2020 NFL Draft: NFC East rookie class standouts and sleepers
By Kyle Edmond
New York Giants. Andrew Thomas. 4. player. 31. . Offensive Tackle
Standout – Andrew Thomas
It can be hard to pinpoint an offensive tackle as a standout rookie, but in the case of Andrew Thomas there is little that stands in the way of him putting together an incredibly impressive season.
The first contributing point to Thomas’ future success is the leap that the Giants took in selecting him fourth overall. Many had the Giants going with an offensive tackle, but the majority expected it to be Jedrick Wills Jr. or Tristan Wirfs, whereas few had it being Thomas. That isn’t to say it was the wrong pick, but the Giants saw something in Thomas that made them take him as the first offensive tackle drafted in 2020.
The other side of the coin for Thomas is his opportunity. We all knew he would start given where he was selected, but now he is going to be expected to be the anchor to the offensive line. The other projected starting tackle, Nate Solder, opted out of the season, forcing the Giants to more than likely have to roll out rookie tackles on both ends of the line.
Since Thomas is the more proven one, the pressure will be on him to ensure Daniel Jones is protected and Saquon Barkley has running lanes.