5. Connor McGovern – Center, Denver Broncos
The New York Giants offensive line play has struggled with Jon Halapio and Spencer Pulley as its centers. Signing Connor McGovern would be a huge upgrade at the center position, assuring that the offensive line is better suited to protect Daniel Jones up the middle.
The 6’4″, 306LB McGovern, was drafted in the fifth-round by the Denver Broncos, out of the University of Missouri, where he primarily played tackle and guard. Despite his limited experience at the center position, McGovern grades out as a top-ten center in the league according to Pro Football Focus. In addition, he doesn’t turn 27 until April, making him a relatively young option at center.
McGovern has extremely quick feet, is ridiculously strong, has solid hands and a high football IQ. He also is adept at getting up to the second level to block, something that is integral when possessing a weapon like running back Saquon Barkley on the roster.
Halapio is a free agent after this season and Pulley was signed to a three-year $9.6 million dollar extension in the offseason. While that is a lot of money to allocate to a back-up center, the Giants have been willing to have him back up Halapio at that price, as the plan was never to have him be the starter. McGovern’s value on the open market is up in the air at this point, but he doesn’t figure to become one of the highest-paid at his position.
Adding a center with McGovern’s abilities would be an instant upgrade for what has been a porous offensive line this year. Having the interior of the offensive line bolstered by McGovern, Will Hernandez and Kevin Zeitler, makes the Giants interior blocking exponentially better. Center is often an overlooked position in the grand scheme of the NFL, and Big Blue needs a true anchor on it’s offensive line in the worst way.