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NY Giants Rumors: Can Joe Thuney or Brandon Scherff complete the OL Rebuild?

By Danny Friedman

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 28: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Brandon Scherff #75 of the Washington Redskins in action against the New York Giants on October 28, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Redskins defeated the Giants 20-13. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 28: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Brandon Scherff #75 of the Washington Redskins in action against the New York Giants on October 28, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Redskins defeated the Giants 20-13. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Joe Thuney
ew England Patriots guard Joe Thuney (Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports) /

Free Agent Target #2: Joe Thuney, OG, New England Patriots

The NY Giants need to figure out a concrete plan about who will start at left guard this season.

In 2020, the left guard position was a rotating turnstile for the Giants. Will Hernandez started the season as the team’s unquestioned left guard. He started the season’s opening seven games before he contracted COVID-19 after Week 7. From there, Hernandez spent a few weeks on the COVID/Reserve list and never got his starting spot back. 5th round rookie Shane Lemieux took over at left guard where he showed some positive flashes but struggled immensely as a full body of work.

The Giants desperately need to find a steady option to be a 16-game starter at left guard. Ideally, offensive lines don’t rotate their guys and they have a 5-man unit who’s always ready to be a starter. They didn’t have that at all in 2020. There were too many inexperienced veterans, rookies, and no offseason tremendously hurt the offensive line’s ability to mesh and form chemistry.

Joe Thuney could be the solution to the New York Giants needs and woes at left guard.

Thuney is a five-year player who has a fountain of experience in games with New England from primetime night games, to playoff games, to playing in three Super Bowls and winning two of them. The Giants could surely use Thuney’s proven championship pedigree on their offensive line.

Head Coach Joe Judge saw Thuney up close and personally in New England. He knows how he approaches each day and goes about his work. Thuney is a highly regarded player from the Patriots and was one of Tom Brady’s personal protectors.

Joe is the definition of durable and consistent. He has yet to miss a game in his five years and he has started every game. He’s a former 2nd Team All-Pro from 2019 along with making the NFL’s All-Rookie team back in 2016. Thuney has experience playing left guard (primarily), along with playing right guard and some center in 2020 after David Andrews went down for the season on IR.

Thuney is a team player who can be relied on to keep Daniel Jones upright and safe from oncoming pass rushers. Joe can come right in, lock down the left guard spot and the Giants could have a nice 1-2-3 pairing with Thuney, Nick Gates, and Kevin Zeitler if they choose to keep him at right guard.

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