Well, what do we have here? After former New York Giants offensive lineman Justin Pugh called playing in NYC "next level" in a recent tweet, Big Blue fans took it to the comments to try and recruit him back to East Rutherford.
The tackle started 63 games with the G-Men from 2013 to 2017. He played a big role on both the left and right side of the o-line, both as a tackle and guard, under the leadership of Tom Coughlin and Ben McAdoo before suffering multiple injuries, which cut his Giants career short.
While Pugh's injuries significantly impacted his performance, many Giants fans forget how good the lineman was during his time with Big Blue. In fact, through the first nine games of the 2016 season, Pro Football Focus considered him the top offensive guard in the NFL.
Pugh signed a five-year, $45 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. The 32-year-old veteran lineman is a free agent this summer and is expected to return for his 11th season in the NFL next year. The question is, will Giants general manager Joe Schoen make the call?
Imagine playing for one of their professional sports teams... it's next level! cc @Giants https://t.co/WOhXtwGzx5
— Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh) June 30, 2023
Does Justin Pugh make sense for the New York Giants?
It appears many Giants fans and Pugh would welcome a reunion, as many were quick to recruit him back to New York following his tweet. With that said, does signing the former first-round pick make sense for the Giants?
While bringing back one of the best Giants' lineman of the last decade would create a buzz and excitement around MetLife Stadium, Pugh's health raises many concerns. Last season, he tore his ACL during Week 6, which ended his season. He has also suffered several back, calf, knee, neck, and shoulder injuries throughout his career.
Having said that, NY supporters would like to see the Giants' front office bring back Pugh because of his football intelligence and leadership on and off the field. However, the only way we can see a deal getting done by both parties is if it is a short-term one.
If the veteran proves he can stay healthy, he could be a game-changer for Big Blue. In the meantime, we must wait and see what's next for Pugh, but plenty of people would like to see him back in East Rutherford.
READ MORE: 5 significant questions for the NY Giants offensive line this season