RD 1 (4): NY Giants trade with LA Chargers
Giants get: LAC 2020 1st (6) LAC 2020 2nd (37), 2020 4th (76), 2021 5th (TBD)
LAC get: NYG 2020 1st (4)
RD 1 (6): NY Giants select Andrew Thomas, OT Georgia
Depending on who you ask, Dave Gettleman’s intentions of finally trading down in a draft range anywhere from taking it to the bank to forget about it. To me, after hearing how different a tune Gettleman was signing at his year-end presser, it seems that he finally may be changing how he operates. That means the NY Giants do the right thing and trade down here while still grabbing one of (if not the) top offensive tackle on the board.
The Giants make out beautifully in this trade, accumulating 507 points of value instead of the 200 points the draft chart calls for. As we’ve seen time and time again, that chart can pretty much be ignored when dealing with the top ten of the draft and a team jumping others for a quarterback. The Colts got almost double the points out of the NY Jets in a similar deal in 2018, so this really isn’t asking for too much. Having those back-to-back picks at 36 and 37 gives Big Blue plenty of flexibility.
Andrew Thomas is a perfect example of NFL draft ‘experts’ getting too cute this time of year. After Thomas spent all year long as the universal top tackle on mostly everyone’s board, he now is beginning to drop after no more games have been played (figure that one out).
It’s hard to blame the draft guys, as by this time of year they’ve released so many mocks and big boards they need to change things for the sake of it sometimes. Jedrick Wills Jr. has skyrocketed up boards and would be a solid pick here, but in my mind, Big Blue needs to focus on a pass protecting left tackle – Thomas fits that bill in spades.
A 2018 and 2019 first-team All-American – playing in the toughest conference in college by a mile – Thomas should step right into the NFL on day one and be a competent starter. Georgia plays in a true pro-style offense, giving even more reason to be excited about the mammoth 6’5 320 LB lineman.
Expect to see Thomas climb back up draft boards after the combine and everything settles down, but he should be there for Big Blue at six (or four if they don’t trade down).
Overall, this is by far the best round one scenario for the NY Giants; trading down, accumulating picks and still landing one of the top tackles in the draft. It’s been far too long since Big Blue had a homegrown, blue-chip tackle and it’s time to change that.