This is a player somebody at BBV pounded the table for … a decade ago
With the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror it is time for the New York Giants and the 31 other teams to assess what they have done this offseason, what they have not done, and see if there are any veteran free agents remaining on the market who might fill a hole.
Pro Football Network offers an intriguing possibility for the Giants. PFN believes the Giants should sign veteran guard Brandon Scherff. Here’s why:
The New York Giants entered the draft with one of the NFL’s weakest offensive lines. The Giants ranked 27th in PFSN’s OL+ metric last year and didn’t make major free agent additions beyond swing tackles James Hudson and Stone Forsythe.
After drafting just a single offensive lineman — Purdue guard Marcus Mbow in the fifth round — the Giants also exited the draft with one of the worst lines. Apart from left tackle Andrew Thomas and center John Michael Schmitz Jr., the Giants could reasonably look for an upgrade at the other three spots.
Of course, late free agency doesn’t bring many quality starting options. Scherff might be an exception to that rule, though he’s 33 and last made the Pro Bowl in 2021. Still, he didn’t allow a single sack in 592 pass-blocking snaps this season.
Among guards, only Trey Smith of the Chiefs (665) had more pass-blocking snaps without allowing a sack. The Giants could use that level of reliability, as Greg Van Roten is the team’s current projected starting right guard.
Valentine’s View
I understand what the season-ending numbers say, but I disagree that the Giants have “one of the NFL’s weakest offensive lines.” It isn’t great, but I don’t believe it is nearly as bad as many want to portray it.
The Giants’ line was league-average a year ago during the six games star left tackle Andrew Thomas played, and those six games were not up to Thomas’s usual standards.
When Thomas was lost for the season, Pro Football Focus had the Giants No. 18 in its offensive line rankings — right in the middle of the pack.
The Giants gave up 14 sacks in the first six games (2.3 per game), and 34 in the final 11 (3.09 per game) without Thomas.
Still, I love the idea of signing Scherff, a five-time Pro Bowl right guard.
Why? Bottom line, he is a better player than Greg Van Roten. Van Roten is a comfortable fit for the Giants because he was with the team last season, he has played next to Jermaine Eluemunor for several years between time with the Giants and Las Vegas Raiders, and he seems to be a favorite of offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo. He can also fill in at center.
Still, the 35-year-old Van Roten gave up seven sacks and 35 pressures in 727 pass-blocking snaps a season ago. He has given up 12 sacks and 56 pressures over the last two seasons.
Scherff gave up just 17 pressures and no sacks in 2024. He surrendered just two sacks in more than 700 pass-blocking snaps in 2023.
Scherff isn’t the run blocker he used to be, but overall this would be an upgrade.
Besides, Scherff landing with the Giants would be a full circle moment for Big Blue View. Those of you who are long-time BBV readers might remember that I banged the drum incessantly for the Giants to draft Scherff in 2015, and mocked him to the Giants right before the 2015 draft.
Washington wrecked my plan by selecting him at No. 5 overall, with the Giants selecting Ereck Flowers No. 10. Somehow, I think Scherff would have been a better pick.
PFN’s idea would finally grant me my wish.