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Is Alijah Vera-Tucker a Fit for Giants?
Is Alijah Vera-Tucker a Fit for Giants? originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The New York Giants didn't make the biggest splash of the offseason, but that doesn't mean they weren't bold.
General manager Joe Schoen gambled when he returned 10 starters on the conference's worst offense. Switching out Daniel Jones for quarterback Russell Wilson is a massive upgrade, and first-round passer Jaxson Dart might be even better in due time. But the two will be throwing to an average receiving corps with a fringe-average running game and an offensive line that collapsed in 2024.
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Left tackle Andrew Thomas is back and healthy, which is the biggest piece of the offensive line returning to form. For the first six weeks of last season, it was a promising unit.
Still, banking on left guard Jon Runyan, center John Michael Schmitz, and right guard Greg Van Roten to improve is a risky proposition. Subsequently, the Giants were listed as a trade candidate for high-profile New York Jets offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker by Pro Football and Sports Network.
'The Jets have a roster full of talented players nearing the end of their contracts,' Brandon Austin wrote. 'New general manager Darren Mougey must make tough decisions about which young standouts to extend and which to let go. And among those with trade potential, Vera-Tucker stands out as a viable candidate.
'After two injury-shortened seasons, Vera-Tucker finally stayed healthy in 2024 and performed well, allowing a 1.74% pressure rate. Still, he logged fewer than 450 snaps in each of the two previous years, so reliability could be a concern.
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'The Jets also can't pay everyone, so they'll need to decide how valuable Vera-Tucker is because he could command decent trade value.'
New York's cap situation is fairly healthy, and while it does have a host of young stars entering the extension phase of their rookie contracts, a strong piece in the trenches may be more likely to get paid than, say, running back Breece Hall.
With how much the Jets have invested up front, keeping Vera-Tucker around makes sense, making any trade unlikely.
However, if the Giants were to trade for him, he would have a significant impact on the current offensive line. His ability to play either guard or tackle spot makes him valuable, as he could move around in the event that Thomas or Jermaine Eluemunor goes down, insulating the unit from poor second-string play. Further, he'd likely push Van Roten to center, demoting Schmitz and thus patching up a liability up front.
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New York isn't in position to trade for a one-year rental, and the Jets probably aren't entertaining calls. But if Schoen has a late-offseason trick up his sleeve, the Giants stand to upgrade.
Related: Schoen's Offseason Strategy Underlines Giants' Offense
Related: Continuity Key to Giants' Potential Climb in NFC East OL Rankings
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
