This is the first installment of Giants position previews for the upcoming 2018 season. This will be an in-depth look at each position heading into training camp that begins on July 25.
Here's a good synopsis of the Giants' offensive line play last season: It was really bad.
Scott Thompson, SNY.tv | Twitter |: With just one day left until the 2018 NFL Draft, all eyes will be on new Giants GM Dave Gettleman to see who he takes with his No. 2 overall pick.
Whether it is one of the top quarterbacks like USC's Sam Darnold, or a top position player in Penn State RB Saquon Barkley or N.C. State's Bradley Chubb, Giants fans will hope it is the right guy at the No. 2 overall pick.
Let's take a look at who the Giants have selected as their first-rounder in the past, and how their careers have panned out so far.
Giants GM Dave Gettleman wasn't kidding around when he said the team's offensive line needed some remodeling. He wasted no time in free agency, picking up LT Nate Solder and G Patrick Omameh.
The Solder pickup is the most interesting, though, because it solidifies the Giants' thoughts on now former LT Ereck Flowers. The Giants announced they are switching him to right tackle this season, and the former first-rounder will be swimming in new waters when camp begins.
Flowers has been playing left tackle his entire career, spanning back to his time at the University of Miami. Former Giants lineman, Justin Pugh filled in a right tackle last season for a couple games despite being the team's left guard.
Former Giants OL Justin Pugh took to Instagram to leave a heartfelt message for his former club and its fans after he reportedly signed a four-year $45 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals last week.
A first-round pick by the Giants back in 2013, Pugh has played and started in all 63 games he has played with New York over his five-year career. He was also an NFL All-Rookie Team member in 2013. The 27-year-old struggled with back issues last season, playing in only eight games.
Giants OL Justin Pugh has decided to go elsewhere next season, as he has agreed to a deal with the Arizona Cardinals, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
A first-round pick by the Giants back in 2013, Pugh has played and started in all 63 games he has played with New York over his five-year career. He was also an NFL All-Rookie Team member in 2013. Last season, he struggled with back issues, playing in only eight games.
Pugh joins C Weston Richburg by leaving the Giants this offseason. Richburg signed a multi-year deal with the 49ers. The Giants, however, signed a couple additions like LT Nate Solder and OL Patrick Omameh.
Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive
The Giants had already decided to move on from Weston Richburg, but the Jets had some interest in making him their center in 2018.
Now it looks like Richburg will be leaving New York instead.
Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive
Losing guard Andrew Norwell to the Jacksonville Jaguars is undoubtedly a big blow to the Giants' offseason plans. He was their top target, according to a source. He was going to be the centerpiece of their rebuilt offensive line.
But just because Norwell is reportedly set to sign a five-year, $66.5 million deal with the Jags doesn't mean that Giants GM Dave Gettleman can't "fix" his offensive line quickly. There are still plenty of options for the Giants in free agency.
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Dave Gettleman isn't fooling around. He's all business when it comes to fixing the Giants. And in case anyone hasn't noticed, he's going to be aggressive with his plan.
If he didn't make that clear when he cut guard Bobby Hart and benched tackle Ereck Flowers in his first days on the job last December, it was pretty clear over the last few days when he got rid of cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and punter Brad Wing, and traded for linebacker Alec Ogletree. There may be more cuts to come (perhaps receivers Dwayne Harris and Brandon Marshall) too, possibly before the free-agent market opens...
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The new Giants regime seems ready to give cornerback Eli Apple the "clean slate" they've promised him after his miserable 2017 season. And with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie now moving to safety, it even looks like Apple is penciled back in for his old starting job.
But how sure are the Giants that they can count on him? And are they really convinced all his troubles are in the past?
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INDIANAPOLIS -- Dave Gettleman is serious about rebuilding the Giants' offensive line -- so serious, in fact, that he might be willing to make free-agent guard Andrew Norwell the highest-paid guard in the game. And that might mean the Giants will have to pay the 26-year-old Carolina Panther a contract worth more than $12 million per year.
That seems excessive for an interior lineman. But the more Gettleman talked at the NFL scouting combine, the more it sounded like a price he's willing to pay.
Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: The NFL scouting combine kicks off in Indianapolis on Tuesday, with more than 300 college football players, and more than a thousand agents joining GMs, coaches, scouts, doctors, executives from every NFL team. Here's what to watch for with the Giants -- and what the Giants will be watching -- over the next week:
Their eyes will surely be on the quarterback drills because the biggest determination they need to make this offseason is whether they believe there's a franchise quarterback sitting at the top of the draft. Their future could rest on that decision.
Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: One year from now, the "franchise tag" could be a source of great drama for the Giants if Odell Beckham Jr. doesn't have his mega-deal by then. If he doesn't, the Giants will surely tag him. And he surely won't be happy about it. He might not even sign it.
But that's a problem for 2019. Right now, the 15-day "franchise tag" period - which officially opened in the NFL on Tuesday - figures to be completely drama-free. The Giants seem to have only one player worthy of the "franchise tag" - guard Justin Pugh. And they aren't expected to use it, even on him.
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One good thing about the Giants' miserable season and their recent run of (mostly) futility: They don't have a lot of free agents on their roster that they absolutely must sign.
They do have 25 players approaching free agency, though, and a little more than a month to make some decisions. Here's a look at all their free agents-to-be, and their prospects of returning or finding potential riches somewhere else around the league:
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With the NFL season officially over, all attention turns to the top-rated prospects coming out of college to pursue their professional dreams.
For the Giants, their No. 2 overall pick is their top priority at the moment as they figure out what to do with the selection. Other than that top pick, though, there seems to be a consensus on what position the Giants should be addressing in this year's draft: the offensive line.
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Dave Gettleman made it clear that one of his top priorities in rebuilding the Giants is to fix the broken offensive line. He told that to the coaches he interviewed too.
And "as soon as he said, 'Everything starts with the offensive line,'" that's the moment Pat Shurmur said he was sold.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Dave Gettleman finally ended the charade and stated the obvious: The Giants offensive line is a mess.
"We've got to fix the o-line, let's be honest," the new Giants GM said on Friday. "Let's not kid each other. I told you at the top, big men allow you to compete and that's what we've got to fix."
As obvious as that sounds, it marks a watershed moment for a franchise that has seemingly been in denial about its offensive line problem for years. At every turn, both former GM Jerry Reese and coach Ben McAdoo resisted criticizing the line they created. Reese even often defended the poorly performing players he drafted...
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Dave Gettleman will begin his first full day as the Giants general manager on Friday, and he won't need anyone to show him around the office. He also won't need an update on the Giants' many problems.
He already knows.
The big question, though, is this: How is he going to fix this mess? How is he going to restore the Giants to what they were when he left in 2012.
Giants OL Justin Pugh has been placed on IR and will miss the remainder of the season, but does not need surgery on his injured back.
Instead, Pugh has been prescribed rest and rehab.
Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: Justin Pugh hasn't just played his last game for the Giants this season. He might have played his last game for them in his career...
Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive
Landon Collins' season isn't over yet. But the end may be coming soon.
The Giants are still considering whether to shut down their star safety for the final three games after he re-injured his ankle on Sunday afternoon, according to interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo. Collins has been playing through a high ankle sprain since Week 5, and it he aggravated it on Sunday in the Giants' loss to the Cowboys.
Spagnuolo had already indicated on Monday that they might put the 23-year-old on injured reserve "to protect Landon from himself."
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When Eli Manning took the field to a standing ovation on Sunday, there was hope that his return would provide a boost to the Giants' sagging offense.
It didn't.
What did everyone expect?
Giants WR Sterling Shepard and DE Jason Pierre-Paul are active for the team's matchup with the Cowboys on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
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Jason Pierre-Paul suffered another injury to his already mangled right hand, but he insisted he will be ready to play against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon.
He made that declaration on Friday after practicing for the first time this week. He did not give any details about how he suffered the injury, or if was football-related. But he had the middle finger of his right hand tightly wrapped, and mostly kept it in his pocket during his interview.
Giants WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring) returned to practice on Thursday, but was limited.
The wideout has been battling a hamstring ailment that kept him out in the beginning of the week.
Also, limited were RB Wayne Gallman (hip), LB B.J. Goodson (ankle), DT Damon "Snacks" Harrison (elbow), and T Chad Wheeler (concussion).
Giants WR Odell Beckham, Jr. worked out in the weight room during practice without a walking boot on his right ankle on Wednesday, according too SNY's Ralph Vacchiano..
Beckham, who had surgery to repair his fractured right ankle in October, had 25 catches for 302 yards and three touchdonws this season.
In other injury news...
Giants CB Eli Apple (hip), LB Jonathan Casillas (neck/wrist), RB Wayne Gallman (hip), LB BJ Goodson (ankle), DT Damon Harrison (elbow), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (finger), OL Justin Pugh (back), WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring), and RT Chad Wheeler (concussion) are all on the injury report.
QB Davis Webb is inactive for the Giants on Sunday, making Eli Manning the only backup for starting QB Geno Smith.
Earlier in the week, McAdoo said he was not willing to answer whether he would have three quarterbacks available.
The Giants have not begun any discussions with upcoming free agents like OL Justin Pugh, OL Weston Richburg, and LB Devon Kennard, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN, citing sources.
The Giants ruled linebacker Jonathan Casillas out for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders due to neck and wrist injuries.
New York also listed offensive lineman Justin Pugh (back) as doubtful and defensive tackle Damon Harrison (elbow) and cornerback Eli Apple (hip) as questionable.
The Giants removed linebacker B.J. Goodson, who was limited at practice the past two days due to an ankle injury, and wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who missed the past two games due to migraines, from the injury report.
Giants OL Justin Pugh (back) returned to practice on Thursday on a limited basis. He has missed three of the last four games.
LB Jonathan Casillas (neck/wrist) and DT Damon Harrison (elbow), missed practice for a second-straight day.
LB B.J. Goodson (ankle) was limited for a second-straight day.
WR Sterling Shepard, who has missed the last two games due to migraines, practiced in full after returning to practice on Wednesday.
Giants LB Jonathan Casillas (neck/wrist), DT Damon Harrison (elbow), and OL Justin Pugh (back) all missed practice on Wednesday.
LB B.J. Goodson (ankle) was limited.
WR Sterling Shepard, who has missed the last two games due to migraines, returned to practice.
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The Giants (2-8) at the Washington Redskins (4-6) at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on Thursday, Nov. 23 (Happy Thanksgiving!), at 8:30 p.m. ET...
With the Giants playing on Thanksgiving against the Redskins, the players and coaching staff will miss their family meals. But Justin Pugh already has a plan to make up for it, as he's hosting his fellow offensive lineman and their significant others for a Thanksgiving feast on Friday.
Pugh, who won't play against the Redskins due to a back injury, boasts of having more than 65 pounds of turkey...
The Giants will be without G D.J. Fluker (toe), LB B.J. Goodson (ankle), and OL Justin Pugh (back) on Thursday night against the Redskins.
LB Calvin Munson (quad) is listed as doubtful.
WR Sterling Shepard (ilnness) is questionable. He missed practice on Wednesday after sitting out on Tuesday due to "not feeling well," per SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.
Giants WR Sterling Shepard sat out of practice again on Tuesday as he was "not feeling well," per SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.
Shepard was sidelined against the Chiefs on Sunday with migraines, and it appears that he still has them. Trainers will continue "looking at all possibilities" as to why the sophomore receiver is getting them.
The good news at practice was DT Damon "Snacks" Harrison and DE Olivier Vernon were both at practice, but were limited in what they could do. They were previously out on Monday after both suffering injuries in the win on Sunday. Vernon was said to have a shoulder injury on Sunday, but he was listed with an ankle issue which has bothered him the past few weeks. Harrison is nursing an ankle injury.
Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: The Giants have a very short week, but their injury list remains very long.
Five starters, and one of the replacements for the injured starters, were on the list of Giants who did not practice on Monday as the Giants began their abbreviated preparation for their Thanksgiving night game against the Redskins (4-6) in Washington. That includes two starting offensive linemen who may not play, meaning the Giants could have to reshuffle a line that is already in a constant state of flux.
Justin Pugh was already expected to miss the next few weeks, according to multiple team sources. And now, according to NJ.com, G D.J. Fluker is expected to miss the game on Thursday night, too. That probably means G Jon Halapio would be in line for his first career start, though the Giants also could turn to veteran G John Greco whom they just signed last week.
Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: The Giants have a very short week, but their injury list remains very long.
Five starters, and one of the replacements for the injured starters, were on the list of Giants who did not practice on Monday as the Giants began their abbreviated preparation for their Thanksgiving night game against the Redskins (4-6) in Washington. That includes two starting offensive linemen who may not play, meaning the Giants could have to reshuffle a line that is already in a constant state of flux.
Justin Pugh was already expected to miss the next few weeks, according to multiple team sources. And now, according to NJ.com, G D.J. Fluker is expected to miss the game on Thursday night, too. That probably means G Jon Halapio would be in line for his first career start, though the Giants also could turn to veteran G John Greco whom they just signed last week.
The Giants ruled offensive lineman Justin Pugh and linebacker B.J. Goodson out for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to back and ankle injuries, respectively.
New York also listed defensive tackle Damon Harrison (ankle) and linebacker Devon Kennard (quad) questionable, while linebacker Kelvin Sheppard is doubtful to play due to a groin injury.
Giants DT Damon Harrison (ankle) returned to practice on a limited basis on Thursday after missing practice on Wednesday.
CB Donte Deayon (ankle), G D.J. Fluker (knee), LB Devon Kennard (quad), LB Calvin Munson (quad), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (knee), and DT Dalvin Tomlinson (ankle) were also limited participants.
LB B.J. Goodson (ankle), OL Justin Pugh (back), and LB Kelvin Sheppard (groin) all missed practice for a second-straight day.
LB B.J. Goodson (ankle), DT Damon Harrison (ankle), OL Justin Pugh (back), LB Kelvin Sheppard (groin) all missed Giants practice on Wednesday.
CB Donte Deayon (ankle), G D.J. Fluker (knee), LB Devon Kennard (quad), LB Calvin Munson (quad), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (knee), and DT Dalvin Tomlinson (ankle) were all limited participants.
Pugh will be out for the team's matchup against the Chiefs this Sunday, per NFLN's Ian Rapoport.
Giants G Justin Pugh will be out with a back injury for the team's matchup against the Chiefs, per NFLN's Ian Rapoport.
Pugh sustained the injury against the 49ers on Sunday as he exited the game and didn't return. It looks to be a week-to-week injury, and could sideline the veteran guard for a few weeks.
It will be a huge loss to the Giants as Pugh served as a versatile asset that could play anywhere on the line. He becomes the second starter next to C Weston Richburg to miss time this season.
The Giants signed G John Greco on Monday to fill Pugh's void.
The Giants lost to the 49ers on Sunday, 31-21, to fall to 1-8 on the season. Here's what's going on today...
The Giants return to practice after recovering from their West Coast trip.
Kickers Andrew Franks and Jason Myers worked out for the team on Tuesday >> Read more
After losing to the previously winless 49ers on Sunday, the Giants need to take a good, long look in the mirror according to RT Justin Pugh.
It was an embarrassing loss for the Giants as they gave the 49ers their first win of the season. It hasn't been good for the Giants all season long, and after this loss in particular, Pugh knows that performance from here on out will determine if a player has a job next season.
"Everybody's gotta do their jobs better or we'll be looking for new jobs," Pugh told the Daily News' Pat Leonard. "I mean, you lost to an 0-9 team. We're 1-8, so I guess you could say we're on the same level. But we're different. They're rebuilding. We're a different team. We should have won today. So we need to take a hard look in the mirror and figure it out because in this business, games like this, seasons like this do not help your job security."
Giants RT Justin Pugh is questionable to return against the 49ers with an apparent back injury, per SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.
Pugh had been dealing with back pain all week as he was limited with what he could do in practice. The 27-year-old has only missed one game this season. Bobby Hart took over for Pugh at right tackle.
Newly signed LB Kelvin Sheppard is also questionable to return with a groin injury.
Giants LBs B.J. Goodson (ankle), Devon Kennard (quad), and Keenan Robinson (quad) are all listed as out for Sunday's game against the 49ers in San Francisco.
All three players missed practice on Thursday and Friday.
CB Donte Deayon (ankle) is doubtful, while LB Jonathan Casillas (neck), LB Calvin Munson (quad), DE Olivier Vernon (ankle), and DE Kerry Wynn (knee) are questionable.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Giants smell a "rat" or two in their locker room, and they seem determined to flush them out.
That was the general, on-the-record reaction to the two anonymous players who ripped head coach Ben McAdoo and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in a published report on Wednesday. Several Giants players called their anonymous teammates "cowards".
And they absolutely want to find out who the leakers are.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Jason Pierre-Paul missed practice on Thursday, but the team said it was not injury-related.
The defensive end was riding the stationary bike in the injury area at the start of practice on Thursday, before heading inside to work with trainers in the team's field house. It appeared that the trainers were working on his left shoulder -- which would make sense since he had a shoulder injury earlier in the season.
JPP had company on the sidelines, too. Three linebackers were also sitting out practice -- Keenan Robinson (quad), B.J. Goodson (ankle) and Devon Kennard (quad).
The Giants may be 1-7 on the season, but that hasn't stopped head coach Ben McAdoo from trying to rally his players to finish out the remaining eight games strong.
It hasn't been a good week so far for the Giants as it started with a 51-17 blowout to the Rams on Sunday, and now, two players have come forward saying "McAdoo has lost this team." But that hasn't fazed the second-year coach from attempting to reel his team in.
McAdoo addressed his team and media with a long message beginning with a saying he has used since joining the Giants: "Sound, smart and tough. Committed to discipline and poise." He said he hasn't felt the team living by the mantra at all this season, and he wants to get back to it.
LB Keenan Robinson and LB Devon Kennard -- both suffering from quad injuries -- joined LB B.J. Goodson (ankle) on the stationary bike along the sidelines during the Giants' practice on Wednesday. Goodson has not played since leaving early during New York's loss to Seattle on Oct. 23 while Robinson left Sunday's game against the Rams.
LB Jonathan Casillas (neck), LB Calvin Munson (quad) CB Donte Deayon (ankle), OL Justin Pugh (back), DT Dalvin Tomlinson (ankle), LB Olivier Vernon (ankle) and DE Kerry Wynn (knee) are listed on the injury report, but were limited participants in practice.
Vernon has not played since Week 4 and Casillas has not suited up since Week 5. Pugh missed his first game of the season during Sunday's 51-17 loss to the Rams.
Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: If the NFL season ended today, the Giants would be picking third in the 2018 NFL draft -- their highest pick since they took linebacker Carl Banks third way back in 1984.
But if they somehow find a way to lose to the 0-9 49ers in San Francisco this Sunday, their first shot at the No. 1 overall pick in 52 years would be in play.
What would the Giants do with that unexpected gold? Would they grab their next franchise quarterback? Take the best tackle or running back instead? Or trade down with a quarterback-starved franchise for a boat-load of high picks over the next few years?
The Giants will be without several key players in their Week 9 matchup against the LA Rams at MetLife Stadium.
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The Giants (1-6) vs. the Los Angeles Rams (5-2) at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. ET.
That dark cloud that's been hovering over the Giants all season? Yeah, it'll be there Sunday. The forecast calls for "considerable cloudiness" and intermittent rain with a temperature in the low 60s. As if the crowd wasn't going to be small enough for this one ...
There are really two ways this season can go for head coach Ben McAdoo. His team can show some fight, keep the games competitive and maybe steal a win or two. Or his team can surrender and start getting blown out. Now that they're back from their bye, whichever way they start out is likely where the rest of the games are headed. They are very undermanned now, and they know they have nothing to play for, so motivation won't be easy. Neither will be responding when things go wrong (and things will go wrong). It will be a test of McAdoo's coaching and leadership ability. How the team reacts may determine whether he keeps his job.
