Andrew Thomas has been elite for the New York Giants this season. The 2020 fourth-overall draft pick is having a breakout season and establishing himself as one of the best left tackles in the NFL. Protecting Daniel Jones’s blindside, Thomas has been nearly perfect. Despite being snubbed from the Pro Bowl, Andrew Thomas could still be in line to receive some accolades at the end of the season. ESPN projects Thomas to be a member of the 2023 All-Pro First Team.
Why Andrew Thomas should be a First-Team All-Pro
The New York Giants could have a few players featured in the 2023 All-Pro team. Bill Barnwell of ESPN recently projected that Andrew Thomas will be one of the Giants’ players named a First-Team All-Pro this season.
“I saw a three-way race between Jedrick Wills (Browns), Tunsil, and Thomas, who has become a building block protecting Daniel Jones for the Giants. Wills has become the most ferocious run-blocker of the three, but Thomas has been a prototypical left tackle for a team that desperately needed a reliable tackle. He also has committed just one penalty to Tunsil’s 10 and Wills’ nine while allowing a mere two sacks.”
Bill Barnwell of ESPN
Andrew Thomas’s career with the New York Giants got off to a shaky start. As a rookie, Thomas struggled immensely, surrendering 10 sacks and 57 pressures in 2020. But since then, the Giants’ starting left tackle has blossomed into one of the best offensive linemen in football.
In the 2022 season, Andrew Thomas has not missed a game, starting in all 17 contests for the New York Giants. During that time, Thomas has given up only 21 pressures (3.3% pressure rate) and two sacks over 619 pass-blocking snaps. The Giants’ left tackle has been routinely shutting down elite-level pass rushers all season long.
“I think since my rookie year, I’ve just had a constant increase in understanding my technique, being more consistent in pass pro, same in the run game, and I just get better each week… This is my first time playing meaningful football since I’ve been here. I’m excited. I’m looking forward to the future.”
Andrew Thomas via Giants.com
The last time the Giants had an offensive tackle selected as a First-Team All-Pro was in 1962 when Hall of Famer Rosey Brown got the nod. The Giants’ last First-Team All-Pro offensive lineman at any of the five positions was right guard Chris Snee in 2008. Andrew Thomas would be joining a historic group with a selection this season.
The New York Giants have turned things around this season after years of losing. Big Blue clinched its first playoff berth since 2016 this season as rookie head coach Brian Daboll has led the team to a 9-6-1 record with one game left on the schedule. Andrew Thomas has been a big part of the Giants’ quick turnaround. Thomas has been one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL this season and deserves the All-Pro recognition he will likely receive at the end of the season.