The New York Giants were one of the few mystery teams entering the 2020 NFL Draft. In fact, general manager Dave Gettleman had an immense amount of power with the fourth overall pick. The Miami Dolphins had long been projected the favorites to land Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth pick. As a result, any team that wanted the Alabama lefty would’ve had to deal with Gettleman.
When the dust settled, the Giants stayed put and made a safe pick with upside in the selection of Georgia offensive tackle, Andrew Thomas.
New York totaled nine picks and did a fairly decent job with the value of their selections.
2020 Draft Class
1.04: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
2.36: Xavier McKinney, Saf, Alabama
3.99: Matt Peart, OT, Connecticut
4.110: Darnay Holmes, CB, UCLA
5.150: Shane Lemieux, G, Oregon
6.183: Cameron Brown, LB, Penn State
7.218: Carter Coughlin, Edge, Minnesota
7.238: T.J. Burnson, LB, South Carolina
7.247: Chris Williams, CB, Minnesota
7.255: Trae Crowder, CB, Georgia
Best Pick: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
After investing a top-10 selection on quarterback Daniel Jones in the 2019 NFL draft, the Giants had little choice but to strengthen the offensive line in an effort to make sure the team’s pass protection improves in 2020.
Thomas began the 2019 college football season as the top offensive tackle in the class but he was leapfrogged during draft season by players like Alabama’s Jedrick Wills and Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs. Sometimes, players like Thomas — who are very clean and boring evaluations — get over-scouted by the media. He’s such an easy projection. He’ll be a quality left tackle that the Giants can rely on for many, many years.
In addition to his high-end traits in pass protection, Thomas is a quality run blocker. He’ll pay dividends in the running game and provide Saquon Barkley with more room to make plays next fall.
Worst Pick: Carter Coughlin, Edge, Minnesota
It’s really difficult finding a pick that would qualify as the ‘worst’ of the Giants’ 2020 haul. Almost every player Gettleman drafted is a quality football player who has enough upside to challenge, at worst, for a spot on the practice squad.
Coughlin has the lowest odds of sticking around, however. He’s an undersized edge defender at 236 pounds and he doesn’t possess the kind of athletic traits to overcome his smallish frame. Coughlin had success at Minnesota because he plays with a high motor from snap to whistle, but if he doesn’t flash on special teams in training camp, he’ll have a hard time making the cut.
To be fair, this can be said about any seventh-round pick.