Giants pass on that?

Even if the Giants were to trade down, the talent in this draft class at the receiver is very deep.  Clemon’s Tee Higgins, Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III, LSU’s Justin Jefferson, and Colorado’s Laviska Shenault Jr. are just some of the names that could be called in the 1st round.

Making the case against a WR in Round 1

The depth of this receiving class may be the strongest case against taking a receiver in the first round.  It is no secret that the New York Giants have needed all over, especially on the defense and offensive line.  Is taking a receiver in the Top 5 really the best use of draft capital?

Without trading out, the Giants are sitting in a great position to address many needs with premier talent.  Isaiah Simmons is an ideal fit, but may not be available. Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah is another top prospect that will be available with the 4th pick.  The tackle position is very top-heavy, with Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas all being considered as the best tackle prospect in the class. 

The Giants have a talented group of receivers already, but they are thin at the position.  With the injuries they suffered last season, having depth is critical. Taking a wide receiver later in the draft may be their best option.  Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk, Southern Cal’s Michael Pittman Jr. and Ohio State’s K.J.Hill are just some of the names the Giants could call at any point in the later rounds.  Temple wide receiver Isaiah Wright has been impressing scouts this week at the Shrine Bowl and could very well be a breakout player in the NFL.

What about the free-agent market?

The New York Giants are going to have a ton of money available for free agency.  If they prioritize the offensive line and defense in the NFL Draft, they have some options in free agency in order to build out the depth at wide receiver.

New York can definitely bring back guys that WR Coach Tyke Tolbert is familiar with.  Cody Latimer, Cody Core, and even Da’Mari Scott would all be unsurprising returns to the Giants.  If the G-Men dip elsewhere in free agency, they do have options. They could look to add a veteran with a one year deal, much like Randall Cobb, Demaryius Thomas or Danny Amendola.  The veteran option giving them depth, talent, and experience as a stop-gap for the season.

What about a younger option that could be signed for a longer deal?  WR Amari Cooper hasn’t be resigned by Dallas… yet. The Jets Robby Anderson looks to be headed to the open market and will be sought after.  There are also options like Rashard Higgins, who showed flashes with his time in Cleveland before the Browns brought in Landry and Odell.

Whatever the case may be, the New York Giants will have to address the lack of depth at wide receiver.  The talent is there, especially with the emergence of Darius Slayton, but there is a longevity concern that will need to be taken into consideration.