The Giants scouted the 2020 NFL Draft class and identified two offensive tackles who could develop into foundational cornerstones.
General manager Dave Gettleman used the No. 4 pick on the one with more experience playing left tackle because … well, Sandra Bullock didn’t win an Oscar for her performance in “The Front Side.” Protecting a right-handed quarterback’s blind side makes left tackle more important than the other four offensive line positions.
So, the Giants will start Andrew Thomas on Monday, after he was activated from the reserve list (three games missed) with injuries to his left foot and right ankle. The other highly regarded prospect, Tristan Wirfs, will start at right tackle for the Buccaneers, who stole him after the Browns (Jedrick Wills) and Jets (Mekhi Becton) chose other tackles over Wirfs.
“I want all of them to succeed,” Thomas said when asked if he keeps tabs on the other tackles in his class. “It’s definitely a talented offensive line class, but I try to focus on me to make sure I’m on the field playing. I’m just trying to win.”
One year ago, choosing Thomas over any of the other three — especially Wirfs, who played at a near-Pro Bowl level as a rookie for the Super Bowl champions — looked like a mistake. Now, Thomas, who did not allow a sack on 201 pass-blocking snaps in five games before the injuries, has surpassed the injured Becton and at least caught up to Wills, though Wirfs remains the highest-graded of the bunch by Pro Football Focus.
“I wouldn’t say a different player,” Thomas said, comparing his current self to the middle of his rookie season, “but I would say definitely more experienced. I understand the game a lot better with the scheme, my offensive line technique, and things like that, so I’m excited to get back out there. At the end of the season, I started to turn on a little bit better and things started to slow down a little bit, but still a long way to go.”
The Giants started six different offensive line alignments in the first seven games before finding continuity out of shorthanded necessity. Thomas’ return was a welcome disruption, however, against the duo of Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul (eight combined sacks) plus the NFL’s stingiest rushing defense (79.8 yards per game).
Thomas’ impact can be seen in offensive coordinator Jason Garrett’s play-calling. Garrett left Thomas one-on-one against the Saints, when Daniel Jones passed for a career-high 402 yards. It’s a blueprint the Giants would like to copy.
“The biggest thing for me just this season in the run game was working on my double teams, getting a better fit, more movement,” Thomas said. “In the pass game, just being consistent when using independent hands. It stops some of the rushes from some of the guys.”
With Nate Solder and Matt Peart both taking a turn at left tackle, Garrett rolled the pocket more, relied on the run and eliminated slow-developing downfield shots to survive Thomas’ absence. Solder started at right tackle Monday and was expected to rotate throughout the game with Peart.
“Being able to switch from left and right like that,” Thomas said, “is not an easy thing to do.”
