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NFL Draft 2021: Why NY Giants Should take Rashawn Slater at No. 11

By Catherine Cannavina

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 18: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes battles Rashawn Slater #70 of the Northwestern Wildcats in the third quarter at Ryan Field on October 18, 2019 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 18: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes battles Rashawn Slater #70 of the Northwestern Wildcats in the third quarter at Ryan Field on October 18, 2019 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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There have been plenty of rumors surrounding what GM Dave Gettleman and the NY Giants might do with No. 11 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Some predict Alabama Heisman winner DeVonta Smith is headed to New York after he was seen donning a Yankees cap at a New York Knicks game this past week.

Others suggest that Gettleman is going to trade down to obtain more picks in a draft stacked from top to bottom with potential playmakers.

However, the smartest move for Gettleman to make would be to complete the rebuild of the NY Giants’ offensive line by adding a premier lineman in with the 11th pick.

Despite the addition of Andrew Thomas with the fourth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Giants’ offensive line scarcely improved in a 2020 season that saw Daniel Jones struggling to remain upright and Saquon Barkley unable to find much room to run before tearing his ACL.

Therefore, if the Giants were to select Rashawn Slater, a talented tackle from Northwestern University with the eleventh pick, their offensive line would improve drastically.

Here are three reasons as to why if Slater is available by the 11 pick, the Gettleman and the NY Giants should not hesitate to pull the trigger.

1. His Resume is Impressive

Slater’s portfolio as a lineman for Northwestern University has been nothing short of spectacular.

In Slater’s first two seasons with the Wildcats, he earned Freshman All-Big Ten and Third Team All-Big Ten honors, starting at right tackle both years.

In 2019, Slater had his best performance of his collegiate career, totaling just five quarterback hurries, one quarterback hit, and zero sacks in 787 snaps.

He also had a stellar game against Chase Young during a matchup with Ohio State. This is incredibly significant if the Giants were to take him with the 11th pick, as he would be playing against Washington’s Chase Young twice per season.

Slater opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he has already proven himself as a pro-ready athlete.

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