New York Giants Draft Prospect to Watch This Weekend – Sept. 9
By Sean Dyer
The College Football season is one week in and the NFL season is getting underway this weekend. The New York Giants have a loaded roster and Super Bowl aspirations but it’s never too early to look towards the 2018 NFL Draft.
Every Friday, we’ll be giving you a New York Giants draft prospect to watch on Saturday as you psych yourself up for Big Blue football on Sunday! Cause everybody knows, the weekends are for football (just don’t tell your girlfriend or wife).
New York Giants Biggest Need: Offensive Line
I don’t think many will argue that the offensive line is the biggest issue for the New York Giants this year.
Ereck Flowers needs to show immense improvement in 2017 in order to stick at left tackle. The right side of the offensive line has not been much better with John Jerry and Bobby Hart being inconsistent at right guard and right tackle, respectively.
The Giants brought D.J. Fluker in to compete at right guard but right now, Jerry is still ahead of him on the depth chart and we don’t know how much Fluker will contribute this year.
Related Story: New York Giants 2017 Roster Preview: Offensive Linemen
Even if Fluker proves to be a quality offensive lineman, he is a free agent at the end of the year after signing a one-year deal this offseason. Along with Fluker, Justin Pugh and Weston Richburg, New York’s top two linemen, are also set to hit free agency after the 2017 season.
I’m sure Jerry Reese will do everything he can to keep both Pugh and Richburg around but nothing is guaranteed in the NFL.
The offensive line is already the New York Giants’ biggest weakness and it would get a whole lot worse if they lost either or both of Justin Pugh and Weston Richburg.
No matter what happens next year in free agency, it’s safe to say that Big Blue will be considering taking an offensive lineman with their first round pick in 2018.
Prospect to Watch: OT Orlando Brown, Oklahoma (Projected 1st-2nd round pick)
Orlando Brown is a big man. Brown is listed at 6’8″ 345 lb. The redshirt junior is Oklahoma’s starting left tackle and has been for every game since he was a redshirt freshman in 2015.
His road to becoming one of the best left tackles in the country didn’t come easy. Brown weighed 450 lb. in eighth grade and has been shedding weight ever since. Brown overcame his weight issue to be named 2016 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, the first sophomore to win the award since it was introduced in 2006.
The behemoth left tackle is listed by CBS Sports as the fifth-best offensive tackle and 31st overall prospect in the 2018 draft class. Brown is the number one player for New York Giants fans to watch this weekend, however, due to his matchup.
Orlando Brown and the fifth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners will travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.
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Ohio State features one of the better defensive lines in the nation. The Buckeyes can relentlessly get after the passer with defensive ends Tyquan Lewis, Sam Hubbard, and Nick Bosa.
Tyquan Lewis is a projected first round pick who was the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2016. In his career, Lewis has 27 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks, including eight in each of the last two seasons.
Sam Hubbard is currently projected to go in the second or third round of the draft but could push his way into the first round discussion with a big year.
Hubbard was named to USA Today’s Freshman All-American team in 2015 after registering eight tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks off the bench. Starting all 13 games in 2016, Hubbard put up another eight tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Recognize the name Bosa? That’s because Nick Bosa is 2016 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Joey Bosa’s little brother. Some believe Nick could be even better than Joey, who went third overall in the 2016 NFL Draft.
As a freshman, Nick Bosa had seven tackles for loss and five sacks. Bosa should see his role expand as a sophomore and wreak havoc like his older brother.
Safe to say it won’t be an easy day for Orlando Brown on Saturday. But that’s why he’s the offensive lineman to watch! He’ll improve his NFL Draft stock if he can protect Baker Mayfield from the likes of Tyquan Lewis, Sam Hubbard, and Nick Bosa.
Next: Five New York Giants Who Will Make or Break 2017 Season
As of right now, Orlando Brown should be available late in the first round, where the New York Giants hope to be picking (32nd overall ideally). With a strong showing against Ohio State on Saturday, Orlando Brown should solidify his first round status and could work his way up the New York Giants draft board.
Where to Watch: 5 Oklahoma Sooners at 2 Ohio State Buckeyes
Saturday, Sept. 9 – Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio – 7:30 pm ET on ABC