NFL Draft 2020

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.

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.

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.

New York Giants: The Ideal Draft-Day Trade

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The New York Giants are in a perfect position at fourth overall. They have the opportunity to land an elite draft prospect, but they are also sitting ahead of numerous quarterback-needy teams that might be looking to trade up to draft their signal-caller.

The Giants, at fourth overall, sit ahead of teams searching for a quarterback, such as the Miami Dolphins (fifth overall), the Los Angeles Chargers (sixth overall), and the Oakland Raiders (ninth overall). The Dolphins and Chargers are widely expected to trade up for a quarterback if they must.

Securing Two First Round Picks:

The Giants can capitalize on the Chargers’ and Dolphins’ needs for a quarterback. Miami holds three first-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft: fifth overall, eighteenth overall, and twenty-sixth overall. The Chargers only have the fifth overall pick in the first round, but they also have the thirty-seventh overall pick (second round).

Miami and Los Angeles are both likely to target the best quarterback available, expected to be Tua Tagovailoa. The two teams may compete for the right to draft Tua. The Giants can capitalize on this competition by creating a bidding war for the fourth overall pick.

It would make sense if the Chargers wanted to leapfrog the Dolphins and draft the quarterback they want before Miami has a chance to. They would only need to move up two spots to get in front of Miami. That should not be too expensive of a trade, right? Well, guess again.

Historically, most trades for quarterbacks involve multiple first-round picks in exchange for the pick to draft the quarterback. 

In addition to the premium prices that teams pay to draft quarterbacks, the Giants have the leverage to secure additional picks from the Miami Dolphins. New York could tell Miami that Los Angeles has offered the sixth overall pick and the thirty-seventh overall pick for the fourth overall pick, which they plan to spend on the quarterback that the Dolphins want. This would force Miami’s hand and get them to cough up the twenty-sixth overall pick to outbid Los Angeles and win the fourth overall pick.

The Giants, after trading the fifth pick to the Dolphins, would move back one spot and still be able to draft whomever they wanted to draft with the fourth overall pick. In addition to drafting that player, the Giants now hold an additional first-round pick, twenty-sixth overall. This would be the ideal draft-day trade for the New York Giants.

Addressing Positions Of Need:

In this ideal scenario, the Giants move back one spot and still get the prospect they wanted to draft with the fourth overall pick. They could even trade back further and stockpile more picks. I digress, however, and shift focus on whom the Giants could draft in this scenario. Most likely, the pick at fifth overall would be Clemson do-it-all linebacker, Isaiah Simmons.

Simmons perfectly fits the Giants’ defense and would be an X-factor for years to come. But how would the Giants address their other positions of need, such as edge rusher and offensive tackle? Well, now that they own the twenty-sixth overall pick (and have owned the thirty-sixth overall pick), New York can fill one of those needs in addition to landing superstar Isaiah Simmons.

The twenty-sixth overall pick could be used to draft a player such as AJ Epenesa, Zack Baun, or Yetur Gross-Matos, all first-round EDGE prospects. Or, they could spend the pick on offensive tackles, such as Lucas Niang or Josh Jones. One of those tackles might still be available with the thirty-sixth overall pick if they decide to wait and draft an EDGE at twenty-six instead. If the Giants are feeling aggressive and convicted towards a specific offensive tackle, they could even package twenty-six and thirty-six in a trade to move back inside the top-twenty or top-fifteen.

In this scenario, the first two rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft could look like this for the Giants: Isaiah Simmons, AJ Epenesa, and Josh Jones OR Isaiah Simmons and Andrew Thomas OR Tristan Wirfs, Kenneth Murray, and Justin Jefferson.

While this is the ideal Draft-Day trade scenario for the Giants, do not count on this happening. Dave Gettleman has never traded down in a draft before, and there is no guarantee that the Dolphins or Chargers would be willing to trade up for a quarterback. All we can do, as fans, is hope. This would be a perfect scenario for the New York Giants, so we can hope it our pipe dream comes true, but it likely never will.

New York Giants: The Ideal Three-Round Mock Draft (With Trades)

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The 2020 NFL Draft might be get delayed, but that will only give us all a bit more time to break down prospects and create mock drafts. The New York Giants will need all the time they can get to prepare for this crucial draft. They hold the fourth overall pick this year and will need to hit a home run in order to turn this team around. But what would that home run, ideal draft look like for New York?

Round One, Pick Four: Chase Young, Edge Rusher, Ohio State

In the ideal mock draft for the Giants, they will land the best player in the entire 2020 NFL Draft class. Chase Young out of Ohio State University is exactly that. The 2020 Heisman Trophy finalist recorded 16.5 sacks in 12 games this past season. In order for this to happen, quarterbacks will have to be selected with each of the first three picks in the draft.

The Bengals will select Joe Burrow, pretty much everyone believes that to be true at this point. But what will the Redskins do? Easily, they could take the best player in the draft, Chase Young, and move forward with Dwayne Haskins as their quarterback. However, there is growing speculation that Washington will either trade the second overall pick to a quarterback-needy team (like the Dolphins) or spend it on a quarterback of their own. That quarterback would be Tua Tagovailoa.

After Joe and Tua will have to go Justin Herbert. The Lions hold the third overall pick and it seems likely that they will trade down. The Chargers, Colts, Dolphins, Buccaneers, and Panthers are all teams that might be willing to move up for the opportunity to select the Oregon gunslinger. If these three quarterbacks get drafted all in a row, Giants fans will be filled with joy as Gettleman sprints to get the card in and proudly draft Chase Young.

Round Two, Pick Thirty-Six: Austin Jackson, Offensive Tackle, USC

It is no question that the New York Giants have holes all over their roster. The defense is especially talentless. However, New York desperately needs to upgrade their offensive line as well. Nate Solder has seen his play decline in recent years and the Giants’ 2019 right tackle, Mike Remmers, is a free agent and is unlikely to receive an extension.

It is time for the Giants to invest draft capital into their offensive line. In 2018, they secured starting left guard Will Hernandez in the second round. Now, in this ideal mock draft, the Giants will secure their starting right tackle in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Austin Jackson out of USC might not be there by the time the Giants are on the clock in the second round. However, the same was said about Will Hernandez in 2018. In the Giants’ ideal 2020 mock draft, Austin Jackson slides just a few more spots and falls right into New York’s lap.

Round Three, Pick 84 (Via Trade): Troy Dye, Linebacker, Oregon

It would be easy to mock select wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Giants here. Whether it would require them to trade up or not remains to be seen. However, recent reports indicate that the Giants will be prioritizing wide receivers in free agency. They plan on focusing their draft picks on the defense. After stealing Chase Young with the fourth overall pick and securing an offensive tackle in round two, ideally, New York will shift its attention back to the defense in round three.

Also, in an ideal world, the Giants would still own the sixty-eight overall pick. However, after trading for Leonard Williams in 2019, they do not own that pick anymore. So, instead, the Giants will use trade up from their compensatory ninety-ninth draft selection in order to select an athletic coverage linebacker.

Many fans will be hoping and praying that the Giants’ first pick is Isaiah Simmons. I believe it should be, as long as Chase Young is not available. But this year’s draft class is rich in linebackers, and Troy Dye would be a solid option for the Giants in the third round.

Troy Dye is an Oregon linebacker with excellent athleticism and coverage-skills. He is the right player to pair with David Mayo, the Giants’ run-stopping linebacker that just received a contract extension. But New York would likely have to trade up to secure this linebacker.

The New York Giants have limitless options and possibilities heading into the 2020 NFL Draft. The class has depth in positions that the Giants need. If all goes well, New York should be able to secure a multitude of core players to build this team around in the future.

New York Giants: How Much Is The Fourth Overall Pick Worth?

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The 2020 NFL offseason is about to heat up. Free agency begins next week and the NFL Draft will take place next month. For the New York Giants, it will be another crucial offseason with work towards rebuilding a talent-thin, 4-12 roster. Luckily, New York holds the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, a valuable asset for a rebuilding team like the Gmen.

What Is The Fourth Overall Pick Worth?

According to the 2020 NFL Draft Trade Value Chart, the Giants’ fourth overall pick is worth 1800 points. To put this in perspective, the first overall pick is worth 3000 points. The fifth and sixth overall picks are worth 1700 and 1600 points, respectively. The thirty-second pick is worth only 590 points (Draft Tek).

Early second-round picks are worth around 500 points. So, in most cases, the Giants’ fourth overall pick is worth a first-round pick and a second-round pick. However, it is well-known that NFL teams are willing to overpay for the luxury of drafting a quarterback. With multiple noteworthy quarterback prospects available in the 2020 NFL Draft class, the value of the Giants’ fourth overall pick is likely to be inflated.

What Can The Giants Get For Fourth Overall In 2020?

The Giants are in prime position to turn their team around with the fourth overall pick in 2020. They have two choices: select an elite prospect who will change the team, or trade the pick for a haul of draft capital to find starters and depth pieces.

Some of the prospects they might be able to select include Isaiah Simmons, Jeffrey Okudah, Mekhi Becton, Andrew Thomas, Jedrick Wills, Tristan Wirfs, or possibly even Chase Young. The Giants might be able to secure a defensive playmaker, or stalworth offensive tackle to protect Daniel Jones for the next decade.

There will be many teams looking to trade up in the 2020 NFL Draft. Some of those teams will be looking for quarterbacks, which means they will be willing to give up more than the fourth pick is worth to draft their signal-caller. Those teams include the Miami Dolphins who hold three first-round picks, including fifth overall, the Los Angeles Chargers who hold the sixth overall pick, and possibly even the Oakland Raiders who hold the twelfth and nineteenth overall picks.

The Giants have a plethora of enticing options to choose from. It will be hard for Dave Gettleman and company to mess this one up.

New York Giants NFL Draft Profile: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

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New York Giants looking at Isaiah Simmons in 2020 NFL Draft?

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.

There is one name that keeps getting linked to the Giants at fourth overall: Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons.

This is the beginning 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.

Granted, I am not an expert draft analyst. However, in this article, I will be breaking down Isaiah Simmons 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.

Stay tuned for plenty more Draft Profiles by myself and others on Empire Sports Media leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft. And if you have any feedback, critiques, or questions, you can reach me on Twitter: @Anthony_Rivardo. Also, check out the YouTube video that accompanies this article featuring a film breakdown here.

Top Strengths:

Before I get into Isaiah Simmons’s Top Strengths, I will list my grades on Isaiah’s traits/skills after watching and taking notes on hours of Isaiah’s game tape:

Play Recognition: 9

Ability to Cut Through Traffic: 7

Effort/Motor: 9

Consistent Tackler: 9

Speed to Get to the Sideline: 10

Effective Blitzer: 7

Coverage: 8

Overall: 8.4

As can be seen from these grades, Simmons is an elite athlete with high football IQ. However, he has some work to do as a true linebacker and could afford to put on a bit more size to help with his strength and ability to fight through contact. If you want to try making your own scouting profile on any NFL Draft prospects, check out John Chapman’s NFL Draft Scouting Rubric here.

Now, to discuss Isaiah’s Top Strengths:

Athleticism:

Isaiah Simmons completely dominated the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. He nearly broke the internet with his running back-level forty-yard dash time of 4.39 seconds, which was the best time by a linebacker by far. Isaiah also recorded the second-best broad jump by a linebacker at 11’0″ and the tied-third-best vertical jump at 39″.

These numbers should come as no surprise to anyone who watched Simmons play at Clemson. Isaiah demonstrated this speed, explosiveness, and athletic superiority time and time again during his collegiate playing days. Take this interception by Simmons as an example:

Simmons was playing safety here and started in the middle of the field. The opposing quarterback attempted to fit the ball to the receiver down the right sideline, but Simmons’s incredible speed and range allowed him to get all the way to the sideline to make the interception. Linebackers should not be able to do such a thing. In fact, linebackers can not do such a thing. Only Isaiah Simmons can do such a thing. This play perfectly leads us into Simmons’s next Top Strength.

Coverage Ability:

As seen in the video above, Isaiah Simmons has the speed/athleticism to cover the entire field. He demonstrated elite coverage ability from a linebacker over and over again at Clemson.

Simmons strives in man-coverage.

“There isn’t anything I can’t do. Somebody has got to stop the Travis Kelce and George Kittle’s.” – Isaiah Simmons at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine

This play below is a perfect example of Isaiah’s ridiculous man-coverage ability. Simmons went stride for stride with now-NFL receiver Myles Boykin, got his head turned around and used his length to reach over Boykin and bat the ball down. He was in perfect position throughout the entire route and gave the receiver no chance to make a play on the ball:

That play is only one example of many impressive man-coverage snaps from Isaiah Simmons. His man-coverage shined in the following games for reference: Clemson versus Notre Dame 2018, Clemson versus Virginia 2019, and Clemson versus Ohio State University in 2019 (despite one bad play in man-coverage at the end of this game, he was consistently lock-down throughout the game).

There are times, I noticed, where Simmons gets a little lost in zone coverage. For reference, in Clemson’s game against Texas A&M in 2018, Simmons let up two big plays in zone coverage. The second of the two plays was a crucial 3rd and 8 with 2:22 left in the 4th quarter where Simmons lost the receiver (who sat down in Isaiah’s zone) in his peripheral vision and allowed him to make the reception for a first down and gain all the way down to the one yard-line.

(To cross-check and support what I saw on tape, I looked at scouting profiles of Simmons on The Draft Network. Kyle Crabbs listed “Zone Coverage Anticipation” as Isaiah Simmons’s “Worst Trait.”)

Simmons was inconsistent at times in zone coverage (though far above-average for his position), but he was consistently elite in man coverage, especially for a linebacker. His coverage ability is comparable to that of a safety, which leads us to our next Top Strength.

Versatility:

Isaiah Simmons played over 100 snaps at five different positions in the 2019 CFB season. According to Pro Football Focus, Simmons played 100 snaps at strong safety, 116 snaps at outside linebacker, 132 snaps at free safety, 262 snaps at slot cornerback, and 299 snaps at inside linebacker.

There is no other player like Isaiah Simmons. He can play every position on defense and he can play them all better than most prospects. Typically, a linebacker excels in one area and can be a bit of a liability in other areas. That is not the case with Isaiah Simmons. He is an X-factor in pass coverage, has above-average pass-rushing capabilities, and is impressive in run defense.

The 2020 College Football National Championship Game was a perfect demonstration of Isaiah’s versatility:

Top Weaknesses:

Limited Linebacker Snaps In College:

As stated in his top strengths, Isaiah Simmons is an unbelievably versatile football player. He played nearly every position on Clemson’s defense. But, moving around the defense so often means that Simmons played a limited number of snaps at his NFL position of linebacker.

In 2019, Simmons played less than 300 snaps at inside linebacker (299). Ideally, you would like to see a top-ten linebacker prospect have more experience playing the traditional inside linebacker position. However, for teams with clever defensive coordinators, this is not a big deal. The best coordinators will build schemes around the players, not plug players into roles/positions in a scheme and try to make it work.

Potentially Difficult Skillset To Translate To The Pro Game:

Isaiah Simmons’s versatility is rare. It is one-of-a-kind. Typically, when NFL fans refer to a player as a “Swiss Army Knife,” they are describing a versatile safety that has the ability to play in the box as well as in deep coverage. But Simmons is the exact opposite of that- he is a versatile linebacker with the ability to play deep coverage.

Simmons made the transition from safety in 2017 to linebacker in 2018 and excelled in his new role. He built on an impressive 2018 season in 2019, solidifying himself as a linebacker and demonstrating a rare skillset. But there are some who still question what his role in an NFL defensive scheme will be and whether he will play more linebacker or safety.

We have seen some “do-it-all” safeties find success graduating to the NFL: Jamal Adams and Derwin James are perfect examples. However, we have seen others struggle and fail to translate their skillset to the professional game: examples include Jabrill Peppers, Mark Barron, Deone Bucannon.

Isaiah Simmons is larger and stronger than every single one of those players, though. He has linebacker size at 6 feet 3 inches, 238 pounds. But even that is something that Simmons could improve on.

Could Afford To Add Some Strength:

The average weight of an NFL linebacker is roughly 244 pounds. Simmons is close to that number but should work towards matching that weight.

Occasionally, tight ends are able to handle Isaiah Simmons and shove him out of the way. Yes, I stated above that Simmons is 238 pounds, heavier than Roquan Smith. So it might not necessarily be a weight thing.

His game is more finesse than power, which is fine, but gaining some strength and bulking up a bit more could serve Simmons well.

Do not get it twisted though, Simmons can demolish running backs as a blitzer (GIF via PFF):

Recap:

To put it simply: the good severely outweighs the bad when analyzing Isaiah Simmons’s strengths and weaknesses. There are questions regarding his efficiency in zone coverage, what his role might look like in an NFL defensive scheme, and if he has the strength to dominate against professionals. However, the potential upside with a 238 pound 21-year-old that can play nearly every position on defense is far more encouraging than the flaws are discouraging.

Isaiah Simmons should get serious consideration from the New York Giants at the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He could transform their defense with a new versatile skillset and provide stability at the linebacker position that the Giants have not had in over a decade. There are plenty of other options for the Giants, which I will break down soon, but at this point, it is hard not to put Simmons’s name at the top of the list.

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 Isaiah Simmons Draft Profile video on YouTube where I go more in-depth and do some film breakdowns. Let me know via Twitter or YouTube which prospect you want me to break down next.

New York Giants: After His Combine Performance, Isaiah Simmons Should Be The Top Target

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New York Giants looking at Isaiah Simmons in 2020 NFL Draft?

The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine wrapped up this week with plenty of impressive performances from the draft’s top prospects. The New York Giants are picking in the top-ten for the third-straight year. This year, the Giants own the fourth overall pick and are in prime position to land an elite prospect or a haul of picks in a trade back.

There have been plenty of different prospects linked to the Giants in various rumors, reports, and mock drafts. One name that keeps coming up is Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons, especially after the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. Simmons lit the Combine up and should be a top target for the Giants in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Isaiah Simmons 2020 NFL Scouting Combine Performance

Isaiah Simmons completely dominated the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. He nearly broke the internet with his running back-level forty-yard dash time of 4.39 seconds, which was the best time by a linebacker by far. Isaiah also recorded the second-best broad jump by a linebacker at 11’0″ and the tied-third-best vertical jump at 39″.

Simmons’s incredible Combine performance is shooting him up, draft boards. Analysts are saying that there is no way Isaiah should make it past the fourth pick. The New York Giants hold that pick and rumors suggest that they are interested in taking Isaiah Simmons fourth overall. For a long list of reasons, they should.

Why He Should Be The Pick At Fourth Overall

The Giants do not need a quarterback. They have their franchise guy in Daniel Jones. Scratch Tua and Herbert off the list. Chase Young is unlikely to fall outside of the top three, so scratch him off the list, too. The Giants could still go a few different routes with the fourth pick. They could address a pressing need and take one of the top offensive tackle prospects. But there are a couple of elite defensive talents that should be available when the Giants are on the clock.

Isaiah Simmons, out of Clemson, is one of the elite defenders that should be on the board fourth overall. In fact, he should be at the top of the board. 

“There isn’t anything I can’t do. Somebody has got to stop the Travis Kelce and George Kittle’s.” – Isaiah Simmons at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine

The above quote by Isaiah Simmons at the Combine this week perfectly summarizes why he is such a valuable prospect. The best teams in the league are relying heavily on pre-snap motion and versatile tight ends with excellent blocking abilities. It is extremely difficult to find players to match up against tight ends like Kittle and Kelce. Safeties might be able to cover them, but they probably cannot fight off their blocks in run-defense. Linebackers might be able to get the best of them in run-defense, but they typically do not have the speed to cover these versatile tight ends. Isaiah Simmons has the speed, the coverage ability, and the strength to do this from the linebacker position. He will be a real X-Factor for whichever team drafts him.

Isaiah Simmons is the definition of versatility. According to Pro Football Focus, Simmons played over 100 snaps at five different positions in the 2019 CFB season. He is a positionless player with the talent, skills, and athleticism to excel at whatever position he plays.

The Giants would hit a home run by selecting Isaiah Simmons fourth overall. He has the highest ceiling of any defender in the draft class. Simmons is an elite talent that would fill a massive position of need for New York. Isaiah Simmons’s rare versatility, such as his 8 sacks and 3 interceptions in 2019, makes him the top target for the Giants with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

New York Giants: Derrick Brown Might Be A Top Target For Dave Gettleman

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New York Giants, Derrick Brown

The New York Giants have limitless options heading into the 2020 NFL offseason. They have over $70 million to spend in free agency and the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. With the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine taking place this week, rumors are starting to heat up around the NFL.

A few new rumors surround the New York Giants, too. According to Matt Lombardo of nj.com, Dave Gettleman is “very serious” about trading back in the 2020 NFL Draft. Also according to Lombardo, the Giants’ draft target, if they trade back, will be Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown.

Will The Giants Trade Back?

Trading down might be a reliable option for the Giants, but is it a real possibility? General manager Dave Gettleman has never traded down in a draft before. He recently received heavy criticism for this by NBC Sports’ Peter King in his latest “Football Morning in America” column:

A GM who has made 45 picks has never traded down to accumulate more picks from any of the 45. That is borderline negligent. Maybe not even borderline. I am incredulous about that. As I documented last week, GM John Schneider of the Seahawks used last year’s 21st overall pick and traded down six times to accumulate six picks, one of whom was wide receiver DK Metcalf, who, as it turned out, produced better value than a 21st pick in most drafts as a rookie. And four other players from the trade played for the Seahawks last season. Trying to not make too much of that, but wow. Just wow. – Peter King, NBC Sports

Dave Gettleman fielded questions from the media on Tuesday at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. He was asked about the potential of trading down from fourth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Dave Gettleman responded, saying, “We’re open for business.” Matt Lombardo’s report seems to back up Gettleman’s statement.

The Argument Against Derrick Brown

Matt Lombardo’s report regarding the Giants’ consideration of trading down came as no surprise. The shocking part of the report is the Giants’ apparent interest in targeting Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown.

The Giants have already invested quite a bit into their defensive line. They spent a first-round pick on Dexter Lawrence II in the 2019 NFL draft and traded their 2020 third-round pick for Leonard Williams ahead of the trade deadline. These two moves combined with the talents of Dalvin Tomlinson and BJ Hill make it confusing as to why the Giants would be targeting yet another first-round interior defensive lineman.

Derrick Brown Stats and Highlights

Derrick Brown might be an interior defensive lineman, but he is not your everyday IDL. Brown is a monster. He is one of the top prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft class.

If Leonard Williams walks in free agency, drafting Derrick Brown makes more sense. But even if Williams stays, Brown would make the Giants’ defensive line a dominant unit.

In his 2019 senior campaign, Derrick Brown was unblockable, recording 54 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks. This was after putting up 48 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks as a junior.

That’s two straight seasons of consistent, elite performance from Derrick Brown. Brown is a phenomenal run-stuffer and a decent pass-rusher. Combining his talents with that of Dexter Lawrence would create maybe the best young defensive line in the NFL.

But is it wise for Dave Gettleman to spend another first-round pick on an interior defensive lineman? Eventually he will need to start investing in other positions of need. And, after this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, it might be hard for the Giants to say no to an elite talent like Isaiah Simmons if he is on the board at fourth overall.