2016 NFL free agency: Could Chiefs' Jeff Allen upgrade New York Giants' offensive line?

The offensive line, despite years of re-tooling, remains in flux for the New York Giants. They recently cut a pair of veterans, Will Beatty and Geoff Schwartz. They have as starters right now the unappealing tandem of John Jerry and Marshall Newhouse on the right side.

They have some work to do. Could Jeff Allen, a free-agent offensive lineman from the Kansas City Chiefs, be a player of interest to the Giants?

Allen, 26, was a 2012 second-round draft pick by Kansas City. He has played in 44 regular-season games over four seasons, missing most of 2014 with an injury. Allen has 36 starts in that time, mostly at left guard. He played games at both left and right tackle in 2015.

Here is what Joel Thorman of SB Nation's Chiefs website, Arrowhead Pride, said about Allen:

"The Chiefs current regime has not shown a tendency to re-sign the offensive linemen left over from the previous regime. That could change with Jeff Allen but because of that many of us in Kansas City are expecting him to hit free agency. Allen is a multi-year starter for the Chiefs, who tried him out at right tackle before a 2014 preseason injury ended his season prematurely. After another early injury slowed his start in 2015, the Chiefs moved him back to left guard where he started eight games last season. Allen was arguably the difference maker on the Chiefs offensive line last season. They got better when he was in. Allen does not look like he can be a capable tackle but he's smart, competitive and ultimately gets the job done. His best position, I would say, is guard but he is capable of playing tackle."

At AP, Thorman also wrote of Allen that "someone is going to pay him well" and that "Someone is going to get a good offensive lineman." He also referenced this quote from Allen:

"First off I'm looking for a team that's ready to win," Allen said on the podcast "I think Kansas City, we did a good job this year putting together a good season but we didn't finish the way we wanted to. I'm looking for a team that's going to be a Super Bowl contender. A team where I'm gonna be comfortable with the guys in the room. I want one position where I know I'm going to be playing going into the offseason so I can focus on one thing."

I honestly don't know if Allen is a player the Giants would be interested in. How does, however, check off some of the boxes in terms of the type of players the Giants generally look for in free agency. Those would include relative youth in that he is only 26, versatility and what would appear to be some remaining upside.

The Kansas City Star said that Allen "brought experience and nastiness to the offensive line" and pointed out that Kansas City went 11-1 with him in the lineup last season. Here is a little more about the type of player Allen is. Per the Star, former agent Joel Corry estimated that Allen could command a multi-year deal worth roughly $4 million per year. Coincidentally, that is almost exactly the deal Schwartz (four years, $16.8 million) had with the Giants before being cut.

If he reaches the open market is Allen a player you would like to see the Giants pursue?