Giants news, 2/24: Franchise tag history, Joe Thuney, more headlines

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

NFL franchise tag window opens; Giants’ tag history

Last year, Leonard Williams became only the sixth player to be assigned the franchise tag by the Giants, and the eighth player to be tagged by the team. However, the Giants likely will not want to use it for the second year in a row.

Joe Thuney rumors: 5 best fits in NFL free agency

5. New York Giants

Despite the fact that Dave Gettleman is entering his fourth offseason as the Giants’ general manager, after vowing in 2018 that fixing the offensive line was a top organization priority, New York’s offensive line very much remains a work in progress.

Left guard Will Hernandez, the Giants’ second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, regressed dramatically in 2021. Hernandez allowed just one sack, but also 25 total pressures and five quarterback hits in 525 snaps. He was also eventually benched in favor of fifth-round rookie Shane Lemieux, who was a colossal disappointment, producing a 32.2 overall grade from PFF in 504 snaps.

Stabilizing the offensive line in front of quarterback Daniel Jones, in his make-or-break third NFL season, as well as creating running lanes for Saquon Barkley, are among the Giants’ top priorities.

If the NY Giants are not sold on Lemieux developing into a long-term solution at guard (and at this stage, why would they be?), Thuney makes some sense. Likewise, if the Giants move on from Kevin Zeitler and his $14.5 million cap number in 2021, Thuney would be an obvious candidate to replace him.

The New England Patriots-to-Giants pipeline is well-worn at this point, and Joe Judge’s presence as head coach makes New York a fit for Thuney. However, the Giants are currently just $920,000 under the projected salary cap, so it might take some lifting to be in position to beat Thuney’s market.

A 2019 Second-Team All Pro, the 26-year old Thuney would be an immediate upgrade to any offensive line unit that he joins should he leave New England. The Giants, however, would need to create significant cap space in order to sign him. What do you think Giants fans?

How Giants might tackle dilemma of re-signing Leonard Williams and Dalvin Tomlinson

Ralph Vacchiano gives his input on how the Giants should handle the upcoming free agency of two of the teams star defensive lineman.

New York Giants Off-season Personnel Mulligans We’d Make

We cannot change the moves the Giants did or did not make. However, it is definitely worth looking back on how the Giants came to be where they are today, and what could have gone differently.

In case you missed it

• Franchise tag now available, but Giants likely don’t want to use it
• 2021 NFL Draft prospect profile: Cameron McGrone, LB, Michigan
• Gov. Murphy announces limited number of fans will be allowed at professional games

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