New York Giants: Three questions the Giants look to answer as pre-season begins

Can the New York Giants get consistency from the offensive line?

The offensive line has been an Achilles heel for the Giants for nearly a decade. Although, it’s not for a lack of trying. Between numerous failed first-round selections, free agent signings, and injuries, New York has consistently failed to place a respectable O-Line on the field. 

Shane Lemieux earned a starting job his rookie season but suffered a knee injury in the 2021 season opener and missed the rest of the season. Serving as Lemieux’s replacement, Nick Gates –arguably New York’s most consistent O-lineman since becoming a starter in 2019– suffered a gruesome leg injury in Week two and would also miss the rest of the season. Gates is still on the PUP list, but Lemieux is healthy and has been practicing with the first strings. 

Last season the Giants had ten different players start at least one game on the offensive line and fielded 12 different offensive linemen in total. In 2020, seven different offensive linemen started at least one game for the G-Men while fielding eight different offensive linemen. Without continuity or chemistry, an offensive line and the quarterback they’ve sworn to protect are all but doomed.

Despite having very limited resources at their disposal after the Gettleman regime left town, the Giants did their best to address the offensive line needs this offseason. Equipped with two top-ten picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, they used the seventh overall pick on offensive tackle Evan Neal. They also brought in veterans Jon Feliciano and Mark Glowinski, who are both expected to be day one starters and help improve this unit. 

 

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Free agent signee Matt Gono was recently informed his career may be over after complications from a neck injury he suffered last season. The Giants also lost rookie Marcus McKethan to a torn ACL.

The season hasn’t even started, and the offensive line depth is already wearing thin. New York will need to keep its players healthy and continue to build chemistry if this unit is going to open up running lanes for Saquon Barkley and keep Daniel Jones on his feet.