Andrew Thomas took large strides forward in 2020 as his rookie season progressed. Was it enough, however, to convince fans he’s ready for a second-year breakout?
The Giants head into their 2021 training camp with an offensive line mostly young and unproven. While there’s plenty of intrigue on the right side of the line, Thomas appears to have a headlock on the left tackle position.
Pro Football Focus ranked their top 15 second-year players primed for a breakout season in 2021. The 22-year-old Thomas landed at No. 11 on the list.
While fans of the New York Jets were enjoying the early-season success of their rookie tackle, Mekhi Becton, the Giants meanwhile were struggling to get Thomas acclimated to the pace of the NFL.
The light switch for Thomas apparently went on around the midseason point when he began to show significant improvement.
Thomas specifically thrived in pass protection where PFF notes his pass-blocking grade jumped 18 points in the second half of the season.
The Giants need Thomas to be their anchor on the left side of the offensive line. It’s why they drafted him with the fourth overall pick.
With a year of NFL experience under his belt, a strong 2021 season from him will help lift the rest of the offensive line and greatly benefit quarterback Daniel Jones. Of 978 offensive snaps played, Thomas allowed 10 sacks.
While the success of Jones this season will largely depend on his own performance, Thomas can help set the tone by keeping his quarterback clean and protecting his blindside.
Image: AP Photo / Ron Jenkins
