In most recent mock drafts, the debate at No. 25 has centered around cornerback and wide receiver. The New York Giants need both, so which way will they go?
Bucky Brooks of NFL Network chose a different route in the third variation of his mock draft. Instead, he had the Giants addressing another dire area of need — center — by selecting Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz.
Beefing up the interior of the offensive line is critical to helping the recently extended Daniel Jones flourish as a franchise quarterback.
This is the same route taken in the most recent NFL Wire Network mock draft. However, the question debated there was whether or not Schmitz was actually the best fit for the Giants.
Some would argue that Wisconsin’s Joe Tippmann might actually be a better overall option for Big Blue.
As it relates to Schmitz, NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein views him as an eventual starter with a high football IQ. He is capable of calling out the protections and would be an asset to quarterback Daniel Jones in that regard. He gave Schmitz a pro comparison of Ben Jones.
Schmitz is a highly consistent zone-scheme center with decent size. He is well-schooled in all phases of the run game. He consistently uses the proper footwork and angles to find early positioning and has the tenacity to finish blocks at a high rate. He has plus football intelligence and makes the calls for his offense. His drive power is average and he can be hit-or-miss getting to second-level targets. Schmitz 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.
Ultimately, whether it’s Tippmann or Schmitz, center is an area the Giants must address.
