NY Giants hosting former Kansas City Chiefs center for visit

Former Kansas City Chiefs center Austin Reiter, a starting-caliber center with Super Bowl experience, is expected to visit with the NY Giants.

The biggest weakness for the NY Giants heading into 2021 is still the offensive line.

This is why the news that Austin Reiter is due to make a visit is so encouraging. Giants general manager Dave Gettleman and the front office are open to shoring up an offensive line unit that is ranked 32nd (dead last) in the NFL by PFF.

This move could be motivated by the injury scare the Giants received on Thursday when Shane Lemieux was carted off with an apparent knee injury. Lemieux seems to have avoided the worst, but the GMEN could use some veteran help on the interior of the offensive line anyway. The best Big Blue offensive lineman from a year ago, guard Kevin Zeitler, is now a Baltimore Raven.

What would Austin Reiter bring to the Giants? Reiter is an excellent pass blocker, as evidenced by his 79.2 PFF pass-blocking grade. He was the starting center for the Chiefs the last two seasons and has played in back-to-back Super Bowls. His playoff experience and veteran savvy could have a big impact in the young offensive line room.

What would this mean for current starting center Nick Gates? Gates, who played tackle at Nebraska and the beginning of his Giants career, could slide over to one of the guard spots. Gates was arguably Big Blue’s best offensive lineman in the second half of last season at center, but he can play any position along the offensive line.

Nick Gates played great at guard in 2019 when Kevin Zeitler was hurt.  Nick Gates played one of his best games ever at guard in Eli’s last career win in 2019. He didn’t allow a single pressure that day. He also executed a key block pulling left, to help spring Barkley’s 2nd TD of the game.

An Austin Reiter signing could improve the NY Giants’ offensive line at two spots. It would make the offensive line unit much better at pass blocking and allow Shane Lemieux and Will Hernandez to battle it out for the last guard spot. Iron sharpens iron, and Reiter would increase the competition at training camp, which is never a bad thing.