The NFL draft is now just over a week away, and the Giants still have many holes to fill.
One massive hole is at the Offensive Tackle position.
The Giants have not had a strong line for years, despite signing Nate Solder to a massive contract worth over $60 million and trying to insert Mike Remmers at right tackle. Neither of those moves have yet to work out. Though, the Giants do have Nick Gates as a potential starter.
This year’s draft is filled with offensive lineman including Tristan Wirfs, Mekhi Becton and Jedrick Wills Jr. However taking an offensive tackle at No. 4 comes with big risk.
The Giants are coming off of a 4-12 season and this will be their 3rd consecutive year with a top 10 pick. A solid offensive line is necessary in order to win a championship, but taking a offensive tackle so high in the draft could be a franchise altering decision.
Some linemen need time to develop and putting an inexperienced tackle on the field with a younger quarterback may not be the best move for the Giants to make.
Daniel Jones struggled mightily in his rookie campaign with holding on to the football and putting a rookie linemen in front of him may put him in even greater danger.
There have been some cases where taking an offensive linemen high in the draft has worked out. However just a couple of years ago the Giants drafted Ereck Flowers with the No.9 pick and that was a terrible choice by the franchise as he was released before his first contract had even ended.
An offensive tackle is a position of need for the Giants, but there are other options at the 4th overall spot of the draft.
With Joe Burrow likely going to Cincinnati first overall, Chase Young expected to go to Washington and either Jeff Okudah or Tua Tagovailoa going third; the Giants will likely have the option to take any offensive linemen of their choosing: defensive specialist Isaiah Simmons, defensive tackle Derrick Brown or something Dave Gettleman has never done before, which is to trade down.
The Giants could even go another route by not taking an offensive linemen at No. 4 and then trading back up to get one.
The Giants are going to need to fill their need at offensive tackle soon, but drafting one at No. 4 will come with tremendous risk.
Photo: Business Insider
