Giants beef up D-line, select Clemson's Lawrence at No. 17
The New York Giants selected defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence out of Clemson with the 17th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
New York used its first pick of the night, No. 6 overall, on Duke quarterback Daniel Jones.
Lawrence became the third Clemson defensive lineman to hear his name called in the opening round Thursday, joining No. 4 pick Clelin Ferrell (Oakland Raiders) and No. 13 selection Christian Wilkins (Miami Dolphins).
The hefty tackle should give the Giants some immediate help stuffing the run, the aspect of the game in which he most excels. Lawrence, a former five-star recruit, notched 36 tackles and 1.5 sacks at Clemson as a junior. He posted a career-high seven sacks during his freshman year.
Lawrence missed the national championship game last season after testing positive for a banned substance. His draft stock, though, hardly suffered.
Prospect profile
School: Clemson
Height: 6-5
Weight: 342 lbs
Strengths
- Mammoth of a man that can eat up blockers with frame
- Quick and nimble for 342-lb lineman
- Can thrive in any defensive scheme
- Very efficient tackler with long arms
- Excellent upper-body power and anchor in run defense
- Dominant bullrusher
- Can shed effectively and consistently with length
- Times snaps well
Weaknesses
- Doesn't have a diverse set of pass-rush moves
- Sack production is less than ideal
- Reliant on size
- Not very explosive off the line
- Lacks bend and flexibility
Bottom line
Lawrence is a fun prospect to study, as few football players with his size move as well as he does. While the massive defensive tackle will impact the run game immediately, he lacks the pass-rush traits required to be an elite prospect. Lawrence is a space eater with incredible power, anchor, and length for various schemes, but his fit as a three-down defender is in question.