One Big Consideration with Jedrick Wills at 4

the pick. He'd still lock down tackle spot for years to come even if it's right tackle.

Take a second tackle later to try and groom for Solder's departure.

For a guard or RT? Unless your as good as the player Indy has.

In comment 14856655 Carl in CT said:

Quote:

For a guard or RT? Unless your as good as the player Indy has.

Hate to tell you but DG doesn't give a shit about positional value in regards to draft position

LT isn't what a LT used to be and RT isn't what a RT used to be. With the way defenses attack an O a RT is just as important as a LT. With the amount of snaps that teams run from the shotgun it is even less important as there really isn't a blindside anymore. I would still value LT more than RT not not the drastic difference that it once was. Even if Wills is only a RT then so be it. I personally see the feet of a LT. Yes, it is a concern until he proves he can flip sides but even if he is only a RT then great.

Then he shouldn't be the #4 pick. And I'm a huge fan of Wills at #4. Remember that Wirfs played RT as well. I don't know if he can move to the left side but I trust the Giants do as do most NFL teams.

In comment 14856661 Giantsfan79 said:

Quote:

Quote: Lastly, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills is maybe the most pro-ready prospect in the bunch; he’s also the most solid technically. Wills, though, is not all that big (at least for a top 5 OT) and really isn’t that good an athlete and as such doesn’t offer much in the way of upside. He’s also the least likely to be comfortable playing LT at the next level.

Here's what Lance Zierlein (whose father is a long-time offensive line coach, by the way) wrote about him at NFL.com:

Quote:

Wills falls below the height/length norm for tackles, but his quick, well-timed punches and varied approach prevent defenders from finding rush rhythms and using length against him. Agility and body control allow him to handle move-blocking duties successfully, but his leverage and elite transference of power from hips to his hands provide a big advantage as a body mover at the point of attack. His desire to control each snap occasionally leads to over-sets and lunging in an effort to stay ahead of opponents. Wills is one of the most impressive tackles in the draft; he has basketball-caliber foot quickness and the quick hands of a boxer, and all of it is wrapped in a stout, powerful package of bad intentions. His game is tailor-made for the NFL, and his range of success is good starter to All-Pro.

His comp was Jason Peters.

In comment 14856661 Giantsfan79 said:

Quote:

Quote: Lastly, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills is maybe the most pro-ready prospect in the bunch; he’s also the most solid technically. Wills, though, is not all that big (at least for a top 5 OT) and really isn’t that good an athlete and as such doesn’t offer much in the way of upside. He’s also the least likely to be comfortable playing LT at the next level.

No offense to Colin but he is just a fan like us.

In comment 14856659 robbieballs2003 said:

Quote:

LT isn't what a LT used to be and RT isn't what a RT used to be. With the way defenses attack an O a RT is just as important as a LT. With the amount of snaps that teams run from the shotgun it is even less important as there really isn't a blindside anymore. I would still value LT more than RT not not the drastic difference that it once was. Even if Wills is only a RT then so be it. I personally see the feet of a LT. Yes, it is a concern until he proves he can flip sides but even if he is only a RT then great.

Well said. Becton is another consideration here as he has an absolute mosntrous upside at LT.

In comment 14856660 BillT said:

Quote:

Then he shouldn't be the #4 pick. And I'm a huge fan of Wills at #4. Remember that Wirfs played RT as well. I don't know if he can move to the left side but I trust the Giants do as do most NFL teams.

I disagree. RT is almost as important as LT. If I knew for certain this guy would lock down RT for the next 10 years, I'd run to the podium at #4.

We don't know this though.

In comment 14856670 robbieballs2003 said:

Quote:

In comment 14856661 Giantsfan79 said: Quote: Quote: Lastly, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills is maybe the most pro-ready prospect in the bunch; he’s also the most solid technically. Wills, though, is not all that big (at least for a top 5 OT) and really isn’t that good an athlete and as such doesn’t offer much in the way of upside. He’s also the least likely to be comfortable playing LT at the next level. No offense to Colin but he is just a fan like us.

not offended at all. posted to try to further the discussion, hoping others wanted to comment on the Wills has limited update and is the least likely of the bunch to play left tackle. your argument strategy to undermine the messenger is a perfectly fine (and maybe true) response in my mind.

In comment 14856659 robbieballs2003 said:

Quote:

LT isn't what a LT used to be and RT isn't what a RT used to be. With the way defenses attack an O a RT is just as important as a LT. With the amount of snaps that teams run from the shotgun it is even less important as there really isn't a blindside anymore. I would still value LT more than RT not not the drastic difference that it once was. Even if Wills is only a RT then so be it. I personally see the feet of a LT. Yes, it is a concern until he proves he can flip sides but even if he is only a RT then great.

+1. With all the movement, shot guns, edge rushers moving all around, RT is just as important as LT

Reason Wills played RT is because Tua was a Lefty. So he was protecting his blindside. Saying that I probably have Wills as the 4th tackle I would want.

LT is more important to our situation. We need to pick a guy who is a LT already who we can plug in from day 1. That should be expected from a 4 pick. Solder downright sucked at LT. He needs to shift over. Becton should be the pick if it's an OT.

even if he starts his rookie season at RT while Solder plays out his last year.

In comment 14856727 Torrag said:

Quote:

even if he starts his rookie season at RT while Solder plays out his last year.

So..we have to draft an OT at 4, and you are in favor of putting a guy at LT that has never played the position? That's an acceptable use of the resource in your view?

taking any other position you are against?

with the fourth pick in the draft strikes me as a huge reach, unless he becomes all pro. Anyone think that is the case?

In comment 14856711 Amtoft said:

Quote:

Reason Wills played RT is because Tua was a Lefty. So he was protecting his blindside. Saying that I probably have Wills as the 4th tackle I would want.

. Jones is right handed ????

I thought that also and then I went and did a deep dive into his history and found that not to be the case at all. There is zero tape of him at left either in college or high school. He really is a true pure right tackle. That said if we could have the equivalent of Jason Peters at right tackle for a decade sign me up!

In comment 14856774 HugeS said:

Quote:

I thought that also and then I went and did a deep dive into his history and found that not to be the case at all. There is zero tape of him at left either in college or high school. He really is a true pure right tackle. That said if we could have the equivalent of Jason Peters at right tackle for a decade sign me up!

Conflicting reports:

Wills proved his ability at tackle the past two seasons, starting all 28 games at right tackle during his sophomore and junior years at Alabama. Last year he was the Crimson Tide's highest-graded run blocker, earning a 90.1 mark from Pro Football Focus. He also excelled at pass protection, allowing just one sack and 14 pressures over 450 pass-blocking snaps.

Most of Wills’ pass-blocking snaps came protecting left-handed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside at right tackle. However, given his talent, he figures to switch to the left side at the next level where he will be protecting the blindside of a right-handed passer.

Wills, a former five-star recruit, played left tackle in high school and said he spent “minimum reps” working at the position during practice while at Alabama. That being said, he feels confident he’ll be capable of making the switch back to the left side if called to do so by his next team.
LT in High School - ( New Window )

Too many clueless people here. Offensive linemen and positions aren’t simply interchangeable parts.

Maybe I missed something but seems like he's playing RT in all the prospect footage. He's #73 in the high school footage.https://247sports.com/Player/Jedrick-Wills-77949/Videos/

at both left and right tackle. If Wills makes the grade at either then I would be fine with pick.

I wonder how many posters here didn’t want Zack Martin a few years back because he played a sub-optimal position like Guard? I wonder how that worked out for Dallas.

Back to the OP headline...it’s not a big consideration whatsoever.

As verified by multiple available video.

The statement in the article above that "he played left tackle in high school" could literally be true if he played there as a HS sophomore, but it's been at least that long.

In comment 14856657 LakeGeorgeGiant said:

Quote:

In comment 14856655 Carl in CT said: Quote: For a guard or RT? Unless your as good as the player Indy has. Hate to tell you but DG doesn't give a shit about positional value in regards to draft position

Thank goodness.

In regards to the OTs, it might come down to what Saban tells JJ about Wills. I'm sure that JJ will reach out and get Sabans opinion on Wills during the process.

Also, remember that the new RB coach also came from Bama and has first hand knowledge of Wills.

No sure how the dynamic between DG and JJ will work in regards to the draft, as that remains to be seen.

Just some thoughts on Wills

Deaf in 1 ear, blind in an eye or limited field of vision, substantial difference in limb strength or flexibility.

Important for muscle memory to use him exclusively on L if that is the plan.

In comment 14856724 OC2.0 said:

Quote:

LT is more important to our situation. We need to pick a guy who is a LT already who we can plug in from day 1. That should be expected from a 4 pick. Solder downright sucked at LT. He needs to shift over. Becton should be the pick if it's an OT.

If you're looking for a guy to plug in on day 1, Becton is the last one to pick. His upside off the charts, but he has some work to do.