The New York Giants have the No. 4 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Many have mocked either Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons or one of the four top offensive tackles to them at that spot.
Of the four tackles – Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Jr., Andrew Thomas of Georgia, Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and Tristan Wirfs of Iowa – one player could end up being a potential bust.
The Giants have just gone through a disappointing experience with a first round left tackle in Ereck Flowers, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, who washed out and is now a guard with the Washington Redskins.
The one player that could be a mistake at No. 4 is Becton, who Pro Football Focus believes is not worthy of the No. 4 overall selection as per NJ.com’s Matt Lombardo.
Taking Mekhi Becton fourth overall might be the biggest draft reach in recent memory. He certainly looks the part at 6-foot-7, 360-plus pounds with monster 35 5/8-inch arms, but his on-field performance just didn’t scream top-five pick. Becton had a “breakout” year in 2019 to some scouts, but he was protected by a Louisville offense that emphasized play-action passing and a high rate of screens. True pass sets (standard quarterback dropbacks with no screen, play-action or quick passes) are the best way to project offensive linemen, and in Becton’s case, it doesn’t look good. He only saw 73 of those plays in 2019 — which is a concern in and of itself — but the fact he let up eight pressures on those doesn’t bode well for his NFL future. In our eyes, he’s a mid-second-round pick at best.
It’s unlikely the Giants will take Becton fourth but general manager Dave Gettleman has been unpredictable at the draft table. He’s likely to take Simmons if available who is a once-in-a-decade talent.
As for taking a left tackle, you can take any of the other tackles and feel secure, but who’s to say Becton isn’t a fast learner and can adjust to any offensive set he’s placed in?