New York Giants: Chad Wheeler To Have Fair Shot At Keeping Spot

New York Giants, JJ Watt
Sep 23, 2018; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) rushes the passer against New York Giants tackle Chad Wheeler (63) at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

With the New York Giants bringing in reinforcements in the form of veteran right tackle Mike Remmers, it might look like the offensive line battle is already decided. Right tackle has been a position of need ever since things failed to work out with former first round draft pick Ereck Flowers, who is now on the Jacksonville Jaguars, and last season it looked like Chad Wheeler would be a stopgap until a real solution can be found.

That solution could be Mike Remmers, who is only on a one year deal but still seems like the best option at this point for the Giants going froward. Remmers is more experienced, having played for the Vikings most recently and starting 64 games for multiple teams over a career that began as an undrafted free agent in 2012, and overall has a much better resume than the still very new and very raw Wheeler.

However, the starting job isn’t going to go to Remmers just by virtue of resume.

Last week when the Giants were still looking into signing Remmers, Wheeler was the one named the starter at right tackle. According to offensive line coach Hal Hunter, if someone wants to take the spot for themselves, they’ll have to dethrone Wheeler.

“If you’re the best player at that position at anytime, we owe it to the organization, the team, for you to be in that lineup. We all compete. They know, they understand they’re competing every single day. Chad, right now, is starting off as the first right tackle, and it’s up to him to hold the position. It’s up to everybody else to beat him out,” Hunter said.

‘Everybody else’ includes both Remmers and George Asafo-Adjei, the latter of which was drafted in the seventh round this year and was believed to be good competition for Wheeler before the Remmers signing shifted the balance on the offensive line a bit more.

Of course, it’s something of a long shot for Wheeler to win the job over the more experienced veteran, especially since Wheeler’s play during the 2018 season was only considered acceptable because it was better than worse alternatives. More options, however, is always a good thing – and so far, it looks like the Giants organization does consider Wheeler to be a legitimate option on the list of players competing for the right tackle position.