The New York Giants obviously aren't ignoring their offensive line. They used to, which is why it's still not where it needs to be. But they started taking the problem seriously three years ago with the first-round selection of Justin Pugh (No. 19 overall) and have continued to do so in each of the past two drafts. I expect them to do so again in this year's draft.

That doesn't mean, however, that they will or should use the No. 10 overall pick on the offensive line. After taking tackle Ereck Flowers at No. 9 overall last year, using the No. 10 pick this year on a tackle would constitute a poor allocation of high-end resources. The Giants project Flowers as their long-term left tackle of the future, which means any tackle they take this year would project to be no more than a right tackle.

The way the Giants look at it, the No. 10 overall pick is too high a price to pay for a right tackle, and they're right. If they want to use their second-round pick -- No. 40 overall -- on a tackle or even a guard, that would make a lot more sense. And there should be some good candidates available there if that's the way they do go, as they did two years ago when they took center Weston Richburg at No. 43.

Now, if you're a Giants fan, I know what you're thinking. It goes something like, "But they can't really go with John Jerry at right guard and Marshall Newhouse at right tackle again," and I hear you. Jerry and Newhouse weren't signed to be starters. They ended up starting last year because of injuries to Geoff Schwartz and Will Beatty. Schwartz and Beatty are no longer on the team, and the only linemen the Giants have signed so far in free agency are Ryan Seymour and Dillon Farrell, who aren't surefire starters, either. So I get why you feel like they're ignoring the problem.

The issue, as usual, is that fans don't take a sufficiently long-range view. The Giants' offensive line problem circa 2013 was extensive. The Super Bowl lines had aged out of the league, and the team hadn't done enough in terms of draft or development to replenish in that key area. This was a long-range problem brought on by long-term neglect. The only way to correct such a problem is with a long-range plan and long-term commitment to it.

So, Pugh in the first round in 2013, Richburg high in the second in 2014, Flowers high in the first in 2015. Probably someone else high in the second (or no later than high in the third) in 2016. And progress is made. You feel better about the Giants' line, long-term, right now than you did two or three years ago. You have some justifiable concern about its ability to protect Eli Manning and push people around in the run game this year, but (A) this year isn't all that matters when you're building back from where the Giants have been and (B) most people aren't looking at the positives.

Flowers started 15 games last year as a 21-year-old rookie at left tackle. He has technique problems, sure, but he also showed promise and it's safe to assume he'll get better. He definitely wants to, and he'll work at it. Pugh was starting at left guard last year for the first time after playing right tackle his first two years. Richburg was starting at center in the NFL for the first time after playing guard as a rookie. Those guys played very well at their new positions, and a second straight year together is likely to show strong dividends. The Giants like their young core on the offensive line, and the right thing do to if you're playing the long game (which they should continue to play) is to add to it in the draft, patch it where you need to and continue to develop and build.

The quarterback and the coach have shown that they can and will unload the ball quickly, which will help the pass protection. The run game likely gets some help with the addition of blocking tight end/fullback Will Johnson. Are they all the way there? No. The Giants continue to dig out from the draft wastelands of 2008 to 2012, and the project is not almost finished. This is a fact, albeit one with which fans understandably struggle. But big picture, the Giants are moving in the right direction on the offensive line and don't need to make a panic move in free agency or in the first round of the draft to address it.

Source:
courtesy of ESPN

by Dan Graziano

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