The New York Giants need to improve their offensive line and drafting an offensive tackle at No. 12 in the first round would be a prudent move.
But will any of the top three tackles be there at No. 12?
Michigan's Taylor Lewanvisited with the Giants on Friday, and NFL Media draft analysts Charles Davis and Daniel Jeremiah discussed recently how Lewan would make sense for the Giants at No. 12 on an episode of NFL Network's "Path to the Draft."
Davis pointed out that current starting left tackle William Beatty probably is best-suited for the right side and that last season's right tackle, 2013 first-round pick Justin Pugh, could move inside and play guard. Some draft analysts felt Pugh's best position coming out of college was guard.
Lewan generally is considered the No. 3 tackle in this class, behind Auburn's Greg Robinson and Texas A&M's Jake Matthews (some analysts have those two players reversed). Truthfully, there isn't that much difference between the three. Davis has Robinson, Matthews and Lewan ranked fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, on his list of the top 32 prospects. Jeremiah has Lewan as the No. 3 tackle and the No. 10 overall player in his list of the top 50 prospects, and senior analyst Gil Brandt has Lewan as the No. 3 tackle and No. 9 overall player on his "Hot 100" list.
If the Giants genuinely are interested in a tackle -- and why wouldn't they be? -- how the three tackles come off the board obviously will interest them. Oakland is said to covet Lewan, and it seems doubtful that other teams would let Matthews and Robinson fall out of the top 10. If the Raiders don't take Lewan, though, it's possible he could be there for the Giants at No. 12 because it is believed most teams don't have him as high as Matthews and Robinson.
Lewan (6-foot-7, 309 pounds) grades out at a high level as both a run and pass blocker. At the combine, he had the fastest 40 time among the linemen (4.87 seconds) and also the best broad jump (9 feet, 9 inches). Lewan, who is from the Phoenix area, surprised more than a few folks by returning for his senior season. He was a four-year starter at left tackle for the Wolverines and is known for playing with a mean streak.
Lewan's demeanor, though, has led to some issues, both on and off the field.
This draft has some good tackles who will be available in the later rounds, and Davis and Jeremiah talked on "Path to the Draft" about two tackles -- Tennessee's Ja'Wuan James and North Dakota State's Billy Turner -- who could be there on the second and third day, respectively, if the Giants don't go for a tackle in the first round.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
