Does Richie Incognito Fit On The New York Giants Offensive Line?

The New York Giants offensive line lost two potential starters on Wednesday when veteran tackle Will Beatty and veteran guard Geoff Schwartz were cut. The O-line as it stands would have John Jerry at RG and either Marshall Newhouse or Bobby Hart at RT. Needless to say, Jerry Reese will be looking to bolster the line in free agency or the draft, even both.

There are some viable options at guard who may be available come March, but none of them had a better season at guard than Buffalo Bills guard Richie Incognito. Pro Football Focus had him ranked as the second-best guard in the NFL in 2015 behind Baltimore’s Marshall Yanda. Incognito, at 32, was one of only two offensive players to play every snap in 2015.

The Bills want Incognito back, but the price tag may be high. Tackle Cordy Glenn is a higher priority to re-sign and will come at a price. Tyler Dunne From the Buffalo Times writes that Glenn, “plays a premium position, he’s still young at 26 years old, there isn’t much else available at all in free agency.” Dunne thinks he will command over $10 million per season.

Incognito obviously has red flags. His situation with Jonathan Martin in Miami made national headlines and resulted in a suspension and a year away from football. A player with this type of off-the-field issues may not have fit in a Coughlin locker room, but it’s a new era in New York and John Jerry isn’t a starting guard.

PFF has him as the league’s best pull blocker and one of the highest-rated guards in the run. With the Giants’ anemic run offense in 2015, they could use a run specialist on the offensive line. Incognito will get a deal somewhere, but should the Giants pony up the money for a 32-year old guard with a checkered past?