Can Fairchild be a long term answer at guard?
The New York Giants offensive line wasn’t bad in 2025, and had achieved what many fans were calling for and was “league average”.
But then injuries took their toll and the lack of depth was revealed. That isn’t particularly uncommon, as the overwhelming majority of offensive lines around the league have limited (at best) depth. That shouldn’t mean that the Giants should settle for an average line with limited depth, however.
The team might not be able to use a high draft pick on their offensive line thanks to their need at quarterback and the various ways in which the draft board could fall.
They could, however, look to add a high upside developmental player like guard Dylan Fairchild out of Georgia.
Prospect: Dylan Fairchild (53)
Games Watched: vs. Alabama (2024), vs. Texas (2024), vs. Ole Miss (2024), vs. Tennessee (2024)
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-5 (estimated)
Weight: 315 pounds (estimated)
Strengths
Best traits
- Size Quickness
- Zone blocking
- Pass protection
Fairchild is a good-sized guard prospect with solid quickness and agility to go with an NFL-ready frame. He was primarily a left guard for the Georgia Bulldogs, but has also spent time at right guard as well.
Fairchild has solid initial quickness and is rarely tardy off the snap, which allows him to get into position quickly to block athletic interior rushers. He also has enough lateral agility to mirror against speed or redirect to pick up delayed pressure.
He has plenty of size and power at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, and has the play strength you’d expect from a player his size. He’s able to generate movement as a run blocker as well as hold up against power. He has the competitive toughness to sustain his blocks, even if he’s initially beaten.
The quickness and agility which allow him to be a capable pass protector also allows him to be an effective pulling guard. He’s a relatively easy mover for a guard his size. Fairchild has decent foot speed as well and is an effective blocker in space at the second level or on screen plays.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Leverage consistency
- Hand usage
Fairchild suffers from inconsistent leverage and technique which impact multiple areas of his game.
He has a tendency to lose his leverage in various situations, letting his knees straighten over the course of longer reps or even just popping upright at the snap. Fairchild has solid play strength, but loses his ability to anchor when he loses his leverage and also fails to create movement when he plays upright. He has a particular tendency to lunge when blocking downhill on man-gap plays, which can lead to inaccurate blocks or outright whiffs. Likewise, he can be put on skates if he’s forced to anchor against power when his hips rise.
Fairchild also has inconsistent hand usage which is partially tied to his leverage issues. He has a tendency to let his hands drift wide and can give up his chest plate to longer or technically sound rushers. Wide hands can turn into wild hands when he lunges, and his punch can fail to land completely, or he could be vulnerable to holding calls at the NFL level.
Game Tape
(Fairchild is the Georgia guard wearing number 53)
Projection
Fairchild projects as a developmental guard prospect.
He flashes the tools and traits to be a starter with some work, and could play either left or right guard in a variety of blocking schemes. That versatility should allow him to slot in as interior offensive line depth early in his career, ideally developing behind a veteran guard as a rookie.
Fairchild might be able to push for a starting job relatively early in his career, but the inconsistencies in his leverage and technique could make for a rocky road. He looks like an NFL starter at his best, however NFL defenders will likely make him pay if he loses leverage, lunges, or misses with his punch.
That could get him labeled a “bust” if he’s thrown into the fire too soon. However, it’s important to remember that Fairchild only has 23 collegiate starts and was moved around the Georgia line a fair bit. He might not be a “Day 1” starter, but a team could be rewarded with a good starter if they’re willing to put in the work and develop him.
Does he fit the Giants?
Eventually, with good development
Final Word: An early Day 3 pick
