The offensive line for the NY Giants was supposed to take a massive leap forward in 2022, but outside of All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas, the unit was far too inconsistent. That’s why the o-line, particularly the center and guard spots, will be a strong focus for general manager Joe Schoen in the offseason.
There’s nothing Giants fans would love more than to see a stud make his way to East Rutherford on a team-friendly deal. How about guard Justin Pugh?
A 2013 first-round pick of the G-Men, Pugh is coming off a torn ACL and he’s undecided if he’ll be playing in 2023. However, if he does decide to play next fall, it looks like a return to Big Blue is something he’d be open to considering.
I gotta check in with my @giants first 👀. https://t.co/aPGLnyPHcx
— Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh) February 8, 2023
Justin Pugh returning to the NY Giants sure would be a lot of fun
Pugh spent the first five years of his career with the Giants and he didn’t disappoint during his time with the team. Thanks to his versatility, Pugh was able to line up at both left guard and right tackle. He appeared in 63 games for the Giants, starting every single one of them.
Following the 2017 campaign, though, Pugh hit free agency and ended up signing a five-year, $45 million deal with the Cardinals. He suited up in five games this campaign before going down with his serious knee injury. Now, Pugh told reporter Tyler Drake he’s doing some serious thinking about what’s best for his future.
He’s out of contract with the Cardinals, meaning he’ll be free to ink with any team he wants this offseason. Pugh said he’s waiting to see who Arizona hires as its next head coach, while also debating whether or not to retire. There’s also the option of packing his bags and playing elsewhere.
The Giants are in serious need of help for the interior offensive line. Pugh may not be a youngster anymore, but his experience would really help out this young group, and he’d also be a step up from the guard play from ’22. If Pugh is open to the idea of donning blue again and his knee is back to full health in time for next campaign, then Joe Schoen should definitely show some interest.
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