NFL Draft Experts debate if Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett or Wisconsin offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk would be a better fit for the Giants.
With our "Make the Case" series on Giants.com, we look at projections provided by two draft experts and then ask you, the fans, to weigh in on which player you would like the Giants to select with the 23rd pick in the first round.
In this debate, we look at Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett vs. Wisconsin offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk.
Be sure to vote and Make YOUR Case in the comments below!
Derek Barnett, DE Tennessee
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. released his third mock draft this week and projected the 6-foot-3, 259-pound Barnett, who set the school's all-time career sacks record at 33.0, breaking the previous mark of 32.0 held by the legendary Reggie White. Barnett also recorded 52.0 career tackles for loss, second most in school history.
Kiper: "The Giants' 2007 and 2011 Super Bowl teams featured a fearsome pass-rushing rotation, and this would be an attempt to build out that rotation again," Kiper said. "Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon are entrenched as starters -- and they have the big-money deals to show for it -- but they played too many snaps last season. Vernon had more than 1,000, and Pierre-Paul was on his way before a groin injury ended his season in December. Barnett had 33 sacks in three seasons for the Volunteers, and he's an all-around 4-3 end at 6-3, 259 pounds."
VS.
Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
ESPN colleague Todd McShay liked Ramczyk at No. 23. After transferring to Madison from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, he started at left tackle for the Badgers in 2016 and earned first-team All-Big Ten and AP All-American honors.
"With Eli Manning turning 36, don't be surprised if the Giants draft a QB at some point in this draft. But that's more likely to come in the middle rounds. Ramczyk is dealing with a hip injury, so the medical recheck in April will factor into where he's selected. But if everything comes up good, Ramczyk has the length and mirroring ability to finally answer the Giants' problems at left tackle."
