With the NFL Draft concluding last weekend, teams have started to get a sense of what their franchise will look like heading into the 2017 season. For the New York Giants, some have wondered that considering the state of their offensive line. One potential option that still remains on the open market is former New England Patriots tackle Sebastian Vollmer.
Many felt that the Giants needed to address it early on because of the struggles of Ereck Flowers and should have found another offensive tackle. The Giants did address the position in the draft, but they did so later on. They took Adam Bisnowaty from Pittsburgh in the sixth round signed Chad Wheeler from USC as an un-drafted free agent. Both are considered good moves for the Giants given their value.
But not many are expecting either to possibly start in 2017 and will likely have to develop in order to crack the roster.
The Giants are very much a win-now team but have to protect their franchise quarterback in Eli Manning. So where do the Giants look for possible offensive line help in this stage of the off-season?
The is why the New York Giants and Sebastian Vollmer should be looking at each other. Vollmer spent the first eight years of his career with the Patriots before being released this off-season.
Before the 2016 season, Vollmer was one of the better right tackles in the league. Because of injuries, Vollmer shifted over to left tackle and played well at the spot.
Vollmer missed all of the last season though for the Patriots due to a hip injury to go along with recovering from shoulder surgery. With age and salary as factors, the Patriots made the decision to cut Vollmer before the start of free agency.
Since March, the 32-year-old has remained un-signed and that’s where a team like the New York Giants could benefit. Because Vollmer missed all of the last year, it likely wouldn’t cost much to sign him. Before the injuries, Vollmer was making around $6 million per season.
But as a 32-year-old coming off an injury-filled season, he can’t expect to make that. But if Sebastian Vollmer is looking for a chance to play again and possibly win, the Giants would make sense.
If the Giants feel like Flowers can’t handle the left side, Vollmer could easily move there and shift Flowers to the right side. Or, if the Giants felt Flowers is capable of staying, Vollmer can go back to his original right side.
At this stage of the off-season, it can’t hurt for the Giants to take a flier on Sebastian Vollmer and see if he could help for next season.
With the New York Giants window to win right now, adding players who can help that cause are crucial. Sebastian Vollmer helps that cause for winning a Super Bowl in 2017.