The New York Giants have a difficult task ahead of them, signing free agents to help bolster the offensive line. New general manager Joe Schoen has already indicated they will look to clear about $40 million in salary space, and the OL is a priority during his first off-season.
With Dave Gettleman leaving the trenches in shambles — only Andrew Thomas cemented as a starter, it is going to take a heroic strategy to turn things around and offer quarterback Daniel Jones the proper protection he needs to elevate his game.
The Giants will have to allocate some funds in free agency toward a guard, so let’s take a look at a few options that could fit the bill.
Three free agent guards the New York Giants should consider:
1.) Laken Tomlinson
One of the best value grabs this off-season at offensive guard is San Francisco 49ers’ Laken Tomlinson. Standing at 6’3″ and 312 pounds, the former first-round pick from 2015 is coming off a stellar season in San Fran.
Consider to be an above-average pass blocking and run blocking guard, Tomlinson would solve the left guard problem overnight for the Giants, pairing Andrew Thomas with a quality player.
Last season, Tomlinson allowed two sacks, seven QB hits, and 15 total hurries over 1,094 offensive snaps. He was hit with just five penalties, and considering his clean health history, he would be a tremendous grab for Schoen in his first season with the Giants.
In addition to his pure statistics, Tomlinson is coming from a team that features the league’s most dynamic running game. If the Giants plan to get more creative in that area, Tomlinson will undoubtedly be helpful with his knowledge in advanced schematics.
2.) James Daniels
Another younger offensive guard, the Giants, could pursue is James Daniels of the Chicago Bears. At 6’4″ and 295 pounds, Daniels is a former second-round pick from 2018, coming off one of his better seasons. There seems to be a trend of offensive linemen committing more penalties in 2021, as he accrued nine. The one thing to like about Daniel is his experience at left guard, center, and right guard, making an extremely valuable with his versatility.
Over 1,121 offensive snaps, Daniels featured predominantly as a pass blocker, giving up three sacks, four QB hits, and 33 hurries. Out of the three options listed, he had the most pass-blocking snaps of any option, but he might be a bit more pricey given his age.
A projected contract of five years, $50 million with $24 million guaranteed, might get the deal done, and he would be a legitimate long-term starter for the Giants moving forward.
3.) Connor Williams
The Dallas Cowboys are one of the best teams in football when it comes to developing offensive line talent. 24-year-old guard Connor Williams could fit the bill perfectly for Big Blue as a former second-round pick back in 2018. Standing at 6’5″ and 298 pounds, Williams is coming off his best season as a professional, allowing one sack, one QB hit, and 11 hurries. The Cowboys are looking to move on, and with an extremely deep guard class in free agency, Schoen might be able to scoop him up on a price-efficient deal.
Williams is a left guard but has a few reps of experience at right guard as well. The biggest con regarding his game is penalties, being slapped with 15 this past year, an astronomical number that will drive down his price tag. The Giants need all of the value they can get for the lowest price, and Williams might be on the cheaper side is still offers above-average pass blocking capabilities.