New York Giants: Montez Sweat 2019 NFL Draft Prospect Profile

Montez Sweat is one of the top edge-rushing prospects available in the 2019 NFL Draft and would provide an instant boost to a lackluster New York Giants pass rush.

The New York Giants have several areas of need that must be addressed in the 2019 NFL Draft and with two first-round picks, they’re in a good position to select players that can provide an immediate impact such as Montez Sweat. However, based on a myriad of rumors and how surprising the team’s offseason has been so far, how Big Blue intends to use their picks remains a mystery.

Your guess is as good as mine as to how the Giants will navigate the draft, but if I were in Dave Gettleman’s shoes, I’d invest at least one of the team’s two first-rounders on the defensive side of the ball, specifically at edge rusher.

New York’s pass rushers recorded the second-lowest sack total (30) in the league in 2018, and now that the stop unit’s leading pass rusher from last season, Olivier Vernon, has been traded to Cleveland, another stud pass-rusher is needed to take his place. That being said, Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat would be the perfect player to fill Vernon’s shoes.

Measurables

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 260 lbs

Arm Length: 35 ¾”

40-Yard Dash: 4.41

3-Cone Drill: 7.00

Bench Press: 21 Reps

Broad Jump: 125 Inches

Strengths

Sweat was one of the more unheralded prospects in the 2019 draft class after the end of the college football season. However, he absolutely rocketed up draft boards after an excellent Senior Bowl performance and top-notch NFL Combine workout that was highlighted by his record-setting 4.41-second 40-yard dash, good for the 15th-fastest mark out of every prospect in Indianapolis regardless of position.

Sweat is more than just a workout warrior, though. The Mississippi State product effectively utilizes his above-average upper-body strength and long arms when engaging offensive linemen at the point of attack, creating plenty of leverage to push his blocker back or toss them aside on his way to the quarterback. The 22-year-old’s long frame also gives him a significant advantage when rushing mobile quarterbacks, as he has more than enough length to stop scramblers inside the pocket before they tuck and run.

Judging from the above, Sweat clearly boasts an explosive first step that gives offensive tackles trouble immediately off the snap. However, it’s his second step that makes him stand out among the rest of the pass rushers in the 2019 draft class. The Mississippi State product has long strides that quickly close ground on the quarterback and can force offensive tackles into half-man engagements once they’re out of their stances. When that happens, Sweat has consistently displayed enough hip flexibility to swim over or dip under his blockers, granting a free release at the quarterback.

Areas of Weakness

Sweat’s elite speed and incredible physical traits should easily translate to the next level. However, converting that speed to effectively use those traits will be key to his success as a pro. The Mississippi State product has a lean lower half that, despite impressive quick-twitch muscle, lacks the power to consistently push back offensive tackles when forced to bull rush his opponent.

Sweat’s straight-line speed is bordering on elite, but his ability to move laterally leaves much to be desired. He’s by no means stiff in the hips (3-cone time was fourth-fastest among edge-rushers), but he does struggle to move laterally due to his long frame and tall center of gravity. As a result, Sweat struggles to make successful one-on-one tackles against smaller players in the open field.

Outside of flaws in his game, a pre-existing heart condition uncovered at the Combine could complicate his career at the next level.

Where He Fits

Sweat is far from a finished product, as is the case with all draft prospects, but he still profiles as an instant starter and should make a significant impact on a Giants defense in desperate need of pass rushing talent.

The Mississippi State product still effectively uses his rare combination of size, length and speed to beat offensive tackles immediate off the snap or bully them backward, collapsing the pocket in the process. If he can build up his lower body strength and focus on fixing the other holes in his game, Sweat has the potential to become Big Blue’s next great sack artist.