A couple things are for certain. First off, both Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold have to feel a little bit better about their chances for success in the upcoming 2020 season. But the more intriguing commonality between the Giants' and Jets' newest additions is that they will forever be viewed in comparison, given that they were both part of a notable group of offensive linemen, were both top-12 draft picks and, of course, will both potentially be fundamental parts of New York football for years to come.
With the No. 4 and 11 picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Giants and Jets, respectively, selected Georgia OL Andrew Thomas and Louisville OL Mekhi Becton to bolster their franchise quarterbacks' protection. While both fan bases had reasons to be relieved (offensive line help is key for young developing quarterbacks and these two were both unanimously regarded as the cream of the crop in this draft) and a bit frustrated (could/should the Giants have traded down? should the Jets have gone with a wide receiver?), the picks are in and the game plans of both squads were pretty clear cut: protect that quarterback and develop the line.
But does one have a definitive edge over the other? Is one more likely to blossom into an All-Pro talent than the other? Whose ceiling is higher and, alternatively, whose floor could represent bust potential?
Let's dig in.
Andrew Thomas, New York Giants (info courtesy of John Healy)
Strengths:
• Can play left or right tackle• Incredible, powerful hands• Ability to adjust on the fly in pass protection• Savvy, patient blocker• Great run-blocker who has strong power at point of contact and excels out in space• Strong base/lower half
Weaknesses:
• Hand placement can sometimes be too high, leading him to sometimes be susceptible in pass protection• Lacks flexibility• Aggressive style can be used against him
Expert Analysis:
"Thomas was the safest out of the 'big four' offensive tackles and he has the highest floor of the bunch." - Ross Tucker, RADIO.COM Sports NFL Insider
"He keeps his frame between the defensive end and the quarterback on a consistent basis. He slides, he's got good feet. He's got power in terms of the run blocking." - Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN
"Andrew Thomas was the safest OT in the draft due to his experience (41 starts) and steady game. He can mail and mash in the run game, and anchor well vs elite pass rushers. Giants get a solid starter at OT for the next decade." - Bucky Brooks, NFL Network
"He's got the best career grading profile of any tackle in the draft class and has done it against the best competition of any tackle in the class as well. All that makes you feel good about his prospects in the NFL." - Brandon Albert, Pro Football Focus
Seeing a theme here? Safe, consistent and reliable is the story with Andrew Thomas, and after seeing a lot of moving parts recently, with 12 different offensive linemen starting games over the past two seasons, the Giants stayed put at four to grab that source of comfort. Should they have traded down? It doesn't necessarily seem like it was an option in hindsight, seeing as the Dolphins likely wanted to go with Tua, the Chargers knew their guy in Herbert and teams like the Cardinals or Browns may have valued Thomas's experience over the guys they ended up taking.
As Nick Kostos of "You Better You Bet" shared with me, he's curious to see how the Giants go about using Thomas. Kostos wants to know if they're serious about letting him compete with Nate Solder at left tackle because if he wins the job -- which Kostos thinks he will -- the team has a slight personnel issue on their hands.
In an appearance today on WFAN, Thomas said that he'll play wherever the Giants want him to play, meaning he's certainly open to the opportunity. He also shared that it was important for him to be the first offensive lineman drafted, thus his Giants career seems to be off on the right foot.
Mekhi Becton, New York Jets (info courtesy of Jesse Pantuosco)
Strengths: Becton doesn't just block the edge—he destroys it. A colossal blindside protector with elite length and athleticism, Becton is power personified. Though not as technically proficient as the upper-echelon tackles in his class (Tristan Wirfs and Andrew Thomas, for example), whatever Becton lacks in technique he more than makes up for with his staggering size and strength. Becton's versatility (he can play on either side) and experience in the trenches are also assets.
Weaknesses: Though surprisingly nimble for his commanding 6'7" frame, Becton is far from a finished product fundamentally with plenty of rough edges to smooth out. To that end, Becton remains a raw pass-blocker with his blitz recognition in particular need of refinement. Like other players his size, Becton will have to stay on top of his conditioning at the next level. Fatigue, especially late in games, was a frequent obstacle throughout Becton's Louisville tenure. Playing in the Cardinals' screen-reliant spread offense may also put Becton at a disadvantage as he transitions to a more traditional NFL scheme.
Expert Analysis:
"Becton's potential is limitless and he has the highest ceiling of the big four linemen, but there are concerns about his discipline so his career will depend on not only his on-field performance, but that as well." - Ross Tucker, RADIO.COM Sports NFL insider
"Becton has the ability to be a franchise left tackle in the NFL and one of the best tackles in the league." – Charlie Campbell, Walter Football
"His highlight reel is among the most impressive in the class and his lowlight reel is the opposite." – Thor Nystrom, Rotoworld
"He has the potential to be a good starter on either side, but the weight creates an obvious low-floor scenario." – Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Another obvious theme is emerging here. Whereas Thomas seems to epitomize high-floor, safety and reliability, Becton is the opposite type of talent. Rarely do you see an offensive lineman with legitimate star power, but when you're a 6'7", 368 pound machine with a motor that propels you to run a 5.10 40-yard dash, you're going to make headlines. He's already made headlines with his basketball footage, which is impressive in itself but made all the more ridiculous given his measurables.
But then there's the downside. There's the weight that always creates the potential for injury and durability issues. There's the failed drug test, which he claims is a one-time incident, but isn't a good look right off the bat. And there's the occasional play, like all heavier linemen can be prone to, where he'll just get beaten by a faster and unexpected attack.
Does one team have the definitive edge over the other with their selection? Absolutely not. But there are definitely stark differences between these two players, and visualizing different scenarios help to evaluate the selections.
If both players perform to the best of their abilities, Mekhi Becton might be the most dominant offensive lineman in the league, while Thomas will potentially be an All-Pro talent. If both players fail to live up to their expectations, it seems likely that Thomas will still be a starting-caliber tackle with versatility to boot, while Becton could be viewed as a bust for years to come.
