Giants select OT Andrew Thomas in latest CBS Sports mock draft

In the latest CBS Sports mock draft, the New York Giants select Georgia OT Andrew Thomas at No. 4 overall.

The New York Giants went against the grain in a recent Pro Football Focus mock draft, selecting Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills with Georgia’s Andrew Thomas still on the board.

It was an interesting choice for PFF, who suggested Wills is sky-rocketing up draft boards and is poised to take over as the No. 1 tackle prospect. However, CBS Sports sees things differently and in their latest mock draft, went with the grain instead.

As such, the Giants land Thomas, who still seems like the best bet at this early stage in the process.

No. 4 – New York Giants select OT Andrew Thomas

The Nate Solder experiment has been a gigantic flop for the Giants, so they go Thomas here, the consensus top left tackle in the class.

CBS Sports has Thomas as the No. 1 tackle on their board and the No. 4 overall prospect, which means the Giants would have gotten the best player available at an area of need in this scenario, which you really can’t shake a stick at.

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow went off the board at No. 1 to the Cincinnati Bengals, followed by Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young and Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah going No. 2 and No. 3 to the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions, respectively.

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Todd McShay NFL mock draft 1.0: Broncos select DB Grant Delpit

In his 2020 NFL mock draft 1.0, ESPN’s Todd McShay predicts the Broncos will select LSU safety Grant Delpit in the first round.

Todd McShay’s 2020 NFL mock draft 1.0 for ESPN has the Denver Broncos selecting LSU safety Grant Delpit in the first round (subscription required for link). In McShay’s mock, Georiga offensive tackle Andrew Thomas goes off the board to the New York Jets at No. 7 before Denver picks at No. 12.

One could argue that offensive tackle is one of the Broncos’ biggest needs this offseason but McShay noted that safety Justin Simmons and cornerback Chris Harris are both set to become free agents in 2020. McShay apparently hasn’t taken into consideration that the team has been hinting that Simmons will get a contract extension.

McShay did acknowledge that safety is just a “moderate need” before pointing out that there isn’t an offensive tackle who fits at No. 12. Of course, Denver’s draft order could change between now and the end of the season.

McShay’s first mock draft last year had the Broncos selecting Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown late in the first round. His final mock draft of 2019 had Denver selecting Missouri quarterback Drew Lock. The Broncos did select Lock, but it was in the second round, not the first.

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Former UGA OT Andrew Thomas signs with Jay Z’s agency

Andrew Thomas signed with a high profile agency after declaring for the draft.

Recently, former UGA offensive tackle Andrew Thomas declared for the 2020 NFL Draft, where he is widely projected to be a top five pick.

In preparation for the draft festivities, Thomas signed with Roc Nation Sports, a sports agency that is a part of the larger group Roc Nation, which is overseen by hip hop mogul Jay-Z.

 

Thomas joins Georgia great Todd Gurley as a fellow Dawg to sign with Roc Nation.

Gurley welcomed Thomas to the family following the news.

Thomas will now begin preparing for the NFL Combine after announcing that he will not be playing in the Dawgs’ Sugar Bowl matchup with Baylor. We wish him luck in his future professional endeavors.

2020 NFL draft: Jets take plug and play tackle in Todd McShay’s first mock

In ESPN’s Todd McShay’s latest mock, he has the Jets taking University of Georgia OT Andrew Thomas with the No. 7 overall pick.

In Todd McShay’s first 2020 mock draft, the Jets break tradition.

New York has gone the past 13 years without drafting an offensive lineman. However, the Jets break that streak in the ESPN’s personality’s first mock draft.

McShay has the Jets taking Georgia OT Andrew Thomas with the seventh overall pick. In this mock, Thomas is the first offensive lineman off the board.

Here’s McShay’s explanation for the pick:

When you invest an early draft pick in a franchise quarterback, as the Jets did with Sam Darnold in 2018, you have protect him. New York hasn’t, allowing 48 sacks this season (fourth most in the NFL). Both tackle positions could be upgraded in the offseason. Thomas is athletic and powerful, and he shows natural ability in the trenches.

Thomas officially declared for the draft on Tuesday. He’s a player that should be at the top of the Jets’ draft board given their continuous struggles on the offensive line. Kelvin Beachum is also set to become a free agent.

The last time the Jets took an offensive lineman in the first round was 2006. With Eric Mangini calling the shots, the Jets double-dipped on offesnive line help, selecting Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson in Round 1.

Thomas won’t immediately solve the Jets’ problems on the offensive line, but he can only help one of the league’s worst units. The Georgia product would be a building block of the future as Sam Darnold’s blindside blocker. Joe Douglas knows is a former offensive lineman and knows it all starts in the trenches, so don’t be surprised if this pick comes to fruition.

Georgia OT Andrew Thomas declares for 2020 NFL draft

Thomas has the look and build of an elite offensive lineman at the next level.

Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas has declared for the 2020 NFL Draft.

The dominant offensive linemen announced his decision through Twitter on Tuesday.

Thomas has the look and build of an elite offensive lineman at the next level. He’s a long, quick, athletic blindside protector that should hear his name called very early during the 2020 NFL draft.

“As my season ends, I want to thank God for the opportunities he has granted me,” Thomas said in his declaration statement. “I’d also like to thank the fans in the classic city — wherever I end up next, I will always proudly represent the G.”

His decision comes as no surprise, as he has been seen by many as one of the most dominant blindside protectors in all of college football.

All NFL teams with a hole at left tackle would likely run up to the podium if given a chance to draft Thomas come April.

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UGA’s Andrew Thomas declares for NFL, skipping 2020 Sugar Bowl

Georgia Bulldog star left tackle Andrew Thomas has declared for the 2020 NFL Draft. He’ll skip the Sugar Bowl against the Baylor Bears.

Georgia Bulldog star left tackle Andrew Thomas has declared for the 2020 NFL Draft. Thomas will additionally miss the 2020 Sugar Bowl in order to prepare for the NFL Draft. Thomas is projected to be a top-ten pick.

Thomas shared his decision and thanked Georgia fans:

Bulldog fans will miss Thomas, who is the best offensive lineman to come through Athens in quite some time. Thomas has been playing since he was a freshman and is an extremely talented player. His excellent feet and sturdy build make him a can’t-miss NFL Draft prospect.

Georgia will look to several lineman to help replace Thomas. Isaiah Wilson and Cade Mayes will have to step up in the Sugar Bowl against the Baylor Bears.

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2020 NFL draft order: Jets have 7th pick after getting some help over weekend

The New York Jets are projected to pick No. 7 in the updated 2020 NFL draft order, according to Tankathon.

The Jets’ loss to Baltimore on Thursday Night Football wasn’t all bad.

Sitting at home over the weekend, New York got some help in the NFL draft pecking order. With the Falcons and Jaguars both winning on the road on Sunday, New York was able to better its position.

The Jets now have the seventh pick behind the Bengals, Giants, Redskins, Dolphins, Lions and Cardinals, according to Tankathon.

A shot at the top-five is still in reach with Pittsburgh and then Buffalo both still on New York’s schedule. With the Jets having only pride to play for in the next two games, it’s unlikely that they will be able to upset the Steelers and Bills. Both teams are still not locked into their playoff spots.

The Jets could play spoiler the next two weeks, but it would spoil having a top pick, which would hurt in the long run.

Picking in the top 10, the Jets will be in a position to take a plug-and-play starter and find an impact player. Names like Alabama WRs Jerry Jeudy and OT Jedrick Wills, Georgia OT Andrew Thomas, Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb, Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs and Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah come to mind.

The Jets will need more help moving up further in the draft order, but jumping a Cardinals team that still has Seattle and Los Angeles left on its schedule doesn’t seem all that feasible.

At this point No. 7 seems to be the highest the Jets can go, but stranger things have transpired.

Details: Sam Pittman’s new Arkansas contract

Former Georgia football OL coach Sam Pittman signs new head coach deal with the Arkansas Razorbacks. See the details of the signing here.

Georgia lost a good one yesterday as offensive line coach Sam Pittman signed a deal with Arkansas to become the Razorbacks’ new head coach.

Pittman, who has played a critical role in beefing up the Georgia offensive line through recruiting and coaching, is getting paid well by the Hogs.

Related: Sam Pittman’s departure is a huge blow for Georgia

Pittman contract is a five-year deal that starts at $3 million annually, per Steve Berkowitz of USA TODAY Sports.

At Georgia, Pittman was valued incredibly high by Kirby Smart, earning $900,000 per year as a position coach.

Berkowitz provided all the info necessary on Pittman’s new contract.

 

 

This is a huge loss for the Bulldogs but is understandable looking at the business perspective of the deal.

We wish coach Pittman and his family nothing but the best as he embarks for Fayetteville next season.

Once a Dawg…always a Dawg.

Two Bulldogs make AP All-SEC first team

Two Georgia Bulldogs made the first team AP All-SEC first team. Safety J.R. Reed was snubbed and didn’t even make the second team.

Two Georgia Bulldogs made the first team AP All-SEC first team: left tackle Andrew Thomas and beloved kicker Rodrigo Blankenship. Numerous Bulldogs made the second team as well:

It’ll be interesting to see if UGA can keep up the excellent offensive line play moving forward. The Dawgs are losing their offensive line coach, Sam Pittman, who is now the head coach at Arkansas. Additionally, junior LT Andrew Thomas is expected to declare for the 2020 NFL early and may sit out the Sugar Bowl against Baylor.

Once again, Georgia’s defense is underrated. No UGA defenders made All-SEC First Team and only two (Monty Rice and Eric Stokes) made the second team. Perhaps the biggest snub of the entire conference is senior safety J.R. Reed.

J.R. Reed is nominated for several national awards including: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Reed is a finalist for this award, which is given to the best defensive player in the country, yet he didn’t make the All-SEC team? The AP voters can do better than that.

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2020 NFL draft order: Jets have 9th pick after Bengals loss

The New York Jets are projected to pick No. 9 in the updated 2020 NFL draft order, according to Tankathon.

Even though the Jets handed the 0-11 Bengals their first win of the season, New York’s 22-6 loss wasn’t all bad.

The Jets now have the ninth pick behind the Bengals, Giants, Redskins, Dolphins, Falcons, Lions, Cardinals and Jaguars, according to Tankathon.

The Jets’ recent winning streak took them out of prime position for a generational pass-rushing talent like Ohio State’s Chase Young, but there’s still some football to be played.

From here on out, the Jets don’t have many easy games and could very well find themselves back in the top-five. New York has the Dolphins, Ravens, Steelers and Bills remaining on its schedule and could very well lose out.

Picking in the top 10, the Jets will be in position to take a plug-and-play starter and find an impact player. Names like Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy, Georgia OT Andrew Thomas, Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb, Iowa EDGE A.J. Epenesa and OT Tristan Wirfs come to mind.

Wherever the Jets end up picking, with a top-10 selection all the more likely now, they will need Joe Douglas to hit a home run in his first draft as general manager.