It didn’t take long for Marcus Mbow to look like more than just a fifth-round flier. The rookie has already been making noise across training camp and the preseason, and the New York Giants might have to start asking real questions about their tackle depth sooner than expected.
Mbow has been splitting reps at both left and right tackle, and despite the expected growing pains, he’s checked more boxes than most rookie linemen this early. That matters big time, especially on a roster that already added Stone Forsythe and James Hudson III to be swing tackle insurance behind Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor.
But if the G-Men feel like Mbow is ready enough to be that guy, it could spell the end of the line for Hudson... or at least open the door to dealing him. And no team might be more eager to pick up the phone than the Los Angeles Rams.
Marcus Mbow's rise could make James Hudson III a trade chip to watch
The Rams are staring down a familiar problem: a shaky offensive line and a quarterback room that's a bit up in the air right now. With Matthew Stafford’s back injury still lingering and Alaric Jackson battling recurring blood clot issues, depth at tackle has gone from a luxury to a full-on crisis.
Hudson's value isn't necessarily at an all-time high — his penalties and rough preseason outing against Buffalo won't help him — but he still profiles as a functional swing tackle who plays with an edge and can step in when needed. That alone might be enough to draw interest, especially from a team like LA that has Super Bowl aspirations but an increasingly fragile setup in the trenches.
Meanwhile, Mbow has shown exactly what the Giants hoped for: position flexibility, movement skills, and more than enough raw talent to work with. He’s been praised for his approach and has earned a long look through the preseason. With Joshua Ezeudu’s out-of-literal-nowhere emergence inside, Mbow can continue to get looks at tackle, which only solidifies his role in the short term.
If the Giants like what they see, and there’s every indication they do, it makes sense to shop Hudson while there’s a potential buyer.
There’s no rush to move on. Big Blue’s line is still a work in progress. But if a team in slight panic mode wants to pay for a steady tackle with starting experience, Joe Schoen’s phone will be on. After all, this team was able to trade retired Darren Waller, so anything is possible.