New York Giants select Andrew Thomas in 2020 NFL Draft: Grading the pick
By Samuel Teets
With the fourth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Andrew Thomas. What grade does the franchise get for its top pick?
With the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Georgia’s Andrew Thomas. The 6-5, 315-pound tackle did not receive as much hype heading into the draft compared to players like Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr. and Tristan Wirfs. Thomas steps into an offense that recently added their quarterback of the future.
Currently, Nate Solder starts at left tackle for the Giants. However, Thomas possesses the versatility to kick over to the right side, where he saw some snaps in college. Cameron Flemming will move into the backup right tackle spot when Thomas slots in.
Thomas played left tackle during his final season at Georgia, but he moves with the footspeed and fluidity of a tight end. Maybe he’s a little undersized for a top tackle in the draft, but his mechanics look great. He put up great tape blocking for Jake Fromm and D’Andre Swift in college.
The Draft Network compared Thomas to Baltimore’s Ronnie Stanley, who earned a First-Team All-Pro selection this past season. New York certainly hopes Thomas reaches that level, as the team currently lacks an anchor on the offensive line.
Some fans may wonder why general manager Dave Gettleman didn’t trade back and accumulate more picks. There was no shortage of teams looking to move into the top five, especially with quarterbacks and elite defenders dangling in the wind. However, they stuck with Thomas and got the best offensive lineman in the draft.
OT. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Andrew Thomas. A. player. 31. Georgia
New York and Gettleman deserve limited praise for sticking with Thomas. If they believed he was the top tackle in the draft, they made the right move taking him to protect Daniel Jones and block for Saquon Barkley. The team could’ve moved back and found another tackle in the top 12 picks, but none on Thomas’ level.
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Fans will question this selection until they see Thomas take the football in the fall. A year after taking Dexter Lawrence in the first-round, this is yet another dull selection, but it will benefit them in the long run.