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The New York Giants, despite years of trying, are still attempting to solidify their offensive line. The recent cuts of Geoff Schwartz and Will Beatty leave the right side of the line in flux. If the Giants look to the free agent market for help could Houston Texans guard Brandon Brooks be a potential solution?
Pro Football Focus ranks Brooks among the top five interior offensive linemen available in free agency:
Brooks is another zone-blocker with above-average marks in pass protection for all four years of his careerâin fact, his grade has steadily improved there. His run-blocking was a bit below standard in 2015, but he ranked in the top five at the position there in both 2013 and 2014, so teams considering Brooks will likely hope he can return to that form in the run game. Brooks also has age (27) and durabilityâhe was on the field for at least 93 percent of Houston's offensive snaps over the last three seasonsâon his side.
ESPN opines that Brooks and Kelechi Osemele of the Baltimore Ravens are likely to be the best guards available.
Walter Football rates Brooks No. 69 on its list of the top 90 free agents for 2016 and says "Brooks is a solid pass protector. He isn't as good in terms of run blocking, but he's a quality guard nonetheless."
Spotrac puts Brooks' Calculated Market Value at $8 million annually, projecting a five-year, $40 million contract for Brooks on the open market.
Brooks, 27, is a 6-foot-5, 335-pound 2012 third-round pick who has been a starter in Houston for the past three years. Does he fit what new head coach Ben McAdoo might be looking for at right guard, where the current options appear to be John Jerry and Bobby Hart? Under McAdoo the past two seasons the Giants have been increasingly reliant on zone blocking, with linemen working in tandem. If you don't understand what a zone blocking scheme is, here is a good explanation.
Perhaps the answer is to let Hart compete for the right guard job and look for an upgrade at right tackle. If, however, the Giants turn to the free agent market for an interior offensive lineman would Brooks be the right guy to go after?