New York Giants: Nick Mangold should already be signed

Nick Mangold remains a free agent, and the New York Giants need help on offensive line. Why haven’t the two come together?

For the most part, fans of the New York Giants are satisfied, if not thrilled, with the team’s offseason activities. Big Blue added weapons such as veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall and rookie tight end Evan Engram to what was already a formidable passing attack. While it obviously would’ve been a positive to keep defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins for another season, Hankins went and got paid in free agency, and the Giants responded by using a second-round pick on Alabama product Dalvin Tomlinson.

One wouldn’t have to search the Internet for long, however, to read complaints from both fans and analysts about New York’s offensive line. Most notably, former first-round pick Ereck Flowers, who has looked more like a flop than a lineup mainstay during his first couple of seasons in the NFL, is again slated to start at left tackle. The Giants signed D.J. Fluker and then selected Adam Bisnowaty late in the draft, but neither man looks like an immediate replacement for Flowers if the 23-year old proves to be a liability once September rolls around.

Meanwhile, former New York Jets center Nick Mangold, arguably the franchise’s best player over the past decade, remains unsigned. Mangold was a perennial All-Pro throughout the majority of his prime, but the 33-year old who missed half of last season because of an ankle injury became a casualty of Gang Green’s rebuilding process earlier this year. Nevertheless, it is believed Mangold is now as healthy as he is going to get at this stage of his career and that he wants to continue playing, so the question must be asked: Why isn’t he already with the Giants?

The idea New York’s depth chart up front is “too crowded” to take a flier on Mangold this summer is downright silly. Per ESPN, the Giants finished last season 29th in rushing yards, and Pro Football Focus recently ranked the team’s line as the fifth-worst in the NFL. From PFF:

"Few teams have larger chasms on their offensive line than the left side of the Giants line. Ereck Flowers has had serious issues in pass protection over the course of his career and led all tackles in pressures allowed as a rookie. Next to him is left guard Justin Pugh who has been a top-15 guard when healthy over the past two years."

It also shouldn’t be ignored the injury bug infiltrated New York’s offensive line before the official start of summer. As Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk explained earlier this month, Fluker, Flowers and guard Justin Pugh all dealt with knocks during minicamp. Pugh having even a “little tweak” in his back may not be cause for great concern, but it’s worrisome considering serious training camp sessions are still weeks away.

Much like with veteran cornerback Darrelle Revis, who also was a Jets cap casualty and would look good in New York blue in 2017, money could be an issue as it pertains to the Giants acquiring Mangold. From Alexander Wilson of Scout.com:

"In 2016, Mangold was set to earn a hefty $6 million dollars, way out of the Giants’ price range. He could be willing to take a massive pay-cut to secure a roster spot on a playoff caliber team, but his priorities are yet to be seen."

Whether it’s Mangold, Revis or any other proven player on the Giants’ radar heading into July, the harsh reality is that the club has only enough available cap space to spend a few million dollars, at most, on such an asset. That makes Mangold a risky investment considering he will serve as either a backup center or a potential fill-in at guard if he would be willing to make the transition during the twilight of his career.

With that said, New York should embrace risk-taking between now and the end of preseason. The Giants won 11 games in 2016, they will again feature a championship-caliber defense and the team’s offense should be better than it was last fall. Now is not the time to be stingy or frugal. Money is an issue, of course, but it is often nothing more than a hurdle easily cleared with the help of cap experts.

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Unlike with Revis, who has proven to be a mercenary throughout his career and who won a Super Bowl while with the New England Patriots, Mangold has been a one-team man, and he has no ring and no championship on his resume. Logic suggests he wouldn’t mind sticking around the area he’s called home since 2006. He’d add depth to what may be the weakest portion of New York’s roster. If the money works, the Giants signing Mangold is a no-brainer.

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