Adding Instant Impact Players In Rounds 1 & 2
If the Giants are unable to land Solder in free agency, New York’s plans in the draft would be entirely different. But for this immediate turnaround to work, the Giants would have to sign Solder in free agency, allowing them to attack the draft as follows.
With the offensive line beginning to come together, the New York Giants select Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft.
The Nittany Lions 5-foot-11, 230-pound running back is as close to a sure-thing as it gets in the NFL. ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah all have him ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect regardless of position.
Some would argue that running back talent can be found later in the draft. Alvin Kamara and Kareem Hunt proved that this past season. But players like Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, and Barkley don’t come along often. The Penn State tailback is arguably the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson and will immediately make any offensive line look better with his ability to make tacklers miss.
Selecting Barkley is just the second big piece of this ideal blueprint. In the beginning of the second-round, the Giants need to get an immediate starter at left guard.
Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson will surely be off the board by the start of the second-round, but Big Blue could have their choice of Will Hernandez, Billy Price, Braden Smith, or Isaiah Wynn.
All four have the ability to immediately start at the next level. Price might be best suited for center at the next level but played both guard and center at Ohio State.
For this ideal blueprint, the Giants get Hernandez at the start of the second-round.
Led by UTEP's Will Hernandez, these offensive guards had no trouble keeping pressure off their quarterback. pic.twitter.com/gL67xUcAIz
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 16, 2017
UTEP’s 6-foot-2, 340-pound prospect has the potential to develop into a year-in and year-out Pro Bowler at the next level. NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein compares him to Buffalo Bills four-time Pro Bowler Richie Incognito.
Hernandez would give New York the final starter for the 2018 offensive line. Solder starting at left tackle, Hernandez at left guard, Jones at center, Jerry at right guard, and Flowers at right tackle.