New York Giants Target Andrew Whitworth Testing Free Agency
The New York Giants are one of many teams that will attempt to sign free agent Andrew Whitworth. Whitworth is ready to test free agency.
Few players will command as much attention during the 2017 period of free agency as veteran offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth. One of the teams that’s widely believed to be interested in signing the criminally underrated Cincinnati Bengals lineman is the New York Giants.
Fortunately for the Giants, Whitworth is embracing the opportunity to test the free agent market and evaluate his possibilities.
Whitworth was drafted by the Bengals in 2006 and has been with the team in every season that’s followed. He’s been the epitome of consistency at left tackle, maintaining an elite level of play with multiple quarterbacks and offensive coordinators.
According to Alex Marvez of Sporting News, Whitworth wants to re-sign with Cincinnati, but is going to take advantage of this opportunity to test free agency.
"“I love Cincinnati and want to be there,” Whitworth told co-host Solomon Wilcots and me Monday on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I’m pretty positive things will work out in a way that I’ll be there in the end. But I want to take advantage of the opportunity of being free and listening to what other people have to say. I think that’s the right way to do it.“At this point in my career it’s about the challenge, the excitement of trying to win that Super Bowl. I want to make sure wherever it is, and hopefully it’s in Cincinnati, that team is prepared to try and fight for that trophy.”"
Though New York has voids to fill and address, it’s fair to believe that Jerry Reese can pitch his team as a Super Bowl contender.
Whitworth is 35 years of age, but he remains one of the most consistent and reliable players in the NFL. Even at 35, he puts on clinics as to how to keep the league’s elite pass rushers away from Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton.
The hope in New York is that signing Whitworth would lead to Eli Manning having the necessary time in the pocket to lead the Giants to a third Super Bowl.
Protecting the 36-year-old Manning has become one of the front office’s top priorities.
On the surface, signing a 35-year-old offensive lineman is a risky proposition. There’s no denying how perilous a maneuver it would be, but there’s also no rational way to dispute how phenomenal a player Whitworth has been.
With a work ethic that few his age or younger can come close to rivaling, the working theory is that Whitworth has at least one more Pro Bowl caliber season left in him.
In a league with non-guaranteed contracts, it’s tough to call much of anything a terrible risk if the guaranteed money is team-friendly. The beauty of Whitworth’s game and situation, however, is that there’s no question pertaining to whether or not he’ll put the work in.
Whitworth wants to win, whether that be in Cincinnati or elsewhere.
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It’s going to be a matter of whether or not Jerry Reese can convince Andrew Whitworth that the New York Giants can help him win.