Big Blue View mailbag: NFL Draft, Dexter Lawrence

George Wallace asks: I’ve been following your coverage closely and wanted to get your take on the offensive line outlook after the Giants drafted Mauigoa at No. 10.

Do you see left guard becoming an open competition between Runyan, Neal, Ezeudu, and Faalele? I’m assuming Mauigoa slots in at right guard, with Mbow potentially serving as the swing tackle. Does that align with how you’re projecting things?

Also, I can’t help but think that if Neal were to win the starting left guard job and play at a high level, it would be a great redemption story, though it might also be a bit of a pie-in-the-sky expectation. Curious how realistic you think that scenario is?

Finally, do you think there’s a trade market for Runyan at this point? If so, how would the cap implications compare between trading him versus releasing him?

Appreciate any insight you can share.

Ed says: George, I don’t see the Giants cutting Runyan. I know he is basically a league-average guard and some might see him as overpaid, but why would they do that. And, no, Runyan is not going to have to compete for his job. Maybe Daniel Faalele could push him, but Faalele has never played the left side and I’m not certain of that.

Offensive lines need continuity. The Giants offensive line played pretty well last season, and Runyan, Andrew Thomas, and John Michael Schmitz now have a couple of years of playing together under their belts.

As for Evan Neal, with Francis Mauigoa and Runyan starting, Faalele, Aaron Stinnie, and Lucas Patrick signed for depth, and even Josh Ezeudu being given some guaranteed money when Neal received none I think this dream of Neal suddenly becoming a good starter is more fantasy than anything else. It is highly unlikely. Neal is going to have a difficult time making the roster.

Peter Dwyer asks: Regarding the Dexter Lawrence trade:

I understand money is always in play.

But: does the expectation that the Giants are adjusting the base defense to a 3-4 front seven factor in? Dexter on an interior island of sorts, taking on 2, every play… just a question.

Ed says: Peter, that had nothing to do with it. The Giants have been a 3-4 base defense for several years now. Dexter Lawrence no longer wanted to be a Giant. That’s all.

Marc Boucher asks: Question is about Dex and his fit in the Baltimore 2.0. I know that the role of the DTs in this defense are a little different and wondering if the Giants felt that it would better to invest in the secondary/LB units because Lawrence wouldn’t be an ideal fit. I know that he can probably excel in any role, but could the decision to move on (coupled with the 10th overall pick) be that what they want from DTs they felt they could readily get elsewhere?

Ed says: Marc, again a player like Dexter Lawrence at his best fits in every defense. Dexter was unhappy, had watched a lot of his friends leave and succeed elsewhere, and wanted out. The reporting is the Giants made him an offer similar to what he signed in Cincinnati for more years. He was never signing an extension, and trading him is what the Giants had to do.

als23 asks: What are you hearing about Evan Neal’s new training regimen out in California? I think Neal is going to win the job at right guard and surprise a lot of people.

Ed says: I haven’t heard any more than anyone else has heard. Neal trained with LeCharles Bentley this offseason, as he has for the last couple of years. We have not had access to talk with players. Neal is not taking a job away from Francis Mauigoa, provided Mauigoa is healthy. As I said above, Neal will be fortunate to find himself in the league once the regular season starts. If he had an option other than New York this offseason he would have taken it. He didn’t, so if the Giants cut him there won’t be a long line of suitors waiting to give him a roster spot.

Bob Donnelly asks: What is your view on how NIL is impacting the draft?

Ed says: Bob, that is not a topic I study or pay a ton of attention to. But, what I do think is that NIL is leading some players who have a choice to enter the draft or stay in school to remain in college for an extra year. Tghat is especially true with quarterbacks, and I think that is good for the NFL. They end up getting players closer to being ready to step in and play.

John Steinbreder asks: I was very pleased with the haul from Day One of the draft, but shocked to see Steve Tisch standing pretty front-and-center in the war room when ESPN showed it post-pick. I thought Tisch was more or less banned from the team due to his connections and communications with Jeffrey Epstein. At the very least, he should have been standing off to the side. I am sure the league was not pleased seeing him on camera.

Ed says: John, you didn’t really ask a question but you aren’t the only one who was annoyed by this. Tisch is no longer an owner, but he is Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Board. He still has a seat at the table. That’s the reality. Would the Giants have been better served to keep Tisch out of the room Thursday night so he did not end up on camera? Absolutely.

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