The New York Giants’ offensive line situation looks shakier on the interior than most fans probably realize, despite posting a top-10 finish last season from Pro Football Focus. Big Blue hit the draft lottery by landing foundational standout Francis "Sisi" Mauigoa at No. 10 overall, but the team is banking on a massive gamble.
The Giants plan to kick the former Miami Hurricanes star -- who played three seasons at right tackle -- inside to upgrade the right guard slot... or so they think. Making the transition from college tackle (in the ACC, no less) to starting-caliber NFL guard won't come easy, and head coach John Harbaugh needs to know if the 20-year-old can handle the switch immediately.
That inherently creates an opportunity for the depth guys to prove their worth throughout the spring. If Mauigoa hits a rookie wall or struggles with the position change, the panic button will be smashed instantly in East Rutherford.
General manager Joe Schoen added Daniel Faalele earlier in the offseason to push the envelope the litteist little, but the depth behind him inspires even less confidence. The coaching staff can't afford to watch the unit regress as second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart prepares for a breakout season.
Giants’ biggest OTA battle is happening where nobody’s looking
Most casual fans are naturally keeping their eyes glued to the explosive cornerback competition or receiver hierarchy battle.
The corner matchup features rookie standout Colton Hood challenging veteran Greg Newsome II to fill the void left by Cor'Dale Flott. Meanwhile, a crowded wideout room offers plenty of theater as Darnell Mooney and Malachi Fields both look to plead their cases for more targets.
Those premium battles might garner all of the attention, but the real season-defining drama is quietly unfolding in the trenches.
With returning starters John Michael Schmitz Jr. and Jon Runyan Jr. already facing intense pressure to prove themselves, any setback from Mauigoa will signal a real problem fast.
Related: Francis Mauigoa is about to get a brutal welcome to the NFL moment right away
Handing snaps to Evan Neal or relying on Joshua Ezeudu would be a total catastrophe. Journeyman Lucas Patrick, veteran Aaron Stinnie, or former practice squad piece Jake Kubas simply aren't the answers either.
Everyone's pulling for Sisi to make it out of OTAs, unscathed, and ready to be inserted into the starting lineup Week 1.
If the unit fails altogether, Schoen must immediately look toward a familiar insurance policy. Reuniting with unsigned free agent Greg Van Roten is the exact break-glass-in-case-of-emergency-option they need. GVR was an ironman for Big Blue, starting all 34 games the last two seasons.
The offseason has gone from "why haven't the Giants re-signed the 36-year-old" to "if they do sign him, we're screwed." And that all rests on Mauigoa's 6-foot-6, 330-pound shoulders. Early reports from Day 1 of OTAs suggest he's settling in just fine -- being a highly active participant and stood out for running aggressively downfield after completions to get into position to block.
It's still wicked early and the pads aren’t on yet, so it only means so much. But if this is the baseline, the concern around right guard might disappear quicker than anyone expected.
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