With the New York Giants parting ways with right guard Geoff Schwartz and offensive tackle Will Beatty, there are suddenly jobs to be had on the Giants' offensive line.
It feels as though Baylor's Spencer Drango has been coming out for forever, and as a redshirt senior, he has been draft eligible for three years. Before passing on the draft as a redshirt sophomore, he -- along with Zack Martin -- were compared to the Giants' Justin Pugh. The following year, before returning to school for his redshirt Senior year, Drango was compared to Zack Martin.
Now that his college career is officially over, and he is finally entering the draft, can Drango live up to his comparisons?
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 320 pounds
Pros
- Naturally big young man with good feet and decent knee bend.
- Quick to get into position out of the snap.
- Heavy hands and a wide base to stonewall rushers.
- Feisty competitor who blocks through the whistle.
- Outland Trophy finalist, All Big-12 selection for the third straight year, and credited with 48 knockdowns in 12 regular season starts this year.
Cons
- While he could probably play tackle, a transition to guard will likely be best.
- Played in Baylor's wide-open Air Raid offense and was rarely in a 3-point stance. Having to learn NFL technique could slow down his transition inside
- Had back surgery in 2013. Medicals need to be evaluated
Prospect Video
Big Board Rankings
Big Blue View - Not in Top 50
Mocking The Draft - 54th
CBS - 105th
Draft Tek - 189th
Does He Fit With the Giants?
The Giants have opened some holes on their offensive line, but it seems likely that they have a plan in mind for the unit. That being said, Drango does have some traits in common with both Justin Pugh and Zack Martin. He is likely capable of playing tackle at the next level, but his best spot is probably inside at guard. Having played outside in a spread offense complicates the transition, but he has been a good player for Baylor and should be able to handle the move.
Drango fits, but if the Giants think his transition to right guard could take more time than they want to give him (or they have another solution already in mind) then a draft pick might be better spent elsewhere.
Final Thoughts
The Giants probably want soon-to-be sophomore Bobby Hart to take over the right guard position, and Brett Jones has a chance to take that spot as well. Then the question becomes whether or not Drango is a superior player. He is more highly regarded coming out than Hart was, but Hart showed strongly when called upon in 2015.