The New York Giants’ right guard situation isn’t just unsettled — it’s a slow-moving train trying its hardest to find a track. And as of Thursday, one potential solution is officially off the board.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, former Giants second-round pick Will Hernandez is re-signing with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year deal. The 29-year-old had been sitting in free agency recovering from a torn ACL, and with training camps already rolling, it felt like a return somewhere was inevitable. Unfortunately, the Cards scooped him up before the G-Men could come to their senses.
And maybe that’s nothing. Or maybe it’s one more missed opportunity for a team still trying to figure out who in the world is going to start at right guard four weeks from now.
Giants passed on Will Hernandez despite glaring hole at right guard
To be fair, Hernandez wasn’t lighting it up during the end of his Giants tenure. It was messy. He got moved around, actually caught COVID, and started racking up penalties like it was his job... which is sort of like the exact opposite of his real job.
But the guy they finally gave up on in 2021 isn’t the same guy who just played two-plus really solid seasons in Arizona before the injury. His pass-blocking numbers were among the league’s best, and even in a short sample last year, he looked good.
That’s more than can be said for the current setup in East Rutherford.
Evan Neal has flashed at guard but just got worked by Abdul Carter and spent the last practice with trainers on the sideline. Greg Van Roten is the steady vet, but there’s a reason he came back for another one-year contract. And while Jake Kubas and Marcus Mbow are fun stories, nobody’s handing them the job in Week 1.
So yeah, a one-year flier on Hernandez actually would’ve made sense, especially if it came with no guaranteed money and a chance to see where he’s at physically. Instead, it’s another “what if” as the Giants head into the preseason opener in Buffalo with more questions than answers on the line.
Maybe it works out. Maybe Neal finds his groove. Maybe Van Roten holds the line. But Hernandez is a probable starter in Arizona again now (if things go according to plan), and you can’t help but wonder if the Giants let a little familiarity walk back into someone else’s huddle.