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Latest PFF Mock Draft Has Giants Addressing Glaring Need at Pick 25

And yes, it's a glaring position of need.
Andrew Parsaud|
Latest PFF Mock Draft Has Giants Addressing Glaring Need at Pick 25
Latest PFF Mock Draft Has Giants Addressing Glaring Need at Pick 25

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New York GiantsMinnesota Golden Gophers

The New York Giants desperately need a center, and Pro Football Focus's Steve Palozzolo thinks they should target that weakness in round one.

The offensive line has been a problem for the New York Giants for what seems like forever, but Pro Football Focus's Steve Palazzolo has a solution that many Giants fans might find suitable: Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz.

For what it's worth, the Giants hit on left tackle Andrew Thomas, who is well on his way to a big payday in the not-so-distant future. They drafted Evan Neal seventh overall last year, and despite his rookie struggles, he is expected to make major improvements in year two, completing the Giants' offensive tackle book-ends.

The issue for the Giants has been in the interior. Last season, the Giants had Mark Glowinski at right guard, Jon Feliciano at center, and a revolving door of players at left guard due to injuries, which included Ben Bredeson and Joshua Ezeudu. Feliciano signed with San Francisco, and backup center Nick Gates went to Washington, leaving the Giants without a center on the roster.

Although the Giants agreed to terms with former Steelers center J.C. Hassenauer, who has experience playing at center and guard, and worth noting is that the Giants have had a different starting center almost every season since 2017.

Enter Schmitz, of whom Palazzolo writes:

Schmitz was the highest-graded center in the FBS this past season at 92.4 overall. He’s on the bigger side for the position at 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, yet he did his best work on the move in an outside-zone-heavy Minnesota scheme.

Interestingly enough, the last time the Giants selected a center in the first round was in 1989, when they took Brian Williams, who also came from Minnesota. That pick turned out well, as Williams appeared in 129 career games during his 10-year career with the Giants.

In Palazzolo's mock, some notable players that were off the board at this point were: receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Quentin Johnston, Jordan Addison, and Josh Downs, and corners Joey Porter Jr and Devon Witherspoon.

The Draft Network appreciates Schmitz for his ability to excel in inside zone and gap systems, adding:

Offering effective punch and pad power as a run blocker, Schmitz projects as someone capable of generating the needed wash in the front to allow backs and lead blockers to hit gaps confidently. There’s a stout anchor in pass protection present here as well. Schmitz does well against interior blockers and second-level pressure players to slam the door shut and sit down on his hips to prevent collapse into his quarterback’s lap.

Adding Schmitz to an offensive line that has lacked a true center for years would be ideal. He’s a larger center but is still effective in providing adequate protection and is a beast in the run game. It wouldn’t be the flashiest pick, but Schmitz could become the Giants' center for the long term.

 

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Andrew Parsaud
ANDREW PARSAUD

Andrew Parsaud is currently attending Penn State, where he is studying digital journalism and media. He is an avid follower of the major New York sports teams. 

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