The Giants have plenty of options with the fourth-overall pick at the 2020 NFL Draft. They also have plenty of holes to fill.
Despite those, Pro Football Focus' analytics think a wide receiver could be the move. PFF released their first strictly analytics-based mock draft of the offseason on Monday. While the mock draft does say this isn't their exact guesses as to what each team will do, realistically, at the draft, it's solely featured off of what the analytics say in regard to the player that could improve a team the most.
For the Giants, no one in the trenches, nor is play-making defender in sight. Instead the pick is Alabama wideout Henry Ruggs.
Here's how PFF explains the match:
"The worst thing that can happen to the Giants is ending up in a position where they don't quite know about Daniel Jones because he has yet to throw to a legit set of receivers. As important as throwing the football is, getting open and catching the football is the second most valuable component of the passing game. Ruggs possesses the athleticism that every offense dreams of, and he gets open at all levels of the field. While many have his teammate, Jerry Jeudy, as their top WR, our projections slightly favor Ruggs. Ruggs lined up primarily out wide, where he was dominant at all levels of the field, while Jeudy saw a majority of his snaps lined up in the slot."
The difference here between analytics research and a full-spectrum mock draft is glaring for the Giants. While Ruggs is a talented prospect with speed, the Giants have other pressing needs heading into this offseason.
Their offensive line can stand to improve, but their defense and secondary has really struggled in recent years. On offense, the Giants also already have the likes of receivers Darius Slayton and Golden Tate, along with tight end Evan Engram in terms of targets for Jones. Then there's running back Saquon Barkley, too. The Giants will likely bet on some improved health, overall, in 2020 on offense among their playmakers, instead of using their top pick on a wideout such as Ruggs.