Option 1: If they believe Beatty is still a viable LT for this franchise, then Pugh is obviously rock solid and your looking at a mid round swing tackle in this draft. Candidates:
Schofield
Britt
Turner
Option 2: If they believe Pugh is the LT of the present and future (as I do) and that Beatty while may not be cut now, is merely a matter of time before a cut is palatable $$ wise and in the interim, he can compete for the RT spot and if he loses to a rookie, then he's a swing tackle. If this is the case, than a RT is a Rd 2/3 priority. Candidates:
Moses, Bitonio Rd 2
James, Mewhort Rd 3
Fleming Rd 4
Option 3: If they believe Pugh is the RT of the future and Beatty is unreliable, it opens the door to Lewan or Martin in Rd 1.
I'd go with Option 2 because I flat out don't think Beatty is tough enough to be a consistently good football player. On the other hand, I think Pugh is outstanding and has LT "feet" and almost as important, is a responsible/reliable/tough player that we can feel comfortable on the blind side. All too often we get carried away in things like arm length and lose the importance of professionalism. Take Antonio Richardson for example. If his knee checks out, he's got ideal measurable. However, he lacks the head/heart etc. to be a pro. I wouldn't take that guy with our 6th rounder. While Beatty isn't quite the sloppy excuse for a football player that Richardson is, he's got a toughness void.
if beatty cannot play this year, pugh can slide over to LT with bitonio playing RT. if beatty returns next year bitonio can slide over to center.
if beatty does play this year, bitonio can learn RT and C and provide depth at each while developing at both positions and hopefully develop into the C of the future for the team
That said, I would hate to see a repeat of last year.
That said, I think that the draft will be VERY telling about the health and what the Giants think of his long term success as a Giant will be. If he's on the path to recovery, we'll see it in the draft and if he isn't, we'll see it in the draft.
'Will Beatty is the key to this draft' - ( New Window )
In comment 11634367 lugnut said:
No OL, WR, TE etc. early huh?