With left tackle Nate Solder deciding to opt-out for the 2020 season the Giants will need to rearrange their starting plans for the offensive line. Most likely first round pick Andrew Thomas will start at left tackle taking over for Nate Solder. Thomas was a 2019 Unanimous All American and a 2017 Freshman All American. He was Pro Football Focus’ top tackle on their 2020 draft big board. That will leave strong competition for the right tackle spot. The leading candidates are Cameron Fleming, Nick Gates and Matt Peart, Chad Slade could also be in the mix. Out of the candidates I like Matt Peart.
Though it would be almost unheard of to start two rookie tackles that may be the best option, In the 21st century there have been three times that a team started two rookie offensive linemen for a full season. The 2013 Bears started first round pick Kyle Long at right guard and fifth round pick Jordan Mills at right tackle. Long made the Pro Bowl. Mills struggled at times and gave up the most quarterback hurries in the league. Yet he showed flashes and for a fifth round pick Mills performed admirably. In 2010 the 49ers started two first round rookies of Anthony Davis at right tackle and Mike Iupati at left guard. Iupati had a stellar rookie season and Davis performed admirably. Lastly in 2006 the Jets started two first round picks with D’Brickashaw Ferguson at left tackle and Nick Mangold at .center. Both performed well for rookies and went on to stellar careers on the Jets.
Athletically Matt Peart is the best of the Giant right tackle candidates. He is a large man with the longest arm length and second longest wingspan among offensive linemen at the 2020 combine. His broad jump comes in at the 94th percentile and the forty at the 87th percentile among offensive linemen since 1999. As for availability/endurance, Peart started all 48 games during his four seasons of eligibility. In his final season he was named First Team All American Athletic Conference. He started his first two years at left tackle and finished his last two years at right tackle. In that time he played for five different offensive coordinators. Peart is known for a tremendous work ethic, attitude and coachability. His Pro Football Focus run blocking grade went from 70.7 in 2018 to 90.1 in 2019. He had the No. 4 pass-blocking grade on “true pass sets” last season.
The 2020 preseason will lack fan visibility that we have been accustomed to. It sounds like head coach Joe Judge will be open to position competition and will pick the best players to start regardless of age, experience or draft status. To me it would be great to see our rookie draft picks Andrew Thomas and Matt Peart at the two tackle spots starting the season.
