New York Giants again urged to sign 5-time Pro Bowl free agent to bolster biggest need

USA Today

2 days ago

New York Giants again urged to sign 5-time Pro Bowl free agent to bolster biggest need
The New York Giants were one of the more aggressive teams throughout the offseason, but there are still some question marks facing the roster.
Most notably, the Giants have some legitimate concerns regarding the right guard position, where they brought back veteran Greg Van Roten to compete for the starting role. It's also expected that embattled former first-round pick Evan Neal will slide inside from the right tackle spot, while the Giants used a fifth-round pick on Purdue's Marcus Mbow.
Despite the competition, there's still room for another body to provide some hope that the right guard spot won't be a major liability going into a crucial 2026 campaign.
That's why Brandon Austin of Pro Football Sports Network suggested the Giants look to free-agent guard Brandon Scherff as a final offseason move.
Outside of left tackle Andrew Thomas and center John Michael Schmitz Jr., every other spot on the offensive line is a question mark, with right guard being especially shaky. Greg Van Roten is currently projected to start, but the Giants would be wise to explore veteran upgrades.
Scherff, though past his prime at 33, remains one of the most reliable pass-blocking guards available. He didn't allow a single sack over 592 pass-blocking snaps last season, a mark surpassed only by Trey Smith among all guards. While his last Pro Bowl came in 2021, Scherff still brings steady, veteran play that could immediately raise the floor of New York's offensive line.
An All-Pro First Team selection in 2020 and five-time Pro Bowler, Scherff is one of the top options for teams who need more help along the offensive line. The 33-year-old hasn't missed a game in any of the last three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Giants don't have a ton of money to spend in free agency. Even after restructuring some contracts following the 2025 NFL draft, New York has roughly $5.95 million in available cap space, per Over The Cap, ranking as the third-lowest figure in the NFL. Only the Atlanta Falcons ($5 million) and Buffalo Bills ($1.69 million) have less cap space.
Meanwhile, Spotrac projected Scherff to be in line for a one-year deal worth roughly $6.7 million at the beginning of the offseason. Whether the Giants would have to pay that much at this point in the offseason is unclear, but it would mean more money would have to be allocated.
Even at 33 years old, Scherff would certainly be an upgrade over what the Giants currently have at the right guard spot, which should be considered the team's biggest question mark going into a make-or-break season.
This is the second time PFN has urged the Giants to sign Scherff.