The New York Giants land stud tackle Andrew Thomas with 4th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
After months of speculation, the Giants elected to draft Andrew Thomas out of Georgia with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. This immediately shored up the tackle position, given his ability to play on the right and left side. Next season, we can project that he will start at right tackle and move over to the left side once Nate Solder is inevitably gone in 2021.
So what does Thomas bring to the Giants?
At 6-foot-5 and 315-pounds, Thomas is a fantastic left tackle. Running a 5.22 40-yard dash, he brings toughness, speed, and strength to an offensive line that has struggled in recent years.
His elite body type and fantastic grounding allow plenty of potential for new OL coach, Marc Colombo, to unlock. His tremendous strength and smooth feet provide him with the appropriate fundamentals to build off of. His weaknesses are mostly fundamental-based — Lacking consistency, balance, and failing to utilize his elite traits to their maximum potential.
Essentially, if Colombo can help develop him, he can be one of the best tackles in the NFL and on the Giants. He is a fantastic player with plenty of upsides to work with, making him worthy of the fourth overall selection.
We can expect second-year passer Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley to be a bit more comfortable on offense, specifically in pass protection and opening up holes in the run game. Allowing him to start at right tackle and make the transition to the left side in 2021 is the ideal move, as he can lock down both tackle spots and solidify the future on Daniel Jones’s blindside.
With the Giants going OT in the first round, we should expect them to go defense in the second, unless they are enamored by centers Matt Hennessey and Cesar Ruiz.