If the value is just too great at WR/TE at 11, who could drop to 43 and be the best fit in our system?
While I really like Trey Smith, I think the guy I like the most is Leatherwood. He has position versatility and would be an excellent pass pro guy at either OG spot. I like Dickerson as well but don't love the injury history. Also a guy with a ton of high level experience at 'Bama that could step year 1 at a high level.
It was said here that Garrett's plan was to run an outside zone blocking scheme for Barkley. I believe Leatherwood would flourish in this vs. a power/gap blocking scheme.
Why? Not concerned about the injury history?
The question becomes “what is a Rob Sale guy?”. I’m not sure we can answer that right now.
I am a big fan of Lemieux but I would rather see the Giants bring another option on day 2 to compete with Lemieux for the starting spot. If Lemieux improves his pass pro then the Giants have a good problem on their hands.
The day 2 options that I really like are Trey Smith, Alex Leatherwood, Aaron Banks, Quinn Meinerz, Jackson Carman, and Walker Little. Walker Little is one of the biggest boom/bust prospects in the draft. He was considered a potential top 10 pick in the 2020 draft going into that season but he suffered a knee injury during the first game of the season and decided to return to college which turned out to be a mistake due to COVID.
He may not be but it will be close enough considering its one of the greatest needs remaining on the entire team.
Because by the 2nd round there will probably be at least a half dozen players who will be ranked closely enough together to be considered the BPA. Getting one that fills an important need is what this is about.
Then why did Hernandez spend much of the time on the bench when he was supposedly healthy?
Granted, the twenty years since Chris Samuels have been grim. I think the League has learned the lesson, at least to some degree, since the famous clip of Saban laughing his @$$ off when James Carpenter was picked.
Smith's are as follows, Height (6054), weight (321), Hand (9 6/8), Arm (33 5/8), wing (82 1/8), 40-yard dash (5.14, 5.11), Vertical 31", broad jump (9-4), 3-cone (7.43), bench press (32).
Struggled a bit with the swim move on the inside otherwise was excellent. Checks many boxes for what NYG looks for in an OL.
1A.Alex Leatherwood:
The 2020 Outland Trophy Winner measured in at 6-foot-5, 312 pounds. He posted a 85 3/8-inch wingspan (98th percentile) and a 34.5-inch vertical leap (98th percentile). He ran a 4.96 40-yard dash (94th percentile) and posted a 9-foot, 10-inch broad jump (99th percentile).
He played both guard and tackle at Alabama and would likely be a plug-and-play starter on the Bengals' offensive line.
“Some teams like me at tackle, some at guard,” Leatherwood said on Monday. “It just all depends on what team you’re talking about and their team needs but I feel like most of them think that I can play anywhere on the offensive line.”
May like him even better than Trey as while he may not be a pure people mover , he is an amazing blocker and has best versatility of all the guys listed. Peart/Solder are not sure things at RT and he could play RT at a high level if we needed to slide him over easily. Tremendous puller and outside zone scheme fit.
3.Quinn Meinerz:
Tipping the scales at 320 pounds, Meinerz was timed as fast as 4.86 seconds in the forty with a 10-yard split of 1.73 seconds. His short shuttle was timed at 4.47 seconds and his three-cone was timed 7.33 seconds. He touched 32 inches on the vertical jump and 9-feet-3-inches on the board jump.
4.Creed Humphrey:
Humphrey has been one of the most consistent centers in the country for the past three years. He’s allowed only 28 pressures over that span on nearly 1,300 pass-blocking snaps. He boasts a versatile body type for the interior at 6-foot-5, 320 pounds and isn’t likely limited to only center at the next level.
When Humphrey gets his hand placement down, he’s not letting go. He flashes some of the best hand usage in the draft class, and it’s why he’s excelled in pass protection over his career.
5.Wyatt Davis: (could easily be higher if not for medical red flags)
Davis is a dominant run blocker, able to consistently generate movement along the line of scrimmage in almost any blocking scheme. He has the play strength to drive defenders off the ball in man-gap schemes, as well as enough athleticism to stress the defensive front in zone schemes. Likewise, he has enough agility and long speed to be an effective pulling guard and is able to block with accuracy in space. He is better in power concepts than outside zone running schemes, but can execute both effectively.
6. Landon Dickerson (could be higher if not for multiple medicals)
Can play all across the OL and is a destroyer and mountain of a man. Another great fit and could be right up their at #1 if not for the injuries.
7. Teven Jenkins (unlikely to drop):
Most say OT only some think he could play OG too.
8. Dillon Radunz (unlikely to drop):
Had perhaps the best week end to end at Senior Bowl even better than Meinerz.
Most believe he is Tackle only
Josh Myers
Jackson Carman
Ben Cleveland
Landon Dickerson (due to injury risk , but upside is rd 1)
Quinn Meinerz (due to small school and lack of experience but seems like a natural)
*With our very high need , would much prefer to go 43 here or even double dip at 43 and rd.3 and go defense most of the rest of the way.
Dickerson’s injury history is also a fairly large concern, however. In five college football seasons, Dickerson suffered four season-ending injuries. He tore his ACL in 2016, missed nine games in 2017, and was forced to redshirt by an ankle injury in 2018. Then, of course, he tore his ACL again at the tail end of the 2020 season. Dickerson is a potential starter with his solid mechanics, motor, and play power. However, durability is very important. And it’s a legitimate red flag for the Alabama center.
Source - ( New Window )
Dickerson’s injury history is also a fairly large concern, however. In five college football seasons, Dickerson suffered four season-ending injuries. He tore his ACL in 2016, missed nine games in 2017, and was forced to redshirt by an ankle injury in 2018. Then, of course, he tore his ACL again at the tail end of the 2020 season. Dickerson is a potential starter with his solid mechanics, motor, and play power. However, durability is very important. And it’s a legitimate red flag for the Alabama center. Source - ( New Window )
Thanks Mark which is why you probably can't take him at 43. Too high with other pretty strong options still available. Round 3 or later absolutely.
Apparently as was said by a few in the know on this board that Giants intended to implement an outside zone blocking scheme for Barkley but that changed after he went out. Leatherwood would be ideal for this system.
Injuries make him riskier. Leatherwood a better pass pro guy and more versatile. Davis no doubt a great talent though