If the New York Giants take an offensive tackle, Jack Conklin is the best option
By Ryan Disdier
The New York Giants will likely have two of the top-three offensive tackles available to choose from, should they decide to select on OT. However, Jack Conklin should be the guy if that situation arises.
The New York Giants have improved their offensive line in each of the past three drafts. 2013 saw the team nab the versatile Justin Pugh in the first round, 2014’s class netted center Weston Richburg and the team believes last year’s first-round pick Ereck Flowers has the potential to be a franchise left tackle.
However, there are still holes among the line, particularly on the right side.
Second-year man Bobby Hart is a bit of a tweener, as it’s unclear whether he would be best suited at guard or tackle. Veteran Marshall Newhouse is a worst-case scenario option at RT, though he wasn’t always terrible last year.
With that being said, there’s certainly a chance the Giants take an offensive lineman with the No. 10 pick. But if they do, they would be better off picking Jack Conklin over Ronnie Stanley, provided both players are available.
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For starters, there have been questions surrounding the former’s mental makeup, as a former NFC personnel director said there are concerns about Stanley’s work ethic, according to Matt Lombardo of NJ Advance Media.
"“His task is to erase some doubts. He has huge upside but also huge downside. Stanley has the natural tools to be great, but there is a big ‘if’ involved with him. That means there is also a huge bust factor teams need to consider.”"
Stanley’s question marks and bust factor should deter the Giants from selecting him. After all, this team is looking for stability across the line, not paradoxical players.
That leads us to Conklin, whom I would consider to be one of this year’s safest prospects. Simply put, Conklin is a grinder who gives every play his all.
An NFC North scout perfectly explained the player Conklin is to NFL.com.
"“That is a dude, right there. He was busting up Ohio State in the fourth quarter of that game not because he was more talented than those guys but because he just wanted it more. He’s tougher than old beef jerky.”"
The scout also said Conklin would ‘fit well’ in the NFC North, which has been the host for some absolutely frigid affairs. Conklin would fit well on the Giants, too, as he would help finish the offensive line reconstruction that began back in 2013.
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Conklin, 6-foot-6 and 308 lbs., is a very technically sound player who has a nice combination of strength and quickness. His feet are not of the ‘concrete’ variety, and that’s a plus for sure. He’s not an overwhelming athlete, but when he gets his hands on defensive linemen, they’re usually not going anywhere. Some of Conklin’s best work comes on combination blocks, which makes him a strong player in the run game.
Conklin is as tough as a $2 steak, and the effort he displays is clear. He has the intangibles, which likely makes him appealing to the Giants.
If you want tape on Conklin, pull up his fill from last year against Oregon’s DeForest Buckner, who is considered to be one of the elite defensive linemen in this year’s class.
According to SportsReference.com, the explosive Buckner was held to just one solo tackle, and zero sacks against Conklin. No sacks is impressive enough, but the stats don’t do the tape justice.
Conklin dominated Buckner, pancaking him on more than one occasion. Buckner did beat Conklin bad on one instance, but for the most part, Conklin was dominant.
I’ve been handing out pro comparisons for a lot of prospects, trying to give a different comparison than many of the major outlets have. However, I think NFL.com’s comparison for Conklin is spot-on, as they have him likened to former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro offensive tackle Jon Runyan.
That comparison should resonate in the minds of Giants’ fans, as Runyan waged war against Michael Strahan for the majority of his career. Runyan may have not have been as good as an athlete as Strahan, but he fought all game.
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New York’s offensive line coach “Samurai” Mike Solari would absolutely fall in love with Conklin. Conklin’s natural abilities and work ethic would bolster the offensive line. Conklin would add more toughness to an already tenacious unit. He’s a much, much safer option than Stanley, and he should be the guy should the Giants choose to once again bolster the offensive line.
Writer’s note:
I don’t think the Giants should take an offensive lineman at No. 10. However, if the team trades down, which is seeming more and more likely every day, than Conklin would be a great get.