Ben Bartch- OT, St. John’s University
Why would he be a good value for the Giants in the 3rd or 4th round? Bartch is a very athletic offensive tackle prospect that could be the left tackle of the future. Faring well against top competition at the Senior Bowl (and we all know how Gettleman falls in full bloom love in Mobile, Alabama) bodes well for Bartch’s transition into the NFL. Despite coming from a small school in Minnesota, the St. John’s Johnny demonstrates excellent technique in pass protection and uses his hands well against pass rushers off the edge.
Nice job by Ben Bartch against Terrell Lewis. Hand placement and that punch just ended the fight pic.twitter.com/PSGIrIvjNL
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) January 24, 2020
Bartch could come into camp as a rookie and compete against Cam Fleming and Nick Gates for a starting tackle spot. Without the need to start right away, Bartch could develop nicely under the tutelage of Marc Colombo.
What does he excel at? The kid is athletic and mobile. The converted tight end gained 75 pounds throughout his college career, but kept his athleticism. This allows him to move his feet well in pass protection and get to the second level with ease on blocks downfield and screens.
For a player that played division three football, Bartch is fundamentally sound, especially in pass protection. With NFL training and coaching, Ben has room to grow and would be a high upside pick for the G-Men at a position of need.
Why the Giants might hesitate: Bartch only has two years of experience playing on the offensive line, and it was at the division three level. He still needs to continue bulking up, although he has done a good job doing so the past two seasons (with the help of an outrageous protein shake that includes seven scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, grits, peanut butter, banana, and Gatorade).
Personal excitement level if drafted: (6/10) I feel like selecting Bartch would be a wise move for the G-Men, although it would probably not pay dividends in 2020. Coming from a division 3 program, Bartch could be a risky pick in the third or fourth round, but the Giants need a long term solution at left tackle.
Likelihood he will fall to #99 or #110: (7/10)