2020 NFL Draft: 5 players Giants could take in Round 1

2. Isaiah Simmons, S/LB Clemson

The National Championship eventually became a one-sided affair. Before that happened, Isaiah Simmons boosted his draft stock with a slew of great plays from the secondary.

Simmons is an athlete. He is fast, strong, big, and can make plays from sideline to sideline. Here’s the question though: What position does he play in the NFL? He was playing as a hybrid safety-linebacker at Clemson.

Giants fans have voiced how much they want Simmons, and Gettleman might share the same sentiments. Therefore, Simmons being taken at No. 4 is a real possibility.

The team’s defense was a major cause for concern. Playing a lot of young players, inconsistencies flooded this unit and lost them a lot of ball games. Adding a versatile guy like Simmons can provide stability at the back and give the defense a Swiss army knife.

Simmons has the potential to be more Jamal Adams than Tyrann Mathieu as a box safety with range, and that’d surely be a positive thing for the Giants.

In four seasons at Clemson, Simmons had 11 sacks, four interceptions (3 in 2019), 238 total tackles and 28.5 tackles-for-loss. He did it all for Dabo Sweeney.

Gettleman could find his defensive “quarterback” with Simmons. Someone who can make plays in coverage, line the defense up if needed, and fly into the backfield and get stops. Simmons brings the total package.

 1. Mekhi Becton, OT Louisville

Picking up right where we left off before with Wills, drafting Mekhi Becton will help the team immediately. Perhaps the most likely option too. Yes, many fans are infatuated with Simmons, but this is a more sure-handed selection that will help the team for a long while.

Becton started 10 games in 2017 and 13 more in 2018. Playing tackle, there seems to be some rumblings that the team that drafts him could play him at either tackle spot in the NFL.

Great news for Gettleman, then.

Right tackle was played predominantly by Mike Remmers last season. He held his own, but definitely did not play well enough to prevent the team from drafting a talent like Becton.

Becton is an athletic, big body who profiles like someone who can handle some of the NFL’s best edge rushers and defensive ends. He is 6-foot 7 and weighs 364 pounds. At the combine, he ran a 5.1 40-yard dash and banged out 23 reps on the bench press.

Here, Gettleman has a chance to make the obvious move. Draft Becton to beef up your offensive line to help create lanes for your running back and give your quarterback time.

Potentially playing at one of the two most important positions on the offensive line, Becton would be a huge impact player moving forward.