Offensive Linemen (9)
Who’s in: Andrew Thomas, Will Hernandez, Spencer Pulley, Kevin Zeitler, Cameron Fleming, Nick Gates, Matt Peart, Kyle Murphy, and Shane Lemieux
Who’s out: Chad Slade, Tyler Haycraft, Eric Smith, and Nate Wozniak
Opted out of 2020 season: Nate Solder
Analysis:
No position group has been criticized more by NY Giants fans for years than the offensive line. The team’s line features many new faces and will have a completely new outlook for this year.
I would have predicted that if Nate Solder would have decided to play in 2020 that he would have returned to his left tackle spot while the team hoped for a rebound year and let Andrew Thomas learn the ropes on the right side during his first year, but that has all changed now with Solder opting-out.
Will Hernandez is back for year three after a disappointing sophomore season and will look to prove Dave Gettleman right; his life will get easier not having to play next so Solder in 2020, especially in the run game where he has surprisingly struggled.
The center competition may be the fiercest on the roster and there is no clear cut choice there currently. Look for a veteran free agent to fill that void in the coming weeks, at least for competition purposes if Lemieux or Gates can’t handle the role.
Undrafted rookie Kyle Murphy is the biggest beneficiary of Nate Solder opting out as it earns him a roster spot, and he’ll have a chance to compete at center as well as he signed on for the most amount of guaranteed money out of all the NY Giants’ UDFA’s.
The always steady Kevin Zeitler is back in blue again to solidify the right side of the line.
As far as the right tackle position goes, it’s anyone’s guess at the moment and ultimately might not be decided until the center position is figured out as Nick Gates could very well step right in and take the reigns, something he did very well in 2019.
Fleming is the team’s swing tackle who can step in immediately if needed. Gates is a versatile player who may see snaps all over the line.
Rookie offensive tackle Matt Peart and Lemieux may need some tuning and refining of their skills in their rookie seasons, but they expect to play a big part in the future of the team’s line and the foundation of that line starts with them on the roster this season.
Many are expecting Lemieux to slide right into the center position during his rookie season, although that would be a tall ask of a player who didn’t play the pivot spot in college.