The New York Giants had their eyes on offensive tackle Andrew Thomas dating all the way back to 2018. They eventually used the No. 4 overall pick to get the Georgia product, fulfilling many projections for Big Blue heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.
There had been some speculation that the Giants wanted to trade down from their position, but general manager Dave Gettleman couldn’t find the right value and instead stayed in place and chose Thomas.
Here is what the prominent draft analysts and experts said about Thomas before the draft:
Dane Brugler, The Athletic (draft guide)
A three-year starter at Georgia, Thomas was the starting left tackle in former offensive coordinator James Coley’s pro style spread. He put his name on the map starting every game as a true freshman and graded as one of the most effective blockers in the SEC the last three seasons. Thomas has dominant qualities in the run game, steering and controlling blockers once he gets his hands on them. With his tendency to wind up, lean and abandon his lower body fundamentals, he needs to shore up his pass pro technique, but he gets the job done on tape due to his anchor, toughness and girth. Overall, Thomas’ balance issues are the main concern with his pro transition, abandoning his mechanics and getting himself out over his skis, but he can maneuver his hips in pass protection and clear run lanes, projecting as a starting NFL tackle with fixable issues.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Three-year starter and current bellcow of a line that is a consistent front-runner for the Joe Moore Award. He’s played both tackle spots but may get first crack at playing on the left side, due to the dearth of talent there. Thomas is a gritty player with above-average recovery talent to “get the job done” when his process breaks down. He’s a Day 1 starter who comes in well-coached and technically savvy, but occasional leaning, lunging and inconsistent knee bend in pass pro could be isolated and attacked by pass-rush wolves looking to feast if he doesn’t get those areas cleaned up.
Jacob Infante, Draft Wire
Thomas has the potential to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber offensive tackle at the next level. He’s a more-than-capable athlete for the position and offers plenty of upside as a pass protector on the blindside, and his experience in Georgia’s run-heavy scheme shows when he’s creating holes for his running backs. A technically-sound blocker who does a lot of the little things right, Thomas should be taken early in this year’s draft.
Josh Norris, Rotoworld
Georgia’s offensive line was one of the best in the country, Thomas was a reason for that rather than being a product of it. Yes, there were occasions when he overextended in the running game and lost his balance. His pass set might not be as aesthetically fluid as others – but you’d be hard-pressed to find others that were more effective. Plus he has right tackle experience. With these first-round tackles, NFL teams need to ask themselves if they are comfortable leaving them isolated. I would be with Thomas.
Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network
Andrew Thomas is an elite college tackle who projects as much the same in the NFL level, as long as he’s used appropriately. Thomas is far from a dancing bear and shouldn’t be asked to take outside zone paths as a primary responsibility, but as a people-mover in the running game, he has as devastating and exciting a profile as recent memory affords. Thomas is a quality pass protector who handles speed rushers with aplomb and control, and further experience and coaching in the league will help him maximize his length and recruit more aggressive sets to protect him from surrendering a two-way go on an island. For teams that let him play ugly, nasty, and downhill, Thomas is a Year 1 starter with a Pro Bowl ceiling.
Eric Eager, Pro Football Focus
Andrew Thomas is the best all-around tackle prospect in this draft, projecting near the top of the class as a pass protector and a run blocker. While there are other prospects that project (slightly) higher than him in one facet or the other, no one blends the two better than the three-year starter out of Georgia. This is consistent with what our draft analysts believe after poring through the tape, which strengthens the conclusions of this purely data-driven projection.
