The New York Giants have been building up their offensive line this year, drafting three lineman in the first five rounds of the draft, and signing veteran swingman Cam Fleming in free agency.
One other move they adroitly made was just this past week when they signed the versatile Nick Gates to a two-year, $10.325 million contract extension.
Head coach Joe Judge, who is dealing with the loss of starting left tackle Nate Solder, who opted out for the 2020 season, is in the midst of building a new offensive front along with line coach Marc Columbo.
The Giants will be attempting to integrate their three rookies (Andrew Thomas, Shane Lemieux and Matt Peart) into a group that has two strong tackles (Kevin Zeitler and Will Hernandez), a veteran center (Spencer Pulley) and Fleming.
There is one player the Giants can count to fill the gaps during the transition — and that is Gates.
“One of the strengths of Nick has been his flexibility,” Judge said. “He’s a guy that can factor into any of the five positions on the offensive line. The priority now is to give him a chance to compete for a starting position at any one of those five spots. As coaches, we have to do a good job of mapping out how we are going to allocate his snaps and his reps on the field between primarily center and tackle and give him a fair shot at both. We are going to work him day by day based on the priority for him. It will start shaking out once the pads come on.”
The Giants’ first full-pads practice is scheduled for August 17.
The 6-foot-5, 307-pound Gates, a UDFA out of Nebraska back in 2018, played in all 16 games for the Giants last season, starting three — two at right tackle in place of Mike Remmers and one at right guard, spelling Zeitler.
The Giants are concentrating on making Gates a center. They are seeking to upgrade from Pulley and it doesn’t appear that last year’s center, Jon Halapio, rehabbing from an Achilles’ injury, is going to be brought back any time soon.