New York Giants: Nick Gates To Receiver “Fair Shot” At Center and Right Tackle, Says Judge

New York Giants, Nick Gates
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 22: Nick Gates #65 of the New York Giants lines up against the Washington Redskins during the second half at FedExField on December 22, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

The New York Giants signed offensive lineman Nick Gates to a contract extension this past weekend. Gates and the Giants agreed to terms on a two-year extension worth up to $10.325 million. The Giants have essentially locked down Nick Gates at roughly $5 million per year for the next two years.

Nick Gate is now making starter-level money after some impressive performances in 2019. Gates started in three games last season and played 290 snaps. Across those 290 snaps, Gates earned a 77.0 overall grade, and only 1 sack allowed according to Pro Football Focus. PFF also states that Gates allowed just 9 pressures in 191 pass-blocking snaps last season.

After impressing in limited playing time last year, Gates earned that contract extension and is now being paid like a starter. But does he have a starting position on this offensive line? According to head coach Joe Judge, Gates is going to have to compete, but he has a “fair shot” at two starting positions.

Joe Judge on Nick Gates

Joe Judge spoke with the media today, discussing training camp and coinciding topics. The first question that Joe Judge was asked was in regards to Nick Gates and his new contract. Here is what Judge had to say about the Giants’ plan with Nick Gates:

“One of the strengths of Nick has been his flexibility. He’s a guy that can factor into any of the five positions on the offensive line. The priority now is to give him a chance to compete for a starting position at any one of those five spots. As coaches, we have to do a good job of mapping out how we are going to allocate his snaps and his reps on the field between primarily center and tackle and give him a fair shot at both. We are going to work him day by day based on the priority for him. It will start shaking out once the pads come on.” – Joe Judge on Nick Gates via Giants.com Press Conference (8/5/2020)

Nick Gates has never played the center position before. But center is arguably the weakest position on the Giants’ roster, so Nick Gates will battle for that position. Joe Judge discussed Gates’s potential at center today, acknowledging the young lineman’s inexperience at the position. Judge explained that offensive line coach Marc Colombo has been dedicating “a little bit of extra time” to train both Nick Gates and Shane Lemieux for the center position.

Joe Judge praised Nick Gates, referring to him as a “guy that has good athletic ability” and “a smart player.” The Giants’ head coach seems confident in Nick Gates to make the switch over to center and he confirmed that he has seen Gates practice his snaps. Over the course of training camp, Nick Gates will continue to practice and try out for both the center and right tackle positions. If he can play the way he did last season, Nick Gates should find himself in a starting position come September.