GMEN HQ
FanSided

NFL Draft: 5 offensive prospects New York Giants must have atop big board

By Reese Nasser

COLUMBUS, OHIO - NOVEMBER 13: David Bell #3 of the Purdue Boilermakers attempts to catch a pass against Denzel Burke #29 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half of a game at Ohio Stadium on November 13, 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - NOVEMBER 13: David Bell #3 of the Purdue Boilermakers attempts to catch a pass against Denzel Burke #29 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half of a game at Ohio Stadium on November 13, 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
New York Giants, NFL Draft
Ikem Ekwonu #79 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

NC State OT, Ikem Ekwonu

NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu has also built a case for himself to be regarded as the draft’s best offensive lineman. Ekwonu imposed his will on opposing teams for the last three seasons. Over this time, he cemented his status as an elite tackle prospect.

Ekwonu played 2285 snaps over the past three seasons. In that time, he allowed just 10 sacks and 8 quarterback hits.

Ekwonu has found success by using his pure strength. He bullies opposing rushers and eliminates them from plays almost entirely.

There is potential that Ekwonu could struggle at the tackle position at the next level. His pass-protection at times has looked worrisome and that could steer some teams away. He is proven to be more dominant in the run game and could easily be the best run-blocking prospect in this year’s group.

A positive regarding Ekwonu is that he has already shown that he can also play guard. During the 2020 season, he played 239 snaps at left guard. If he struggles at tackle, kicking him to guard could be a real possibility. This would still be a positive for the Giants. By selecting Ekwonu, they either get a tackle for the future or a guard.

Home/NY Giants Draft