Giants three-round 2020 mock draft compilation 5.0 – post-free agency
By Ed Stein
Round 1, 4th overall pick
This time around we once again have a new consensus choice. This time around we once again have an offensive tackle in the top spot. What is changing is the percentage of mock drafters who believe the New York Giants are drafting a tackle. Over the last four mock compilations, that percentage has trended up from 55 to 62.5, to 64, to a new high of 84 percent.
This month’s consensus pick for the New York Giants with the fourth overall pick is Tristan Wirfs. The University of Iowa tackle was selected on 11 of 26 mocks. He was followed by Louisville tackle Mekhi Becton with nine selections. Clemson edge rusher Isaiah Simmons (4), and Jedrick Wills of Alabama (2) rounded out the list.
It’s hard to believe the field has shrunk to only four potential choices. Georgia tackle Andrew Thomas who was the leader on version 2.0 was not picked by any mock draft to go to the Giants.
Tristan Wirfs played right tackle for the Hawkeyes. The only reason he didn’t play on the left is that the team’s next best tackle could only play on the left side and Iowa wanted their five best linemen on the field. While not as big as Becton, Wirfs has a solid frame and tremendous strength.
Monday, his college coach Kirk Ferentz told Canton Repository reporter Steve Doerschuck about Wirfs’ unbelievable athletic ability: “Some of the things he does at his size (6-foot-5, 320 pounds), you just shake your head. Freakish is the word.”
Wirfs has impressed analysts as well
"He just mauls defenders. Dominates them. He has incredible strength and power — and he also can move his feet. At the combine, Wirfs put up a 36.5-inch vertical and ran a 4.85 40-yard dash, the fastest time by a 320-plus-pound player since at least 2006. – Mel Kiper, ESPN"
Many mock drafters called Wirfs a “plug-and-play guy” meaning he’s NFL ready and can immediately jump in on a team’s offensive line. With the Giants, Wirfs can start out at right tackle and move to the left side once the G-Men rid themselves of Nate Solder in a year (hopefully not more than that).