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Here’s what the best version of the NY Giants’ offensive line could be

By Charles Vitolo

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 10: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Nick Gates #65 of the New York Giants in action against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on November 10, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the Giants 34-27. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 10: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Nick Gates #65 of the New York Giants in action against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on November 10, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the Giants 34-27. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Will Hernandez of the NY Giants (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Will Hernandez of the NY Giants (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

LG: Will Hernandez

One of the two locks for the formation of the NY Giants’ offensive line, much is going to be expected of Will Hernandez as he heads into year three of his career.

Right from the start, Hernandez was touted as a massive steal that had almost no bust potential. While he hasn’t quite been a bust, he surely hasn’t lived up to where he was drafted at the top of the second round.

His rookie year was encouraging, but Hernandez regressed badly in 2019 to everyone’s surprise. His struggles mainly came in the running game, which was even more of a shocker as his best trait coming into the NFL was supposed to be run blocking.

Hernandez was a big reason Big Blue’s offensive line ranked 25th overall via FootballOutsiders.com and he earned a horrific 45.7 overall run-blocking grade for Pro Football Focus.

Even without these analytics (or metrics, whichever term you’d like), it wouldn’t have even been hard for an average NY Giants fan to recognize Hernandez was holding the running game back, as run plays to the left were routinely blown up all season long (although we know there was another culprit in that equation).

I would be remiss to leave out how brutal it must have been sandwiched in between Nate Solder and Jon Halapio – two of the worst at their respective positions in the NFL – but sooner or later Hernandez is going to have to step his play up if he wants to start thinking about a second contract with the NY Giants.

Hopefully, with higher quality talent around him, Hernandez’s play will adjust accordingly — I’m betting it will.

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