The New York Giants need to desperately upgrade their pass rush. One player they should consider drafting is edge rusher Montez Sweat of Mississippi State.
The New York Giants need a dynamic pass rusher in the worst way. With a plethora of picks in the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft, look for Big Blue to address this need early in the proceedings. Quality edge rushers are gobbled up pretty quickly.
Expect the G-Men to select a quarterback with the sixth overall pick and then focus on grabbing a premium edge rusher with the 17th overall selection in the first round (received in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade with Cleveland).
One such prospect the Giants should strongly consider drafting, if available, is Montez Sweat of Mississippi State. The 6-6, 260-pounder was a Second-Team AP All-American and a First-Team All-SEC selection as a redshirt senior for the Bulldogs last year. Sweat recorded 12 sacks and 53 tackles, including 14.5 for loss in 2018.
Let’s take a look at some of his highlights via YouTube:
The Stone Mountain, GA native has nice length and a lanky frame. He’s stronger than he looks with fine upper body strength. His burst off the snap is above average but certainly not elite at this stage of his development. He projects favorably as a defensive end in a 4-3 defensive set or scheme, but he can also be effective as a stand-up linebacker off the edge. Sweat is actually outstanding against the run, which boosts his draft value significantly.
While he may not have the huge upside of a Joey Bosa or Josh Allen, Sweat has the ability to be an every down starter in the NFL. He needs to add a little bulk in the weight room to withstand the rigors of the pros but he’s a fierce competitor who never takes a play off. Fans will love his intensity and passion for the game. To say he has a live motor is an understatement.
Sweat is not a finished product by any means. However, his ceiling is very high and premium pass rushers are worth their weight in gold these days. The Giants ranked a dismal 30th in the league in 2018 with just 30 sacks (tied with New England). That’s brutal. Big Blue needs an impact performer off the edge in the worst way and Sweat can certainly help greatly in that regard. No sweat.