With the New York Giants desperate for help on the offensive line, they may look no further than PFF’s top-ranked NFL Draft offensive tackle, Mississippi State’s Charles Cross. It is widely assumed that the Giants will use one of their two first-round picks on an offensive tackle during the NFL Draft.
In the majority of mock drafts you lay your eyes on, you’ll see Evan Neal or Ikem Ekwonu being selected by the new Giants’ general manager Joe Schoen. There is one tackle that, despite not being mocked to the Giants as consistently as the other pair, may just be the selection for the New York Giants come April 28th.
Charles Cross out of Mississippi State has often been the forgotten man in this year’s first-round tackle conversation but, if recent chatter is anything to go by, he might find a home in East Rutherford in 2022.
The New York Giants could use Charles Cross to bolster offensive line
The team had a strong contingent at the stand-out tackle’s pro-day earlier this month. Both offensive line coach Bobby Johnson and assistant offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. joined offensive coordinator Mike Kafka in Mississippi to watch the 2021 first-team All-SEC talent workout.
The signs have been enough to change the tune of many in the industry, including Peter Schrager of ‘Good Morning Football’, who had the Giants taking Cross with pick five in his latest mock draft. Let’s take a look at three reasons why Charles Cross to the New York Giants makes sense during the NFL Draft
New York Giants: 3. Protect the Passer
If you have watched any New York Giants football over the past few years, you will likely have seen Daniel Jones, or whoever was filling in for the injured Jones, running for their lives. In 2021, the New York Giant’s offensive line ranked 30th in the league according to PFF. As bad as that may seem, it was actually a one-spot improvement on their 2020 ranking of 31st.
The point is, the line has been horrific at protecting the passer, as well as just in general, over the past few years. It certainly played its part in the historically bad New York offense under Jason Garrett’s command.
In a recent mock draft, Todd McShay labeled Cross “the best pass protector in the class”, a sentiment shared by many in the industry. Having invested heavily in wide receiver last year, adding a tackle who can ensure Jones has the time to get the ball to the team’s new assets is essential.
In Mike Leach’s air raid offense at Mississippi state, Cross saw significantly more reps in pass protection than any other top tackle in the draft. In an incredible 719 pass-blocking snaps this past season, Cross only gave up 16 pressures (PFF). Even more impressively, he gave up 0 pressures on 66 snaps against one of the nation’s best teams in Alabama.