With the No. 57 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz.
The selection was announced by Lawrence Tynes, who spent six seasons as big Blue’s kicker and helped them win two Super Bowls.
Schmitz was a five-time Academic All-Big Ten selection at Minnesota, and he was an All-Big Ten and All-American selection in 2022 after anchoring an offensive line that let the Gophers put up more than 5,000 yards of gross offense.
Standing 6-foot-3 ½ and weighing 301 pounds, Schmitz graded out per NFL.com’s prospect ranking at 6.41, which is “could be a good starter within two years.” However, he could be a "Pro Bowl-caliber center" according to ESPN Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., and he could step in and be a starter on Day 1 on a team that lost Nick Gates and Jon Feliciano to free agency.
NFL.com’s scouting report says Schmitz is “a highly consistent zone-scheme center with decent size that is well-schooled in all phases of the run game. He lacks length and his edges will get a little leaky in pass protection from time to time, but his overall technique and teamwork in the run game should create a plug-and-play opportunity in the pros.”
Stay tuned to WFAN all weekend for reactions on the Giants’ draft selections!
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