The New York Giants need to explore trading for this offensive lineman
By Matt Clark
Dave Gettleman thought he had fixed the New York Giants offensive line coming into the season. To actually get it done, though, he may want to turn to a familiar face via trade.
Since taking over as the general manager of the New York Giants, Dave Gettleman vowed to stock his team full of “Hog Mollies” on the offensive line, in an effort to vastly improve upon the line play that Giants fans have become all to accustomed to seeing from this team. Since the beginning of his tenure as general manager, Gettleman signed free agent left tackle, Nate Solder, to the highest contract of any offensive lineman in the NFL. He then drafted standout offensive guard, Will Hernandez, in the second round of the 2018 draft.
Jon Halapio initially became a solid starting center for Gettleman’s Giants, but he would suffer a significant leg injury early on last year, causing him to miss most of the season. Since then, the Giants were able to get a healthy Halapio back, although he’s struggled to regain his form. In addition, the Giants traded for former All Pro guard Kevin Zeitler, as part of the Olivier Vernon trade to Cleveland. Finally, Gettleman signed an old friend in tackle Mike Remmers, who played for him when he was the general manager of the Carolina Panthers.
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To say the results have not been what the regime expected would be a comical understatement. Currently, the 54 quarterback hits the Big Blue offensive line has allowed are tied for a league worst with the (gulp) Miami Dolphins. With all of the resources Gettleman has poured into the group, these results are simply unacceptable.
In an effort to solidify the offensive line and keep Daniel Jones from getting shell shocked, Gettleman should reach out to his old friends over in Carolina and see if they are willing to part with left tackle, Daryl Williams, who is a free agent after the season. The Panthers drafted Greg Little in the second round of the draft, as the heir apparent to Williams. Despite backing up Williams at left tackle, Little has seen significant time at the position this year, while Williams filled in for right guard Trai Turner while he was out with an injury. Given that the Panthers are comfortable with Little at tackle, it stands to reason that they may be willing to part with Williams for a third-round – or possibly even later – pick, something that the Giants currently have two of in next year’s draft.
If the Giants were able to get Williams, they could immediately insert him as a starting tackle, with an eye towards re-signing him as the left tackle of the future. Williams, who is 6’6″ and 330 pounds, is a former All Pro left tackle and graded out as the second best offensive tackle in 2017, according to Pro Football Focus. Unfortunately, he missed most of last season due to a knee injury.
Trading for Williams would allow the Giants to possibly move Solder to the right tackle position, while using Remmers as offensive line depth as he continues to work his way back to previous form. Due to Williams’ versatility, there are numerous other ways to fit him into this lineup while tinkering with the right group, if the team feels it’s worth it to continue to stick with Solder in the spot he’s struggled in. Remmers has experience at both the tackle position from his time at Carolina and the guard position while he was with Minnesota. Having both Williams and Remmers would allow the Giants numerous avenues towards building a functional group, and at little cost.
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This move would also allow the Giants to evaluate whether or not Solder could be their right tackle for the duration of his contract, or if they are better served cutting bait with him altogether and eating the $13-million in dead cap space the would incur for cutting him. Williams, who is only 27, could prove to be a valuable upgrade to the Giants line moving forward, as they will have the cap space available to sign him to a long term deal should they wish to.
He was a target of Gettleman and the Giants prior to re-signing with the Panthers for one year, so it only make sense they would target him again. Trading for him now would give them an enormous upper hand towards getting a deal done before he reaches free agency, where another team could potentially blow them out of the water – Wiliams may be willing to sign a team friendly deal now, as hes struggled this season, and didn’t get the monster deal he was expecting last year.
Given the amount of draft capital that the Giants possess, it makes sense for them to try to pry Williams loose from the Panthers. After all, regardless of the performance of your team, it is imperative that you keep your franchise quarterback in the upright position. With the porous play of the the Giants offensive line so far, it only makes sense to turn over all rocks in an effort to try to improve their play moving forward and protect the health and well being of Daniel Jones.
The Giants swung and missed on Daryl Williams in free agency last year, as he chose to take a one-year prove it deal with his former team. Gettleman could rectify that mistake by buying low on the struggling tackle (in a small sample size), while potentially hitting a home run for the future.