Getty Austin Jackson #73 of the USC Trojans blocks A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes
The New York Giants have been constantly linked to the group of four offensive tackles jockeying for the right to be the first player at their position off the board come Thursday’s NFL Draft. Louisville’s Mekhi Becton, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr., Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas are all in play for the G-Men with the fourth-overall pick.
However, there’s another name at the position who has been skyrocketing up boards in recent days, one who has piqued the interest of the Giants.
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Giants Met With USC’s Austin Jackson
According to Kristian Dyer of Sports Illustrated, the Giants are one of more than a handful of teams who have met with USC offensive tackle Austin Jackson.
Over half the NFL has had a video interview with Jackson, who is popularly mocked and slated into the mid-to-late first round of the draft by most insiders and analysts. The source said that in addition to a video interview with the Jets, Jackson also met with the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, and the Carolina Panthers.
Jackson’s Stock is Soaring
Jackson is in no way a possible selection for the Giants were they to stay put at number four in the first round. Instead, the USC product is in the second tier of offensive tackles in the 2020 draft class, along with the likes of Houston’s Josh Jones.
However, don’t expect Jackson to be waiting around long to hear his name called on Thursday night. The NFL is hungry for athletic offensive tackles, and Jackson is just that. While he may have been projected by many as a second-round pick just a month ago, that is no longer the case.
According to NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah, numerous GMs expect Jackson to come off the board far earlier than many may expect come draft day.
Talked to a bunch of GMs over the weekend. A couple of guys that will go higher than anticipated:
USC OT Austin Jackson
TCU WR Jalen Reagor
Bama CB Trevon Diggs
TENN Edge Darrell Taylor
Giants Could Eye Jackson in a Trade Scenario
Were Jackson to hold a somewhat similar grade on the Giants board to some of the more notable tackles in the class, New York may entertain the idea of trading down in hopes of landing the USC big-man.
General Manager Dave Gettleman has gone on record numerous times this offseason stating that the number four pick is up for sale and the team will entertain trading out of the pick.
However, the best-case scenario for the Giants, were they to be eyeing Jackson, may be to trade back up into the mid-to-late first round. New York holds an early second-round pick (36-overall) and could help guarantee themselves a potential franchise offensive tackle by sneaking back into day one of the draft.
Roto Grinder’s Matt Gajewski noted the type of upside Jackson possesses, showing how dominant he was during his days at USC by allowing fewer quarterback pressures than the likes of both Jedrick Wills Jr. and Mekhi Becton.
Percentage of snaps that resulted in a QB Pressure for a few notable tackle prospects. #NFLDraft
Josh Jones – 1.2%
Tristan Wirfs – 1.5%
Andrew Thomas – 2.2%
Austin Jackson – 2.4%
Isaiah Wilson – 2.5%
Jedrick Wills – 3.1%
Mekhi Becton – 3.8%