2016 NFL Draft: Can Nick Martin be as good as his brother?

When the time came for the New York Giants to make the 12th overall selection of the 2014 NFL draft, it was strongly assumed that Roger Goodell would announce that the Giants had drafted Zack Martin out of Notre Dame.

Instead, they drafted Odell Beckham Jr. out of LSU, and despite some heavy criticism of the Giants' selection process, Beckham (eventually) took the league by storm and rewrote the record books.Two years later, they have the opportunity

Measurables

Height: 6-feet-41/2

Weight: 301 pounds

40 Time: 5.26 (projected)

Pros

• Good build for the position.
• Shows the lower-body strength to anchor against bull rushes, and the flexibility to mirror for short periods.
• NFL bloodlines, younger brother of Zack Martin.
• Smart player, doesn't often get fooled by stunts, twists, or blitzes.
• Plays with a nasty streak.
• Versatile player who has started at both center and guard.

Cons

• Doesn't appear to have the athleticism for a blocking scheme that asks the center to move much.
• Stout at the point of attack, but doesn't look natural in space.
• Sometimes lets his pads rise or lunges at defenders. Needs to continue to improve his technique

Prospect Video

Big Board Rankings

Big Blue View - Not in top 50

Mocking The Draft - 87th overall

CBS - 67th overall

Draft Tek - 56th overall

Does He Fit With the Giants?

Probably not.

The Giants already have -- arguably -- the best center in the league in Weston Richburg, and Justin Pugh performed excellently at left guard (particularly considering it was his first year playing the position, and he still had to cover left tackle when Ereck Flowers was injured). At right guard, the Giants should expect Geoff Schwartz to finally be healthy to enter the 2016 season, and Bobby Hart looked like a player worth developing.

The Giants also have star CFL center Brett Jones, who's strength and mobility at the center position makes him a better fit than Martin.

Final Thoughts

Even after Beckham's phenomenal rookie season, there were still whispers that the Giants should have drafted Zack Martin instead. With the play of the Giants' interior line, particularly Justin Pugh, those whispers have largely gone away. And while the Giants will likely have the opportunity to draft Nick Martin, they have rebuilt their offensive line to the point where they can look elsewhere.

Depending, of course, on how the draft board falls, that is.