Do the New York Giants have their long-term center in Nick Gates?

The center position for the New York Giants remains one of the bigger weaknesses is going into the 2020 season. Currently, they are scheduled to develop a position battle, consisting of Nick Gates, Jon Halapio, Shane Lemieux, and Spenser Pulley.

The primary issue is, none of these options are established or considered to be above average at the position. Halapio has struggled in recent years and is recovering from a torn ACL, Pulley is serviceable but not above average by any means, and Lemieux/Gates have never taken a live snap at the position.

Nonetheless, Gates has been practicing in Nevada with Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr. Taking snaps under center, Gates is developing a skill set prior to the start of training camp and preseason. This should give him a leg up and allow him to potentially steal the starting position for the foreseeable future.

Gates stated in the past that he prefers to play guard over tackle, and moving to center would put them on the innermost workings of the offensive line. I believe he has a toughness and frame to excel at the spot, but he needs more live reps to be considered at this as a starter for 2020.

General manager Dave Gettleman is excited about Gates and what he brings to the table. He expressed confidence in him several months ago before the NFL draft.

“The thing you love about Nick is just how tough he is, because it’s a fist fight in there,” Gettleman said. “History tells you that the toughness of your team is really, really indicated by the toughness of your offensive line.”

Gates grew up around construction as a child in Nevada, which he factors into his toughness.

“My toughness comes from that,” Gates told The New York Post. “We used to go at it and I had to hold my own. I was the youngest [for a long time], so everybody kind of picked on me. You have to be tough when you are the youngest. Playing football or wrestling, one of us gets mad and it starts off from there.”

The New York Giants could use a boost at center

If Gates can establish himself as a starting player at the center position, the Giants will be in good shape. They currently have No. 4 overall pick Andrew Thomas at left tackle, Will Hernandez at left guard, Kevin Zeitler at right guard, and Nate Solder at right tackle. This unit could be mixed up a bit, with Thomas possibly projecting as a right tackle next season — nothing is set in stone just yet.

Nonetheless, the former Nebraska lineman has the talent to move inside and showed promise at both guard and tackle positions in 2019. If the Giants can elevate him from undrafted free agent to starting center, they will have some financial flexibility next off-season in free agency.