NFL: Who is John Michael Schmitz?
- John Michael Schmitz is a highly-touted center in the upcoming NFL draft.
- Schmitz has caught the eye of the New York Giants who hold the 25th overall pick.
- Giants' draft expert Tony Pauline believes Schmitz is the team's top target with their first-round pick.
The New York Giants may be eyeing Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz with their 25th overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
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Who is John Michael Schmitz?
The NFL draft is just two weeks away and the New York Giants are preparing for their first-round pick. While fans and analysts debate what position they should target, one player has emerged as a potential candidate: Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz.
At 35 we take another olineman in center John Michael Schmitz. Since Rodney left and he kinda screwed us anyways we take another olineman giving us 2 in the early rounds pic.twitter.com/WN94Bk6LW5
— Tristen (@redriverboat2)
At 6-foot-4, 310 pounds, Schmitz has the size and strength to anchor an offensive line, and his intelligence and leadership skills make him an attractive option for teams in need of a center. The Giants have been searching for a long-term solution at center for years, and Schmitz could be the answer they’ve been looking for.
According to draft expert Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, the Giants have shown significant interest in Schmitz. Offensive line coach Bobby Johnson reportedly worked him out privately, and the team brought him in for an official 30 visit.
“I’ve had the Giants selecting Schmitz with the 25th pick in the only two mock drafts I’ve done this year,” Pauline wrote.
With the 21st pick in the #2023NFLFinalMock, the Houston #Texans select:
John Michael Schmitz, IOL, Minnesota
The Baltimore Ravens and @Dayton_Brown_ are OTC. pic.twitter.com/BqxiFDtsHo
— Jolene (Mock Draft SZN) (@ugandasjoy01) April 14, 2023
While some may argue that the Giants could find better value at another position in the first round, Schmitz’s potential impact on the offensive line cannot be overstated. As Pauline notes, “Who touches the football every snap? The center. Who makes the offensive line calls? The center. Who needs a big, strong, smart presence in the middle of their offensive line? The Giants.”
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Schmitz played in all 14 games for Minnesota in 2020, starting 10 of them. He was named a team captain and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.
In terms of his draft stock, Schmitz is projected to be a Day 2 pick, but his stock has been rising in recent weeks. He is currently ranked as the No. 3 center in this year’s draft class by NFL.com.
If the Giants do select Schmitz in the first round, it would not be the first time they’ve taken a center in the early rounds of the draft. They selected Weston Richburg in the second round of the 2014 draft, but he left the team after just four seasons.
With the Giants’ offensive line still a work in progress, adding a player like Schmitz could go a long way in solidifying the unit for years to come.
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