Justin Pugh: Where do you stand on his future with the team?

He's an ok pro guard. But he has a very serious injury history causing him to miss multiple games in multiple seasons. He's not dominant but he's good. I think we overrate him because of the issues every other OL starter has on this team.

He is too often injured and not good enough to invest the kind of money he wants for a guy not likely to ever play a full season.

Can’t give guaranteed money and serious cap commitments to a guy whose missed a ton of time the last few years.

I wouldn't throw top OL/FA dollars at a guy that has back problems and a history of missing games due to injury. I hope they sign Fluker, and get a decent lineman or two during the off season.

Hopefully, he signs with Philly. At least we'll be able to generate pressure 2 games a year.

only if his physical checks out. He can play multiple positions which is a plus. Has to be a home town discount.

he's versatile enough that it would give us more options at other positions along the OL in the short term

I think it also depends on what the new regime does with Flowers. Does he stay at LT or move to another position. If so are you looking at Pugh at LT or going to roll the dice in the draft for an LT.

these days...even injury prone average guys are getting big offers. There’s no guarantee a prove it deal or a hometown discount will be an option

I suspect the only options will be overpay him or let him walk

Give him a pit more than vet minimum; no more; else he can walk.

The Giants needed a tackle and took him #1 in a week draft (they probably should have parlayed that pick for more choices that year, or stockpiled for the following year).

He was a bust at RT, played OK at guard, but bottomline, he's "just a guy", I want Quenton Nelson this draft ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=148F8rR2GSg

On the way out. Never been a fan. Too injury prone

He's our best OL player and the OL leader.

but im not really interested in his style of player. I want 6'5 330lb Maulers at G.

In comment 13726773 Manny in CA said:

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Give him a pit more than vet minimum; no more; else he can walk. The Giants needed a tackle and took him #1 in a week draft (they probably should have parlayed that pick for more choices that year, or stockpiled for the following year). He was a bust at RT, played OK at guard, but bottomline, he's "just a guy", I want Quenton Nelson this draft .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=148F8rR2GSg

I love Nelson too - but assuming we’re picking top 5, do you want Nelson there? No way he lasts to round 2, I think most early mock drafts have him top 15

I couldn’t say yet myself...but taking a guard top 5 doesn’t happen often

There isn't a single one of the OL positions that are set for next year at this point. And the vet FA market doesn't look too good, either.

Pugh is a good solid player when he's healthy, and can play where they need him to play. But there is that recurring injury situation.

So they have to seriously consider re-signing him. But with all the other situations on the OL and elsewhere, they can't break the bank to get him back.

Pugh is oft injured. I think we can get a guard for less money that he is going to want.

Since the 'Boy's Larry Allen or the Pat's 10 time ALL PRO John Hannah.

In comment 13726773 Manny in CA said:

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Give him a pit more than vet minimum; no more; else he can walk. The Giants needed a tackle and took him #1 in a week draft (they probably should have parlayed that pick for more choices that year, or stockpiled for the following year). He was a bust at RT, played OK at guard, but bottomline, he's "just a guy", I want Quenton Nelson this draft .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=148F8rR2GSg

Come on. Bust? He was good at RT. Had a bum arm 2nd year. Is still the best lineman on the team. Went back to RT this year after Hart's ankle and inability to block.

The big thing is he is constantly hurt and so you cannot pay him. When healthy and if he could stay healthy, you definitely re-sign, but his history says otherwise.

Pass.

Undersized like Richburg both need to walk

Someone is going to over pay for him I'm a weak market

In comment 13726788 Manny in CA said:

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Since the 'Boy's Larry Allen or the Pat's 10 time ALL PRO John Hannah.

If we don’t go QB, he’s as sure a thing as anyone in th draft. But there will be a lot of griping if we take a guard somewhere between #2 through #5.

But then, there’s also a lot of griping about how our OL sucks

I don't see any alternatives in the market. He's the best lineman on our team. He's a leader. We can't afford to look elsewhere. There aren't alternatives to him.

I'd also move him to ORT permanently. He and Flowers should be our tackles moving forward. If Wheeler can force Pugh inside, we'd be all the better.

QBs Sam Darold is #20, Josh Rosen is #17, for comparison.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings

We've (me included) have been yellin' &'scremin' for the Giants to fix this line for a LONG time (Reese & MAC got shown the door because they didn't). This is the step #1 to get it done.

The best OL on the team and you want him gone.

You negotiate with his team and offer a fair price with perhaps some incentives based on games started.

This OL is a clown show and you don't just get rid your best player who most likely will deal fair with you.

maybe B.

In comment 13726800 Manny in CA said:

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QBs Sam Darold is #20, Josh Rosen is #17, for comparison. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings We've (me included) have been yellin' &'scremin' for the Giants to fix this line for a LONG time (Reese & MAC got shown the door because they didn't). This is the step #1 to get it done.

I can see your point, certainly not disagreeing, I’m not sure yet where I’d lean. One could make the case for Barkley...but then why Barkley behind our OL?

In comment 13726805 B in ALB said:

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The best OL on the team and you want him gone. You negotiate with his team and offer a fair price with perhaps some incentives based on games started. This OL is a clown show and you don't just get rid your best player who most likely will deal fair with you.

Yep best lineman. But always injured. I like him a lot. But how do you pay a guy who plays 10-12 games per year and be the anchor of your line?

I hear ya. Totally valid. But he's been the victim of some contact injuries that couldn't be avoided and he's played thru some stuff.

From experience, I can tell you that when you don't have a solid unit, the injuries tend to pile up. You're not working effectively together and things get very dicey.

Plays 4 line positions. He's the best on the team at 3 of them. At times he's been the best at all 4. Most important I don't see how the Giants find a player of equal talent for less money.

In comment 13726805 B in ALB said:

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The best OL on the team and you want him gone. You negotiate with his team and offer a fair price with perhaps some incentives based on games started. This OL is a clown show and you don't just get rid your best player who most likely will deal fair with you.

You're correct on all counts. Still young , talented , versatile , team first, no nasty habits. Once a guy with that profile hits the market, he's gone in 48 hours . Pugh is gone . Reese has not left his successor with a good hand .

He misses games every year, so durability that includes
a back issue the last two years is a concern.

...and most of his peers drafted in the '13-14 drafts have already re-upped at $10M/yr+. My guess is he'll get an offer better than what we can do elsewhere given the lack of depth in the class.

In comment 13726813 B in ALB said:

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I hear ya. Totally valid. But he's been the victim of some contact injuries that couldn't be avoided and he's played thru some stuff. From experience, I can tell you that when you don't have a solid unit, the injuries tend to pile up. You're not working effectively together and things get very dicey.

Thanks for the insight. Yeah, I think one was being rolled up on. Personally I think he has played to the level of his draft spot when he has played.
Just thinking of money paid recently to OLinemen that seemed to be constantly injured (Baas/Schwartz).

The Giants absolutely cannot afford to take on any bad contracts this year. There’s too many guys waiting to cash in — Beckham, Collins, etc.

Pugh is a nice player when healthy. The problem is he’s never healthy, and he’ll likely be the top OL option in the market. Let someone else overpay for him/Richberg and turn the comp picks into cheap contributors.

Injury history is a part of FMV. Solid, versatile. No brainer if the price is right.

Nice guy , a reach when he was picked. Injuries and inconsistent play cloud his worth.

You hope to get a decent deal done but I wouldn't count on it. Even with his injury history, Ough might be the best OL in the market

As long as it is well short of the 5 year 60 million dollar deal Kevin Zeitler got from Cleveland.

I say 4 years 40 million 20-25 guaranteed

And I would offer something a little lighter but similar for Richburg and I would offer Fluker and Brett Jones 1 year prove it deals

In comment 13726845 est1986 said:

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As long as it is well short of the 5 year 60 million dollar deal Kevin Zeitler got from Cleveland. I say 4 years 40 million 20-25 guaranteed And I would offer something a little lighter but similar for Richburg and I would offer Fluker and Brett Jones 1 year prove it deals

I think you have to go a little more for Pugh to make it fair. I'd try to get Fluker on a Jerry like contract. 3 years 12 mill maybe.

Isn't Jones a RFA?

As long as it is well short of the 5 year 60 million dollar deal Kevin Zeitler got from Cleveland.

I say 4 years 40 million 20-25 guaranteed

I would offer Fluker another prove it deal and Brett Jones a prove it deal

Richburg is the guy who would get an offer but would have to take less to come back; low-ball

Draft an OL, preferably a tackle in the first 4 rounds and sign another 1 via F/A and that's the best we can do with this OL I think

But section125, you force me to say it - C'mon, man !

Pugh play like a #1 pick ? When did that happen ?

I would let Richburg walk

In comment 13726780 PatersonPlank said:

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He's our best OL player and the OL leader.

And that says what. This is a bottom 5 OL at best. Being the best of
That group is hardly a compliment. He's been solid but hurt way too much. At best an1 year deal or a huge discount.

Think about signing him for a fair price. Bring up the injuries and all that and try to get a discount, but at the end of the day ,the offensive line sucks. So unless you got the money to replace every single player, you need to keep the better ones you got. There’s only so many draft picks and so much money. At the worst he plays on the line as a starter, at the best he can eventually become a rotational player for someone better and can be thrown in any time. I think it’s about time we have a few back ups that are half decent instead of scrubs off someone else’s trash heap.

In comment 13726845 est1986 said:

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As long as it is well short of the 5 year 60 million dollar deal Kevin Zeitler got from Cleveland. I say 4 years 40 million 20-25 guaranteed And I would offer something a little lighter but similar for Richburg and I would offer Fluker and Brett Jones 1 year prove it deals

TJ Lang got 3 years/$28.5/$19 guaranteed last year...I don’t want to pay Pugh that much, but I’m sure he’ll be looking for that range to start. I’d prefer 3 years/$6 million per...even that feels like a lot for an injury prone guard, even if he’s our best OL when healthy

The 'best o lineman on the team' argument is weak.

Thats not hard to do with this crew.

And frankly, I'd never usually say this considering how much shit I've talked, but I think our best lineman this year might be flowers. It has been flowers.

Mediocre when not hurt.

like any other player coming off his rookie contract, is looking for that big payday contract.....there will be a GM out there willing to take a chance on him, by offering big bucks.....

The Giants in the past have signed too many players that can't stay on the field....we know this guy's history, and it would be crazy to overpay someone who is on the sidelines....there is no such thing as a hometown discount, after rookie contracts...he got almost 9M this year.....what do you think he is going to ask for?

if you think he's signing anything less than 4 years long and 10 mill per year

his back is not a ticking time bomb, I'd be willing to resign him. But if we know it's gonna be an ongoing issue that has to be managed, then lets look elsewhere before committing any significant sum of money to him. I like him as a player, and team leader, but not if we know his health is definitely going to be an issue.