The New York Giants had it rough in the first season with Daniel Jones under center but they build around him in this post-combine 7-round 2020 mock draft.

Last year was the end of an era for the New York Giants. Eli Manning finally lost his long-time job as the starting quarterback to 2019 first-round pick, Daniel Jones. Jones was a bit rough last year, even though his stats may say something else.

Jones finished his rookie season with 3,027 yards, 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions — but Jones also had many throws that should have been intercepted that were simply dropped by opposing defenses, not to mention his fumbling issues.

As New York approaches free agency and then the 2020 NFL Draft, however, Jones’s lack of success and the Giants’ lack of winning wasn’t completely on the young quarterback as he had a fairly weak supporting cast on offense and not the best defensive unit either. One of the biggest areas of concern has been at offensive tackle where veterans Nate Solder and Mike Remmers have had their share of struggles.

In last year’s draft, the Giants failed to adequately address their front seven, particularly in the pass rush. They took Oshane Ximenes in Round 3 but used a first-round pick on run-stopper Dexter Lawrence. And their most productive pass-rusher from 2019, Markus Golden, is set to become a free agent.

The Giants aren’t completely out of the mix but they must get better at protecting their own quarterback and getting after the opposition’s signal-caller. They have the chance to do so in the 2020 NFL Draft and here’s how they do it in a post-NFL Combine 7-round mock draft. This mock was compiled using The Draft Networks mock draft machine.

1 Mekhi Becton Offensive Tackle Louisville

The Giants need an offensive tackle who can create gaps and holes in the run game for Saquon Barkley but, more importantly, they need a guy who can do a better-than-adequate — or bad in the case of Solder and Remmers for much of 2019 — job of protecting Daniel Jones. Frankly, it has to be their focus with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Mekhi Becton may be one of the most physically intimidating offensive tackles in recent memory as he comes out of Louisville. At the NFL Combine, Becton officially came in at 6-7 and 364 pounds. It goes with out saying but Becton is extremely strong with that type of weight behind his frame. However, along with that strength, he also has some mobility to his game as well.

Becton is an incredibly good run blocker on the edge. His unique combination of size, mobility and power makes him able to essentially take whoever he is blocking out of the play completely. Becton has some incredibly strong punches but he lacks some technique with them and can get a little messy with his placement at times, something he must work on in the NFL.

Though the Louisville product will require a bit of polishing in terms of his technique, he can be an effective player in the NFL right away and answer the Giants’ need at tackle on either side of the line. His presence will open up the field for both Jones and Barkley and, sooner rather than later, Becton has the potential to be one of the league’s best at the position.

Other Players Available: Jerry Jeudy, Jedrick Wills, Tristan Wirfs